Gorilla Permit Booking to Uganda and Rwanda

A gorilla permit is like a movie ticket that allows the viewer into the auditorium. The show is set in the prehistoric rainforest jungles of east-central Africa, where mountain gorillas have flourished for thousands of years. You need the gorilla permit for permission for secure and guided entry into their territory.

Although more than 1070 wild mountain gorillas roam the slopes of Virunga Mountains and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest—the only two mountain gorilla habitats in the world—there are countable groups habituated for tourism in Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo. The low number of mountain gorillas available for tourism and the high number of tourists wanting to see these magnificent creatures means a limited number of gorilla permits.

Mountain gorilla permits are scarce during peak travel months of June, July, August, September, December and February. Therefore, planning a gorilla trekking safari requires that you book a permit months before your journey’s date.

The government wildlife authority issues the gorilla permit at face value. Any traveller can purchase the permit directly from the authority’s office or use a licensed tour operator to process the permit on their behalf.

Since 2019, Eizoba Safaris, working with wildlife authorities, has processed gorilla permits for hundreds of travellers around the world and successfully operated gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda and Rwanda: We have the reviews to show off. On this page, we put together all the relevant information about gorilla permits to help you plan your gorilla trekking safari.

Let’s take a quick look at the summary of what we cover.

• What is a gorilla permit?
• What is Gorilla trekking?
• How much is a gorilla permit in Uganda?
• How much is a gorilla permit in Rwanda?
• How many gorilla permits are available in Uganda?
• How many gorilla permits are available in Rwanda?
• How are gorilla permits allocated?

What is a gorilla permit booking process?

A gorilla permit is a document or card issued by ORTPN, Rwanda Development Board or Uganda Wildlife Authority that allows any traveller above 15 years of age to trek mountain gorillas in any of the three habitats – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park (Uganda) and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

The gorilla permit includes two armed rangers for your jungle security and a knowledgeable tracking guide to lead you to where a mountain gorilla group would be foraging.

After verifying your permit at any of the forest trailheads, your assigned guide will lead you and seven other trekkers into the forest, flanked by armed rangers for your security against wild animals and anything that would threaten your well-being.

Once you find the assigned gorilla family, your acquired gorilla trekking permit will allow you exactly one hour in their presence. However, the gorilla trekking activity can take approximately 30 minutes to 9 hours to find the assigned gorilla family. Nonetheless, most tourists usually find them in less than 3 hours.

What is Gorilla trekking?

Gorilla trekking is defined as the activity of hiking in the rainforest jungles of Virunga Mountains slopes, looking for a habituated gorilla group and spending a specified time with them once found.

Gorilla trekking happens only in two habitats found in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC. One of the habitats is the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in southwestern Uganda, where 19 gorilla groups have been habituated for gorilla tourism and where almost half of all the mountain gorillas find refuge.

The second mountain gorilla habitat, where gorilla trekking occurs, is on the slopes of the Virunga Mountains straddling the border that separates the three countries. The Virunga habitat stretches into Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park (where 10 gorilla groups are habituated for tourism,) DRC’s Volcanoes National Park (10 gorilla groups) and Uganda’s Mgahinga National Park, where two gorilla groups are available for the gorilla trekking experience.

How much is a gorilla permit in Uganda?

A gorilla permit in Uganda costs USD 700 (£495/€575) per person per day. The minimum age for a permit is 15 years old. A permit for foreign residents (with work permits) costs $600, and EAC nationals cost UGX 250,000 per person.

The Uganda gorilla permit is issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and sells at face value (which means it doesn’t matter where you buy it, the price is the same). However, special permit offers are occasionally available, as shown below.

Gorilla trekking permit discounted offers in Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Park;

• National, EAC—UGX 150,000 ending June 31, 2023
• Foreign residents—$300 ending June 31, 2023
• Foreign non-residents—$400 ending June 31, 2023

How much is a gorilla permit in Rwanda?

A gorilla permit in Rwanda costs USD 1,500 (£1,062/€1,232) per person per day. The minimum age for a permit is 15 years old. Special permit offers are currently available as shown below:

Gorilla trekking permit offers in Volcanoes National Park

• Nationals, EAC—$200
• Foreign residents—$500
• Corporates/Organizations—10% discount on bulk purchases from 30 permits
• Families—15% discount for family visits (couples and children over 15 years old)
• African citizens—a promotional $500 will be applied for mountain gorilla trekking.
• International tourists (Non- non-African citizens) travelling in a group of 100 or more—a promotional rate of $500 will be applied for mountain gorilla trekking.