How and Where to get Gorilla Trekking Permit in Rwanda?

How and where to get gorilla permit in Rwanda- obtaining valid gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda guarantees travelers access to Volcanoes National Park where hundreds of the world’s 1063 mountain gorillas reside. A gorilla trekking permit is an important item in planning for gorilla safari not only in Rwanda but also in Uganda or Congo.

How and where you will get a valid gorilla permit matters a lot when planning for a successful gorilla safari. Rwanda alone has over 96 gorilla permits available for issuing to visitors intending to visit Volcanoes National Park to undertake gorilla trekking.

The demand for permits in Rwanda like in Uganda is high and a single habituated gorilla family is visited by strictly 8 visitors representing 8 gorilla permits. This means, anyone intending to visit mountain gorillas in Rwanda should ensure that he or she obtains gorilla permit in advance before the actual gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park.

For all our safari travelers on gorilla tour in Rwanda or Uganda, we encourage them to book their permits at least 2-6 months before the actual date of tracking gorillas. This gives you an upper hand to obtain gorilla permit and also to fully prepare for your gorilla trekking safari.

Mountain Gorilla trekking

What is a gorilla trekking permit?

A gorilla trekking permit is an essential document or ticket/pass every tourist must purchase in order to be allowed to visit a single habituated gorilla family in Rwanda, at Volcanoes National Park. Once you have a valid gorilla permit, you are guaranteed of spending an hour face to face with mountain gorillas, taking photos and to explore more about their daily behaviors, etc.

How to get Rwanda gorilla permit 2022/2023?

Getting Rwanda gorilla permit is possible using any of the following options- book through a reliable tour operator on ground or contact the Rwanda Development Board. A minimum age for acquiring a valid gorilla permit in Rwanda is 15 years. The process of acquiring a Rwanda gorilla permit includes picking the date you intend to visit gorillas, provide full details such as names, passport copy or number, contact/email, etc.

While it is possible to get a gorilla permit directly through the reservation team at Rwanda Development Board, the process is so stressful. Not to be left in the world of stress, you can actually save yourself time, money, energy by contacting reservation team at Maranatha Tours and Travel. Our reservation team won’t stop at acquiring a gorilla permit on your behalf but they will go ahead to plan the whole gorilla safari.

How much are Rwanda gorilla trekking permits in 2022?

As of 2022, a single Rwanda gorilla trekking permit is issued at USD1500 per person for a single gorilla trek. There is also an alternative of acquiring discounted permits each at USD1050 if you are visiting Rwanda for 3 days and this is for tourists intending to visit more parks such as Nyungwe Forest National Park known for thrilling chimpanzee tracking and Akagera National Park for remarkable guided game driving safaris to see the big 5 game.

The discounted gorilla permits in Rwanda are issued out only during the low/off season especially in November and May. You can also enjoy 15% discount offer equivalent of 1275 US Dollars per visitor intending to track gorillas in Rwanda after or before conducting MICE events.

Book a permit at USD30000 in a group of 3 trekkers if you are visiting for 3 consecutive behind-the-scenes with Rwanda mountain gorillas. You can also book the whole gorilla group in Volcanoes National Park and enjoy exclusive services at USD15000.

Can I purchase a gorilla permit in Rwanda at the last minute?

Gorilla Trek Rwanda

It is possible to acquire the last-minute gorilla permit through the reliable/licensed tour operator on ground. However, it comes with risk of not finding one due to high demand and worse of it, when it is a peak/high season. This is why it is important to acquire your permit early enough 2-6 months before you actually visit Volcanoes National Park to track gorillas.

What is the refund policy for gorilla permits in Rwanda like?

There are many circumstances that may require refund for a gorilla permit in Rwanda. This include failure by tourist to track gorillas, but authorities can give you a chance to visit another gorilla family or have full refund. But what is amazing is that for past 10 years+, issues related to failure to track gorillas due to their movements hasn’t been recorded. Our gorilla safaris guarantee 99% chances to visitors to see mountain gorillas.

75% refund can be made for the gorilla permit fee in case visitors spend the whole day and they don’t get a gorilla group. For flight delays, cancellation of the trip, late arrivals, etc- NO refund can be made