How to book Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Permits

How to book Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Permits? Are you interested in visiting Rwanda to track and see the endangered mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, this will guide you on how to book Rwanda Gorilla trekking permits, before you book any other services for your gorilla trip to Rwanda we advise you first to confirm availability of gorilla trekking permits and secure them in advance for your planned dates of travel through a trustworthy tour operator or Rwanda Development Board. Rwanda is one of the three countries where you can see the endangered mountain gorillas in Africa and the other countries are Uganda and DR Congo.

In Rwanda you will track mountain gorillas at Volcanoes National Park, in Uganda, you will trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and then for DR Congo, you will do the trek in Virunga National Park. For you to be allowed to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda you are required to have a valid gorilla permit which is only purchased from Rwanda Development Board directly or through a Rwanda tour operator, this gorilla permit gives you an opportunity to spend one hour with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat in Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda has 12 Gorilla families hence 96 Gorilla permits are available each day for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.

Cost of Gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda

A Gorilla Permit in Rwanda costs USD1500 per person per trek for Foreign Non-Residents, USD500 for East African Residents and USD200 for East African Citizens.

Where is Gorilla trekking done in Rwanda?

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is done in Volcanoes National Park this gives you an opportunity to encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas up close in the misty montane vegetations of the Virunga ranges. Volcanoes National Park is one of the three National Parks that make up the Virunga ranges others include Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in DR Congo all these national parks share the same vegetation and environs where mountain gorillas survive.

How to check the availability of Gorilla trekking permits online for Rwanda

You can check gorilla trekking permits availability online in Rwanda through Rwanda Development Board, this is a Rwanda government body responsible for gorilla trekking permits booking for Volcanoes National Park, once you have your dates confirmed for gorilla trekking in Rwanda you will visit their website and check on Volcanoes National Park gorilla trekking then this link will take you directly to check whether permits are available for a given date or not, you can as well call them directly through their numbers on the website. Alternatively, you can check gorilla permits availability for Rwanda through Eco Adventure Safaris the number one gorilla safari company for Rwanda, Uganda, and DR Congo with great experience at securing for you the gorilla permits in advance and in time, contact us here and send us your planned dates of travel we will immediately check for you permits available online at Rwanda Development Board and confirm to you whether permits are available or not, if they are available and you are interested in this date we will go ahead and reserve them for you until you make payment and then purchase them for you.

How to book and buy gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda

Once you have your dates confirmed that you would like to do your gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park, if booked through Rwanda Development Board you will pay them directly then if through Hikers & Trekkers Safaris we will first tentatively reserve the permits for you online and the send you an invoice for you to make payment and once we receive the money on our account we will purchase your gorilla permits immediately and send you scanned copies of your permits for your records and perusal.

Do I get and own the Gorilla permit after purchasing it in Rwanda?

After purchasing your gorilla permit you will only get a receipt to confirm purchase which we will send you through email if you book through us, the receipt has your names, trekking date, and Booking ID for your records and perusal these are the same items that are reflected on the gorilla permit card which is considered when signing in for gorilla tracking at Volcanoes National Park. At the start of your gorilla trek the permits are collected by the park authorities you are not allowed to own and go with the gorilla permit after trekking this permit only gives you permission to go for gorilla trekking in volcanoes National Park.

How long is the Gorilla permit valid in Rwanda?

Like in Uganda and DR Congo, a Gorilla permit in Rwanda is also valid from the time you purchase it to the time of your trekking date after this the booking ID expires and the gorilla permit becomes invalid with this it is advised you plan for your gorilla trek well in advance so that you are able to make it for the booked trekking date to avoid losing out on the permit. But it is also well understood that due to uncertainties sometimes one may not make it for his/her booked date of trekking with this it advised you to reschedule at least one week before your trekking date or request for a refund in advance contact us here for more details.

Where to stay in Volcanoes National Park during your Gorilla trekking in Rwanda

Lodges in Volcanoes National Park range from Budget, mid-range to luxury options, Luxury options include Sabinyo Silverback Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Virunga Volcanoes Lodge, Five Volcanoes Hotels and Mountain Gorillas’ Nest Lodge. Their price range from USD300 to USD1000 per person per night give you the best time ever during your stay during your gorilla trekking safari in Volcanoes National Park, They have great hospitality, clean rooms, VIP rooms and all have put in place the set SOPs for prevention of the spread of the corona virus and all are ensuring safety and health of their clients.

The Midrange lodge options in Volcanoes National Park include Mountain Gorilla View Lodge and Lebambou Gorilla Lodge, Davinci Lodge.

Budget lodge options in Volcanoes National Park are many from basic accommodation to camping one can choose from Kinigi Hotel, Hotel Muhabura, Gorilla Solution Lodge, Villa Gorilla, Virunga Hotel, Faraji Hotel and La Palme Hotel or Home Inn. 

How to get to Volcanoes National Park for Gorilla Trekking

By Road: The drive from Kigali town or Kigali International Airport on arrival is just 2-3 hours drive to Volcanoes National Park. Your driver-guide will meet you for a short briefing then set off to the park through the beautiful sceneries giving you an opportunity for photographs and sightseeing, the park is located close to Rwanda making it easy to book a one-day gorilla trek.

What is the Best time for Gorilla trekking in Rwanda?

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is done throughout the year and the best time to do gorilla trekking in Rwanda is during the drier months of January, February, June to early September, this gives a clear view of the mountain gorillas given the fact vegetation cover is not too much high grown.

Why book with Eco Adventure Safaris your Gorilla Permits for Trekking in Rwanda

Eco Adventure Safaris is the best Gorilla Safari company to organize and lead you all through your gorilla trekking tour safely amid the prevailing COVID-19 we respect all the set SOPs as well focus on protecting our environment through incorporating eco-friendly practices and measure while arranging your trip, all our vehicles are customized to safely travel in, have face masks, hand sanitizers and all our drivers are following the set SOPs to prevent COVID-19. We are ready to book for you your gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo contact us and we advise you on the booking process. How to book Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Permits