Where to Buy Permits for Gorilla Trekking – A gorilla permit is an authorization card given to tourists to allow them to visit gorilla national parks.
In Africa, three countries sell gorilla trekking permits. Each country has a governing body that sells the permits, or tourists can contact their tour operator to buy the permits for them.
Where to Buy Gorilla Permits
In Uganda, gorilla permits are bought from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Each gorilla permit costs:
- 800 USD for foreign non-residents per person per trek.
- 700 USD for foreign residents per person per trek.
- 300,000 UGX for East Africans.
In Rwanda, gorilla permits are bought from the Rwanda Development Board.
Each gorilla permit costs:
- 1,500 USD for tourists from outside Africa.
- 200 USD for East African citizens.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, gorilla permits are bought from the park offices or through a licensed tour operator.
Each gorilla permit costs:
- 400 USD per person for foreigners.
- 200 USD for Congolese citizens.
- 300 USD for SADC nationals.
Requirements for Obtaining a Gorilla Permit
- Valid Passport: A passport is a document that allows you to enter another country. It shows where the tourist is from and is also used to confirm their age and eligibility to trek.
- Valid Visa: You cannot enter a country without a valid visa for that country. A visa allows you to enter Uganda, Rwanda, or the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Proof of Payment for the Permit: Tourists must present proof of payment for the permit. This is the only way a gorilla permit can be issued in these countries.
About Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla trekking is an activity where tourists go into dense forests to search for mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking takes place in three countries: Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Gorilla trekking is available in four national parks:
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda.
- Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
- Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Gorilla trekking starts very early in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters. Tourists are then led by a well-armed park ranger into the forest to search for mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking takes about 4 to 6 hours as tourists search for gorillas. Once gorillas are found, tourists spend only one hour with them.
Gorilla permits are the only authorization for tourists to trek gorillas.
