Rwanda gorilla permits prices
Rwanda gorilla permits prices are a big key factor to one’s gorilla trekking experience in the country. Rwanda is one of the only three countries in the whole world where you can visit the mountain gorillas in particular. The mountain gorillas are one of the four sub species of the gorillas with the others being cross river gorillas, the western lowland gorillas and the eastern lowland gorillas.
The mountain gorillas can only thrive in the wild and these can be visited in the Volcanoes national park of Rwanda, the Virunga national park of the Democratic republic of Congo and in two national parks in Uganda which are the Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and the Mgahinga gorilla national park. These parks are all governed by the governments of the respective countries and each of these park prices their gorilla permits differently.
The Rwanda gorillas are tracked in the Volcanoes national park and this activity can be enjoyed once you purchase a mountain gorilla trekking permit. The Rwanda gorilla permits are issued by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the governing body of the country. These permits are priced differently all depending on several factors like season offers, residency status, group size or even company discounts.
The Rwanda gorilla permit previously was sold at a smooth 750 USD but in 2017, Rwanda marketed itself as a luxury destination and permit price doubled to exactly double going for a smooth 1,500 USD per permit per person taking on the activity. This is times two of the other mountain gorilla destinations whose permits go for 400 USD and 700 USD for DR Congo and Uganda parks respectively.
Rwanda delivers a different experience from the other destinations and this is why the 1,500 USD is justified. Trekking the mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes national park is said to be less strenuous and guests spot the mountain gorillas faster with less trekking and this could be backed by the type of vegetation in the area and the terrain as well.
Trekking the mountain gorillas in the Bwindi impenetrable forest national park for example will have guests making their way through thick bushes and crossing of rivers to get to the home of the mountain gorillas but in the Volcanoes national park, the land is hilly but the vegetation is majorly bamboo giving guests clear views of the mountain gorillas which is also evident in photos taken in this national park.
The Virunga national park as well as the Bwindi forest national park are located in thick rain forests and the gorilla treks usually last 4 hours or even more compared to the estimated 2 hours of trekking the gorillas in the Volcanoes national park. If the 1,500 USD for the mountain gorilla permit is high but you are interested in trekking gorillas in Rwanda, there are some offers one can look at.
Discount/ offers
- The Volcanoes national park is one of the four national parks of Rwanda among the Nyungwe forest national park and the Akagera national park. There is an offer of 30% off for guests who are going to spend or have spent 2 nights in each of these national parks thus Rwanda gorilla permits prices.
Once you have booked your safari with a tour with a tour operator and are scheduled to spend 2 nights in each of these parks, you are entitled to purchasing your mountain gorilla permit in Volcanoes national park at a discounted price of 1,050 USD each.
- There is also an offer for the guests visit the country on business to attend meetings, conferences or any exhibitions basically the MICE events in Rwanda. Once you have proof, you can purchase your gorilla permit at 15% off that is buying the permit at 1,275 USD per permit.
This is done as an initiative to encourage every visitor into the country to experience the mountain gorillas even if their purpose of travel was something else.
- Guests interested in spending much more time that the usual one day offer for 1 hour with the mountain gorillas, is welcome to purchasing a 3 day consecutive gorilla trekking Behind the Scenes experience. This is a 3 guests’ program where guests get to spend the whole day with the gorillas and the habituators at a fee of 30,000 USD for them all.
Residency offers.
- Rwandan nationals and East Africans
The Rwandan nationals as well as the nationals of the East African community countries are entitled to purchasing a gorilla permit at 200 USD. This is an initiative to have this category enjoy their region’s natural resources and also to promote domestic tourism.
- Foreign residents and African citizens.
The foreign residents of Rwanda are entitled to purchase a mountain gorilla permit in the Volcanoes national park at 500 USD. This category are those foreigners staying or working in Rwandan with identification.
The African residents also get to benefit from this period as they can purchase their permits at 500 USD too. This is a continent discount but only for citizens not residents.
- Corporates/Organization
The corporates or the organizations that organize trips once they purchase 30 permits, they are considered as a bulk purchase and they are entitled to a 10% discount on the permits purchased.
- Family discount
Families that are headed to Rwanda for gorilla trekking are entitled to a discount of 15% for the couple and their children. Please note only children aged 15 and above are accepted to do this activity and in Rwanda there is no indemnity form for the younger guests to sign so only those about 15 years will get the permit and the offer.
This offer has been running from the 31st of May 2021 and will keep running until December 31st 2022 and if you are interested in seeing which of these offers you can fit in, get in touch with us and let us plan for you the most affordable Rwanda tours in the most luxury gorilla destination.
