Gorilla Trekking Permit; Uganda, Rwanda & Congo
A gorilla trekking permit is an authorization card issued to tourists, allowing them to spend a standard time of 1 hour with endangered mountain gorillas in their habitats.
A gorilla trekking permit is an essential aspect to consider for travelers planning to embark on a gorilla trekking adventure, catching a glimpse of mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
There are only three countries on the globe located in the east of Africa that primarily offer gorilla trekking adventures, namely Uganda, Kenya, and Congo. These countries are home to the remaining population of endangered mountain gorillas, which is estimated to be around 1,063, living in their natural habitats.
The most popular destinations for gorilla trekking adventures are Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda
To encounter these magnificent primate species, a visitor must possess a gorilla trekking permit. Gorilla trekking not only allows access to gorilla natural habitats but also helps ensure the protection and conservation of these endangered primate species.
Note that gorilla trekking permits are generally limited in supply with Bwindi Impenetrable national park in Uganda issuing 152 permits per day, Mgahinga gorilla national park 8 gorilla permits per day and Volcanoes National park in Rwanda issuing 96 permits per day. This is done to ensure minimal disturbance to the mountain gorillas and their natural habitats.
How to get a gorilla trekking permit
Rwanda issues gorilla trekking permits for Volcanoes National Park through the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). In Uganda, the Uganda Wildlife Authority is responsible for issuing gorilla trekking permits, while in Congo, the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) issues the permits.
As of 2024, the cost of a gorilla trekking permit is $1,500 in Rwanda, $800 in Uganda, and $400 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
You can obtain a gorilla trekking permit through a licensed and reputable tour operator that offers gorilla trekking safaris. Alternatively, you can also secure the permit directly through the respective wildlife authorities.
What are the Requirements for obtaining a Gorilla Trekking Permit?
Adventurers are advised to secure gorilla trekking permits months in advance at least 6 months , due to high demand and limited supplies and high demand, especially during peak travel seasons from June to September and December to February.
During the booking process, visitors are required to provide personal details including full names, nationality, passport number, and preferred trekking date. Gorilla trekking is restricted to individuals aged 15 and above. Visitors within the specified age range must be in good health to ensure the protection of the endangered mountain gorillas.
What does a Gorilla Trekking permit Cover?
A gorilla trekking permit includes park entry fees, a guided trek with professional park guides and rangers, a pre-trek briefing on trekking guidelines and safety measures, as well as conservation fees to ensure the well-being of these endangered species.
Gorilla Habituation Permit
Gorilla habituation is a unique process that involves acclimating wild gorillas to human presence in their natural habitats. This experience is more immersive than standard gorilla trekking, as visitors spend up to four hours with the gorillas, actively participating in the habituation process. Trekkers play a crucial role in helping these endangered species become comfortable with human presence, ensuring the safety of both the gorillas and the humans.
Uganda is the only country offering the gorilla habituation experience, which takes place in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi is renowned for housing the largest population of gorillas in the world. A gorilla habituation permit is more expensive than a regular gorilla trekking permit, costing USD 1,500 per individual trekker.
This higher cost reflects the extended duration and participatory nature of the experience.
Are gorilla permits Refundable?
Gorilla permit cancellation policy; Gorilla permit cancellation policy varies depending on different organizations issuing these permits. Typically, cancellation policies are set by the wildlife Authorities in respective countries which offer gorilla trekking adventurous activities that’s Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.
Below is the refund policies for gorilla trekking permits in these countries;
Uganda Gorilla Permit Cancellation Policy (Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga gorilla National Park )
In Uganda, gorilla trekking permits are managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority and Cancellation policies are as follows;
If you cancel with in a period of 91 days and above, you receive 75% refund and UWA retains a 25%.
Gorilla permit cancellation within a period of 46 to 90 days before your trekking dates, comes with a 50% of refund.
If you intend to cancel your tracking permit within a period of 1 to 8 before your trekking dates, you get no refund.
Gorilla permit cancellation in Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park)
Gorilla trekking permits of Rwanda are managed by Rwanda Development Board and its cancellation policy states that if a tourist refunds from 31 days and above before the trekking dates, he/she calls for a refund of 50% of the gorilla trekking fee and a cancellation between a periods of 1 to 30 days before the trekking dates comes with no refund.
Gorilla permit cancellation in Democratic Republic of Congo (Virunga National Park)
Gorilla trekking permits in Virunga National Park o Congo are managed by the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN). The cancellation policy for these permits is usually:
If you intend to cancel after a period of 30 days before your trekking dates, you get a full refund.
Gorilla Permit cancellation with in a period of 15to 30 days before the trekking dates calls for a 50% refund.
If a trekker cancels with in a period of 8 to 14 days after booking, he gets a 25% refund.
A gorilla permit cancellation in a period of 1 to 7 days before the trekking dates calls for zero refund.
Generally, refund requests usually require formal written requests which is accompanied documentations such as the original permit and proof of payment.
If a gorilla permit was booked from a tour operator or through any travel agency, their cancellation policies may vary and most often ten to be much stricter than the official policies.
Please note that gorilla trekking permits are nontransferable meaning they cannot be exchanged resold to someone else.
Advice to trekkers about gorilla permit cancellation
Trekkers are advised to obtain a comprehensive travel insurance covering for cancellations inclusive of specific adventurous activities like gorilla trekking.
Where possible, trekkers are advised to plan their itineraries in away that allows flexibility in case of unexpected changes leading to a gorilla permit cancellation.
Due to limited supply, trekkers are advised to secure their gorilla trekking permits as early as possible but also being aware aware of the cancellation policies of their safari agents just in case there is change in plans and may wish to cancel their trip.
How Many Gorilla Permits Are issued Per Day?
Gorilla trekking permits issued per day are strictly limited to minimize human impact on the mountain gorillas and their natural habitats. Number of gorilla varies permits available per day varies, depending on the country.
In Uganda, Uganda Wildlife Authority issues 8 permits to 8 individuals per habituated gorilla family per day in both its Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla National park.
Bwindi impenetrable National park is comprised of several habituated gorilla families spread across its sectors, therefore the number of permits issued per day typically depends on the number of gorilla families available for trekking in the natural habitats.
In Rwanda, specifically in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda Development Board issues 8 permits per habituated gorilla group per day. The park is comprised of about 12 habituated gorilla groups that are available for trekking every day therefore approximately 96 gorilla permits are issued to 96 individuals every day.
In Virunga National Park of Congo, the number of permits issued per day depends on the number of habituated gorilla groups that are accessible for trekking.
For the Gorilla habituation experience specifically carried out in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, four gorilla permits are issued per each habituated gorilla group per day. The number of permits issued is limited compared to that of a gorilla trek to ensure a controlled and more intimate interaction which is the crucial part of a gorilla habituation process.