How to book Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Permit 2024 to 2025
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To book the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit , you must have a confirmed time frame for your Rwanda gorilla safari. You need dates when you hope to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda and the number of permits you are willing to book in case you have company. 2 day gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda is the least time you can be on this gorilla safari holiday in Rwanda. Each day, Rwanda Development Board opens about 96 gorilla permit to the public to book.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda happens only in Volcanoes National Park and pristine forest within the Virunga area. The topography of Volcanoes National Park is influenced by five Virunga Volcanoes that is Mountain Karisimbi, Mountain Bisoke, Mountain Muhabura, Mountain Gahinga and Mountain Sabyinyo. Sometimes the mountain gorillas spend there daytime on the slopes of these highlands so you have to hike in order to locate them. At the moment, 12 gorilla families are ready for public visits in Rwanda some of which include Karisimbi, Umubano, Hirwa, Susa, Amahoro, Agashya and others
When booking the Rwanda gorilla permit, the age limit is 15 years and over because people of this age are regarded capable of withstanding the forest conditions. The time of locating the mountain gorillas is not easy to determine but people of 15 and over have the ability to keep on until finally finding the mountain gorillas which may be a challenge to children below 15 years.
At Arch safaris and tours, we help our clients book their gorilla permits and others safari logistics through our safari sales team when you contact us. You need to provide us the gorilla trekking date, number of permits you wish to book and the ages of people travelling with first. Working with us go organize the Rwanda gorilla safari lifts off your shoulder the burden of having to collect the gorilla permit and find the suitable amenities to support your visit to Rwanda.
If you decide to book the gorilla permit by yourself, you can directly purchase it online from the Rwanda Development Board website.
What is the Gorilla Trekking Permit for Rwanda?
The gorilla trekking permit for Rwanda is a ticket like document that allows you access to do the gorilla safari in Volcanoes National Park. The gorilla permit is nontransferable because it is given to only one person whose details are added.
Rwanda Development Board is the only body in Rwanda that issues and regulates the gorilla permits but with the assistance of an accredited tour operator, you can purchase the Rwanda gorilla permit.
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How To Book Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Permit.
Have a gorilla trekking date and number of gorilla permits
The date when you wish to do the gorilla safaris is important as gorilla permits are sold on per day basis. You can also provide a timeframe when you hope to do the gorilla safari from arrival to departure day from Rwanda. Its from this that a date when you will do the gorilla trek in Rwanda can be obtained but with your input and advise.
As soon as we receive your Rwanda gorilla safari inquiry, our safari sales personnel checks Gorilla permit availability from the list of Rwanda Development Board. Upon gaining positive gorilla permit availability, he or she gets back to you as soon as possible.
Our advise to clients is to book the gorilla trekking permit as soon as possible especially if you intend to do this Rwanda safari in the high season. The Rwanda gorilla permits for the peak season sell out fast. The peak Rwanda tourism season is normally June, July, August, September, December and January. Gorilla permits for this season sell out fast and in advance so to be on the safe side, book the gorilla permit atleast 6 months to a year in advance.
Avail some personal details like your full names, nationality, date of birth, passport expiry date, i.D details but when you make a mistake with these details you will be denied chance to do the gorilla trek as per the policy if Rwanda Development Board. These details are used for identification purposes.
What is the cost of Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Permit?
At the moment, the cost of Rwanda gorilla trekking permit is
$ 1500 per person per trek for foreign nonresidents
$500 for foreign residents in Rwanda and others East African countries
$200 for Rwandese nationals and East Africans
The cost of Rwanda gorilla trekking permit covers park entrance fees on the gorilla trekking day last 24 hours, ranger guide fees, one hour with the mountain gorillas, security, range guide fees, local community support, mountain gorilla conservation, certificate after the gorilla trek.
Exclusions in the gorilla permit cost for Rwanda treats, transport, accommodation and other personal expenses.
Can I purchase the Rwanda Gorilla Permit in Instalments?
Rwanda development board accepts gorilla permit instalment purchases of 30% and 70% respectively but you should purchase the gorilla permit before 90 days to gorilla trekking date and remember to top it up before 90 days to trekking day.
Failure to honor the gorilla safari top update attracts a penalty which may end in re-opening the gorilla permits to the public and deposit not refunded.
It is best to book the Rwanda gorilla safari in full so that you do not forget to top it up.
Is The cost of Rwanda gorilla Permit worth the money?
The cost of Rwanda gorilla permit is worth every penny as it gets you closer to the only leftover mountain gorillas in the world. Mountain gorillas are some of the endangered primates in the world with a population of about 1000 living the entire world. A brief history about the mountain gorillas is that by 1980s, the population census carried out then indicated that about 250 of these mountain gorillas were living in the world according to the team of naturalist Dian Fossey.
The plight of the mountain gorillas was brought to the concern of conservation bodies but funds were required to support this venture. Selling gorilla permits was one of the solutions adopted to support the conservation of the mountain gorillas. Whenever you purchase a gorilla permit, apportion of it is given to gorilla conservation bodies. You get to support the mountain gorilla conservation campaign in Uganda.
When you hire a porter to carry your gorilla trekking gears, it is one way to directly give back to the local community. A porter is a person who helps you carry your belongings and give you a push when tired during the gorilla safari. Porters are local people who earn a living from helping tourists.
Tipping service providers during the gorilla safari is one way to encourage them to even better there work and make the gorilla trek more interesting. Tipping is a token of appreciation for a good service given to you and although it is not a compulsory gesture, we encourage clients to tip generously.
How sure can I Be to find mountain Gorillas in Rwanda?
Finding mountain gorillas in Volcanoes national Park Rwanda is 98% guarantee. The gorilla families are first habituated to human presence till proven ready for public visits. The bulky size of the mountain gorillas does allow them to move fast as a fully grown male mountain gorillas weighs about 450 lb (200kg) and the female may weigh about half this weight.
Each day a team of ranger guides wakes up early to patrol Volcanoes National Park and establish where the mountain gorillas may have nested and possible day hangout spot.
These details are what they give to ranger guides as clues to follow with tourists after briefing.
The ranger guides also lead tourists on trails where the mountain gorillas were last seen the previous day. It is quite hard for mountain gorillas to move away from the area where they were last seen the previous day unless of disturbed.
Tourists are also asked to participate in the search for the mountain gorillas by listening to there sounds, chest thumping, giggles, freshly chewed on foliage, dung, freshly put down feeding area and other clues.
Upon finding the mountain gorillas, only one hour is allowed with them during gorilla trekking.
Is Gorilla trekking in Rwanda tiresome?
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is somehow tiresome because of the steep slopes where the mountain gorillas may spend there day time. The Volcanoes National Park is composed of five mountains that is Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Sabyinyo and Gahinga mountains. At times the mountain gorillas spend there day time in the valleys or slopes of these mountains so you have to hike to locate them.
You need to bear some level of fitness before the gorilla safari so as not to get tired prior to finding the mountain gorillas. Snack on the energy treats during the shorts breaks so as to reenergize while you trek to find the mountain gorillas.
Instead of focusing on finding the mountain gorillas only, do open your mind to other forest dwellers like olive baboons, black and while colobus, grey cheeked mangabey, wild chimpanzees and other forest dwellers. Look out for interesting features in the forest like ridges, plateaus , dense river network, sparkling water falls to pass time till you find the mountain gorillas.
What time do you return from gorilla trekking in Rwanda?
Return time from the gorilla trek in Rwanda volcanoes National Park depends on factors prevailing in the forest. From the starting point of the trek, some people have located mountain gorillas in two hours while others have spend three quarters of the day.
Finding the mountain gorillas depends on factors prevailing in the wilderness like in case they feed far from the starting point, death of a family member, in case of an attack from another gorilla family, weather conditions prevailing in the day and other factors.
Upon finding the mountain gorillas, only one hour is permitted with them so that they are allowed to go about there day today life. Human presence antagonizes the running of the day today life of the mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas spend there day life grooming infants, feeding on foliage, combing there fur, adventure seeking for adventurous gorilla families and so much more. Mountain gorillas live in cohesive families so the decision to move is first approves by the family.
What else Can I Do on Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari?
Although Rwanda has limited safari destination options, they are interesting to visit during a Rwanda visit. Other than gorilla trekking safari, you can also engage in:
Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
Golden monkey are charming monkeys with golden brown hairs that distinguish them from other monkey species. They live in communities under the leadership of an alpha male. Although they are first habituated, the golden monkeys still possess there natural traits so expect to remain at your toes while you search to locate them.
One needs to purchase the golden monkey trekking permit from Rwanda Development Board to gain access to these charming primates.
At the moment the cost of golden monkey trekking permit for Rwanda is
$100 for foreign nonresidents
$ 80 for foreign residents other East African countries.
$65 for East Africans and Rwanda foreign residents
Age limit for golden monkey trekking in Rwanda is 12 years and over
Birding in Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is a birder’s haven with over 200 bird species present in this park including Albertine rift endemics. Some of the birds you may spot in Nyungwe National Park include African Green Broadbill, Western Green Tinkerbird, Rwenzori Batis, White tailed Crested Flycatcher, African Hill Babbler, collared Apalis, Handsome Francolin and other species.
You need an experienced birding guide familiar with Rwanda birding destinations to get the best of your safari.
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park
During the chimpanzee trek in Nyungwe National Park, you get closer to human’s closest human relatives in the animal kingdom. Another community of chimpanzees lives in Cyamudondo just on the outskirts of Nyungwe National park but they are semi-habituated but charming to follow. One must have a Rwanda chimpanzee trekking permit to gain to this safari activity in Rwanda.
Canopy walk over Nyungwe National Park
Taking a canopy walk over Nyungwe National Park is memorable. This 90 meters long suspension bridge is not for the faint hearted but worth the experience. From the top you get the best view of Nyungwe National Park and its stunning surrounding features
Excursion hike on the Virunga Mountains
Taking a guided hike to either Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Bisoke, Mountain Muhavura, Mountain Sabyinyo and mountain Karisimbi is memorable. You get to enjoy the unseen vegetation of Volcanoes National Park that you can barely spot while on ground.
