Volcanoes National Park is situated in the northern part of Rwanda. It is famous for the mountain gorillas living along the slopes of the volcanic mountains present within the national park, there are 5 of the 8 series that make up the great Virunga region. Gorillas are the main attraction of the conservation area, together with golden monkeys, there are other mammals in the park for example mountain duikers, forest elephants, and giant forest hogs although they are rare to see and over 180 species of birds some of these are endemics to the Virunga region. This post will explore how to book a gorilla trekking permit in depth, as well as when and why to or not to use a licensed tour operator.

How to book a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda is a not-so-difficult process as long as you have the correct documentation and have confirmed a gorilla safari. Lately, gorilla permits are costed depending on the category of travellers to the destination: Foreign non-residents are charged $1,500 per permit, $500 for foreign residents and $200 for east African citizens. It is on some occasions that some of the permits are offered at a discounted rate for example if families are visiting with children above the age of 15 years they are given a discount of 15%. You are required to provide details to confirm a gorilla permit, and these include a valid passport, confirmed itinerary, and booking fees. It should be noted that permits once purchased are non-refundable unless travelers would like to reschedule to a later date.

Gorilla permits are obtained from the Rwanda development board, they can be purchased directly or through a domestic ground handler, the process begins with inquiring, the operator usually will advise on the availability of permits on the travel dates you have chosen to travel, as there may be applicable additional costs or discounts depending on the duration and nature of your trip. On daily basis Rwanda sells 96 permits per day, permits are purchased after an email confirmation while booking it is important to take note of the terms and conditions, more so about the gorilla rules and regulations.

Gorilla trekking is the major activity done in the Volcanoes National Park. It takes place beginning at the park headquarters in Kiningi, and rangers will guide you through the forest in search of the primates. It takes 2-8 hours depending on how far the gorilla families have moved. Coming one on one with the primates is one of the best things to do while in Rwanda, the gentle giants are habituated, they live in families of up to 20 members led by a male silverback. Other activities include golden monkey tracking, Hiking the Dian Fossey, and hiking volcanic mountains in the national park.

 It is best to book gorilla permits during the dry season of the year between December-February and June to September, the trails are much drier and easier to hike, and the weather conditions are more favourable during this time, it is also considered a high tourism season as many travellers prefer coming into the country in the months. The park can be reached by road for approximately a 2-hour drive from the Kigali International Airport.

Step-by-Step: How to book a Gorilla Trekking Permit

Time Needed : 1 days