Uganda Rwanda and DR Congo Gorilla Permits
The world’s largest population of mountain gorillas is found in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo, making these countries popular destinations for Eco tourists hoping to see these endangered animals. Thousands of visitors come to Uganda and Rwanda each year to go gorilla trekking. These trips not only provide an up-close encounter with these magnificent creatures, but they also help to fund mountain gorilla conservation. Every visitor must have a permit to see the mountain gorillas.
Permits can be obtained from a tour operator or safari company that purchased them from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in Uganda and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in Rwanda. A gorilla permit costs $700 in Uganda and $1500 in Rwanda. A gorilla permit is a document that allows you to visit mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda. With this permit, you pay for one hour in the company of one family of mountain gorillas. The fees for a gorilla permit are important because they limit the number of tourists who can visit the parks while also contributing to gorilla conservation efforts. It doesn’t matter how long you take to see the gorillas; the price remains the same for one hour.
What is included in the Gorilla Permit Expense?
A permit covers the entire trek with armed guides, from the time you enter the forest to the time you see the gorillas and return to the trekking point. Other expenses such as lodging, transportation, porter, water, meals, and so on are not included. When visiting Uganda and Rwanda for a gorilla safari, it is important to discuss with your tour operator whether you will need a porter, trekking pole, rain jacket, and other items to bring.
How to trek the mountain gorillas on a budget, companies that offer cheap and affordable gorilla safari tours in Uganda and Rwanda, how to save money on your Uganda safari, and where to find cheaper accommodation near the apes. See all Uganda budget safaris.
Uganda Gorilla Permits
So, how much does it cost to go gorilla trekking in Uganda? The cost of gorilla trekking in Uganda is determined by a number of factors, which we must consider in order to determine Uganda Gorilla trekking cost, because the cost includes the entire package rather than a single event or item of Gorilla Trekking Uganda. A gorilla permit costs $ 700 per trek per (1 hour with the gorillas). Per trek, a gorilla habitat permit costs $ 1500. (4 hours with the gorillas)
A three-day trek to see the gorillas starts at $1200 per person and includes transportation, lodging, and meals, though different tour operators charge different prices. You have the option of visiting either Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mount Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
It is important to note that gorilla trekking takes place in two national parks: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park, and getting to both is not an easy journey. The longer portions of the journey are all on tarmac roads, but you will almost certainly need a 4X4 vehicle to get to the parks and, more importantly, the trekking points where your Gorilla trek begins.
Bwindi National Park has four trekking sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo, each with its own set of challenges in terms of roads and vehicle requirements. Small vehicles can be rented for $45 to $60 per day, a medium 4X4 for $80 to $100 per day, and comfortable jeeps and Land Cruisers for $200 to $300 per day. These various price ranges only apply to car hire / rental without fuel.
Rwanda Gorilla Permits
For visitors to this small country of a thousand hills, gorilla safaris are the most sought-after adventure travel experience. Rwanda, as opposed to Uganda, is thought to offer a less strenuous gorilla trekking experience, dubbed “Africa’s easiest and most accessible gorilla trekking Safari experience.” Rwanda’s size (26,338 square kilometers (10,169 square miles) makes it easy to get around in a couple of days. Most importantly, you can visit Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, bird watching, and hiking activities.
In Rwanda, a gorilla permit costs $ 1500 per person. Rwanda offers luxury trekking options as well as high-end lodging for those looking to enjoy a luxury gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. Choose Bisate lodge or Kwitonda lodge when visiting Rwanda’s gorillas. A gorilla permit also includes entry into the national park, ranger guides, the one-hour adventure with the gorillas, taxes, and the Gorilla trekking certificate. You can now take a deep breath and enjoy the ultimate Mountain Gorilla trekking experience.
The gorilla permits must be purchased up to 6 months in advance. If you are traveling during peak season or in a large group. The earlier you book, the more options you’ll have for trekking and lodging. Late booking may be possible only during the low season when there are only one or two people trekking, but gorilla permits are not guaranteed. The high season lasts from June to October, and it includes the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Each gorilla family can be visited for one hour per day, with an off-peak discount in April, May, and November in Uganda, and both of these require advance booking. Both Uganda and Rwanda have a minimum age requirement of 15 years to track gorillas.
Gorilla permits can be purchased two years in advance through the Rwanda Development Board, or a registered Rwanda safari tour company. Furthermore, the benefit of booking with a tour operator is that they have intimate local knowledge of the available accommodation options and the proximity of gorilla families. These are familiar with the remote areas, and their drivers are experts at selling the slippery and steep dirt roads. If you plan to range your trip, as most people do, the company will provide travel recommendations as well as make all activity and lodging reservations for you.
Congo Gorilla permits
Planning a gorilla trek in Congo can be difficult if you are unfamiliar with the country and its national parks. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly known as the Belgian Congo and, more recently, Zaire, has experienced a series of wars that have resulted in civil unrest. However, as Africa’s second largest country, with a population of 78.74 million people, it has vast untapped human and natural resources.
Her future wealth potential is attributed to large deposits of oil, gold, diamonds, and other mineral resources. Furthermore, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is endowed with abundant tourism resources, including vast virgin tropical rain forests such as the Congo, mountains, bubbling crater lakes, water bodies, and rare bird and animal species such as the Okapi and pygmy chimp (Bonobos), many of which have yet to be discovered. While some of her neighbors can boast of having the majority of the remaining mountain gorilla families, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the only country in the world where you can see both lowland and mountain gorillas. They even have the critically endangered golden monkeys.
Congo is the cheapest option for gorilla tracking because a gorilla trek permit costs $ 400 per person per trek. You will have the opportunity to visit Virunga National Park in Congo. Going gorilla watching in Virunga is an exciting experience, but keep in mind that tracking can leave you exhausted, sweaty, and hungry. There are a few simple tips and things to keep in mind if you want to enjoy the entire experience, beginning when you enter the forest and look for the gorilla family. You must:-
Be mentally prepared and physically fit before tracking gorillas. When physically and mentally prepared, navigating the difficult terrain can be a breeze. If you are unsure of your general fitness, prepare for the tour by walking in the sun or walking long distances on foot.
Although gorilla tours are available all year, the dry season is the best time to visit Virunga National Park. Heavy rains in October and November, as well as March and April, can make the pathways muddy and slippery. Hire the services of a good and well-organized tour operator who will prepare everything in terms of bookings. A good tour company gives you detailed information about the tour and relieves you of the burden of doing everything yourself, leaving you with the task of simply showing up for the trek.
A well-planned gorilla trek includes a high-quality camera, plenty of water, snacks, a waterproof backpack, and insect repellents.
