GORILLA PERMITS IN RWANDA

Gorilla Permits in Rwanda.

Rwanda is one of the three countries in the world that are home to the famously known endangered mountain gorillas and is also home to a diverse population of animals inclusive of lions and the world’s largest natural park for hippos, among others.

Rwanda is one of the smallest countries located in the very heart of Africa in the extreme southwestern border of Uganda. Much as Rwanda is still a developing country, its tourism being more based on the conservation of mountain gorillas has helped to put the country in the lime light of achieving economic growth.

Mountain gorillas are one of the most endangered primate species in the world and in Rwanda they can be seen in the Volcanoes National Park [Parc Nationale De Volcans]. As of 2018, the number of gorilla groups habituated in this park has increased to 10, growing from only seven 2 years back.

When planning a gorilla safari to Rwanda before tracking, you need to have a gorilla permit and you can only acquire it through Rwanda Development Board, Tourism department. Also your travel agent can be a reliable source of booking gorilla permits because they know when, where, and how to book and pay for your gorilla permit.

Gorilla permits have got limits both age and time limits. One must be 15 years and above to be eligible to acquire a gorilla permit in Rwanda. A typical day for gorilla tracking starts at 7am and the experience may go up to 4 hours while searching for the gorillas, but you are only allowed maximum of 1 hour after meeting with them.

In the one hour of face to face interaction, visitors are allowed to view, photograph and watch and learn more about the day-to-day life of a particular gorilla family.

It offers each person an hour of interaction with the gentle giants. Once found to be sick or in case of cancellation of gorilla tracking, Rwanda development board refunds 50% of your fee.

Gorilla tracking is the prime tourist activity of all the wildlife activities in Rwanda and it has become popular due to the fact that mountain gorillas are restricted to the three East African countries. It’s important that if you’re to make a booking for gorilla permits in Rwanda, do it early enough so that it can be made for your desired travel date because they usually get sold out due to the numbers that need to engage in the activity.

In May 2017, Rwanda doubled its gorilla permit fees from $750 to $1500 per person for one hour of seeing the gorillas. The prices took effect from the date of announcement but visitors who are to stay longer for three days or more visiting the gorillas or other 3 national parks in Rwanda are offered 30% discount; and also conference tourists who would like to track gorillas are eligible to 15% discount.

Rwanda has marketed itself as a luxurious destination and also has got the most expensive tourist activity the $1500 gorilla permit, not only for the non-residents but also for the East Africans and Rwandans themselves. This has left tracking gorillas in Rwanda to the high-end travelers.

For the case of midrange and basic travelers, the best alternative destination for gorilla trekking is Uganda, in its 2 national parks, Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga national parks. Due to security hiccups, Congo’s Virunga national park, which was another alternative was closed until 2019.

A gorilla permit in Uganda costs 600$, and visitors are given a full one hour to view, photograph and learn the routine life of mountain gorillas.

With growing numbers of people going to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda, the rainy season which runs from April, May and November may be the right to trek gorillas in Rwanda because it’s not as competitive, but the ideal season which runs from December, March, June and September remains the best time for gorilla tours in Rwanda; these are dry season months and so they offer best views with less strenuous hikes.

Rwanda’s gorilla hub, Volcanoes national park is located in North-west and is reached with in just a two hour drive from Kigali international airport and Kigali city, the capital of Rwanda.