A Gorilla permit is an official document issued by the government of a country where mountain gorillas are found allowing the bearer (who MUST be at least 15 years of age) to legally track and see Gorillas henceforth the name ” Gorilla permit/Pass”.
Gorilla Permits are an essential part of Planning a successful Gorilla Trekking Holiday. Every tourist is required to have, and present to officials on the day of the trek a valid gorilla Trekking Permit before they are allowed to attend the Mandatory Briefing On Gorilla Trekking which typically happens at 08:00 am of every single calendar day.
How to Book a Gorilla Permit
Gorilla Permits can either be booked directly with the responsible authorities like Rwanda Development Board (RDB) or Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). However, the best/easiest, or most convenient way to book a gorilla permit is through a trusted local tour operator like Realm Africa Safaris™
Realm Africa Safaris™ has over 10 years of experience in assisting clients book Gorilla Permits and arrange worry-free Gorilla Trekking trips to Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park & Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.
How to Book a Gorilla Permit through a Local Tour Operator
This is the best/easiest, most convenient & most secure way to book a gorilla permit In Both Uganda and Rwanda.
Simply contact your preferred tour operator with a choice of date(s) on which you would prefer to go gorilla trekking. For instance 01st – January 2024. Also, send a copy of your passport (bios page).
Learn More about Why your passport details are important.
The tour operator will then contact UWA or RDB to check if there are still gorilla Permits available for the date(s) of interest.
The tour operator will then get back to you with a response on whether or Not there are permits available. Assuming they are available, the tour operator will then advise on how you should pay for your gorilla Permit. This depends on if you are purchasing an all-inclusive Gorilla Trekking Holiday or only want the tour operator to buy the Gorilla permit and you arrange the rest of your tour – ask for my opinion, and I will say buy the all-inclusive tour as it saves you the hassle of having to figure things out, and reduces your chances of getting things completely wrong.
The DIY process might seem cheaper at the start, but can turn out to be alot more costly if you get one or two things wrong….you’ll be surely screwed.
Mountain Gorilla Permits in Uganda cost $800 per permit and $1,500 per permit in Rwanda. If you want the operator to only assist you to buy the Gorilla Permit, then they will and an extra service fee charge of between $50 – $100 per permit. Otherwise, if you are buying an all-inclusive Gorilla Tour, then they will not charge extra on the purchase of the permit – it will be one cost for organizing your entire trip. For instance, Realm Africa Safaris™ will charge you $1,280per person sharing for a 3 day all-inclusive road trip to Bwindi which includes a gorilla permit ($800pp), accommodation, meals, transport in a 4×4 Toyota Landcruiser driven by an experienced local Safari guide. However, if you contacted us to arrange just the gorilla Permit(s), we would ask you to pay $800 per person for Uganda or $1,500per permit for Rwanda Plus an extra service fee of $50 per permit.
Once your tour Operator receives your payment for the permit(s), they will make the payment and have your Gorilla Permit printed out and sent to you.
Requirements for booking a Gorilla Permit
- Decide on which date(s) you would like to trek gorillas: The first step is to decide on the date(s) you would Like to trek gorillas, and then either you or your tour operator will contact UWA/RDB. They will then reply advising on whether those dates are available or Not. Assuming the date(s) you want are available, you will then proceed to the next step. If the dates are not available, then you will have to think of alternative date(s).
- Pay for your Gorilla Permit: Considering that you have received confirmation regarding the availability of gorilla permits from UWA/RDB, then you will proceed to make payment for your gorilla permit via Visa, Credit card, or EFT to the bank accounts that UWA/RDB or your tour operator will provide you with. Ensure to get and keep a receipt for this transaction. How much is a gorilla permit? Currently, the Gorilla permits in Uganda cost $800 per person for foreign non-residents, $800 per person for Foreign residents, and UGX300,000 (approximately $80) per person for East African citizens, and $500 for Africans from the Rest of Africa. Rwanda Permits generally cost $1,500 per permit. Check out our Blog; Price Of gorilla permits In Uganda & Rwanda
- Send a scanned copy of your passport (bios page), and Payment receipt. You will be required to scan and send via email a copy of your Passport and Gorilla Permit permit receipt. The page that matters most in your Passport is your passport details page bearing your; Name, Date Of Birth, Passport Number, etc – we call it the Bios page. UWA will verify that payment has been made and thereafter they will send you a confirmation of your booked gorilla Permit.
