Where Can I Find Gorilla Permits In Uganda or Rwanda For Last Minute booking

Finding the gorilla permits for last minute gorilla safari booking in Uganda or Rwanda is a probability attempt where you may try to apply the fingers crossed approach to stay hopeful of when finding availability. No matter what season you choose to travel for gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experience safari, the chances of finding gorilla permits are always a hassle because of there limited supply. Contact Us

The availability of gorilla permits for the peak season that is June to October and December to February, finding last minute permits is quite challenging because majority of them are reserved before season opening in Uganda and Rwanda. There are limited chances of finding the gorillas permits for Uganda and Rwanda at the last minute but in case you are desperate, you may keep checking for gorilla permits on resale. The low tourism season in Uganda and Rwanda normally presents less demand for gorilla safaris and so chances of finding the gorilla permits for last minute bookings may be more open although not guaranteed. The low tourism season in Uganda or Rwanda is normally March to May and late October to November and so happens that it is the expected rainy season too.

Popular safaris in Uganda and Rwanda

3 day gorilla trekking in Rwanda

4 day gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda

5 day gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda

6 day gorilla and game safari in Uganda

7 day gorilla, chimpanzee and wildlife safari in Uganda

3 day Uganda Gorilla trekking tour

10 day gorilla, chimpanzee and game safari in Uganda

How to find Gorilla Permits In Uganda or Rwanda For last Minute Bookings

At Uganda wildlife Authority or Rwanda Development Board

In Uganda, Uganda wildlife Authority or In Rwanda, Rwanda Development Board have the mandate to regulate and sell gorilla permits. Even for last minute gorilla safari bookings, the first place where to try to find gorilla permit availability is at these bodies.

During the peak tourism season, most tourists reserve there gorilla permits in advance in preparation for the high season when they sell out. Each day in Uganda or Rwanda maximum 8 gorilla trekking permits are opened to the public and maximum 4 gorilla habituation experience permits are opened to the public in Uganda. The number of gorilla permits was minimized for conservation purposes in order not to overwhelming the forest and its inhabitants with mass tourists.

Even those gorilla permits that are paid for instalments and the owners donot top them up, they are re-opened to the public so you may take advantage of this opportunity to purchase the gorilla permits at the last minute. Rwanda Development Board and Uganda Wildlife Authority accept instalment gorilla permits purchase at 30 % and 70% respectively as long as you purchase the gorilla permit 90 days before the gorilla safari day and remember to top up before 90 days to the safari day.

Gorilla Permits on Resell

Sometimes tour operators in Uganda or Rwanda through some of the Umbrella bodies help tourists resell the gorilla permits that they may be incapable of using. Although this is not guaranteed spot to find gorilla permit availability for the last minute gorilla permits search, you may need to exhaust all avenues. To access information about the possibility of gorilla permits being on sale can only be open to tour operators registered to these umbrella bodies so as a tourists planning the gorilla safari in your own, it is hard to find this information. This is one of the reason you need a tour operator to handle the groundwork for you when planning any Africa safari.  This saves you from the possible hassle that comes with planning and putting things together safari amenities.

Find On ground gorilla permits in Uganda or Rwanda

Another alternative is to find the gorilla permits on ground however this is only for those with strong faith otherwise there are chances of misfiring. Some tourists have been lucky to find gorilla permits for Uganda or Rwanda on ground. Sometimes there are no-shows without reason so tourists on waitlist may take advantage of this opening but it only applies when on ground.

This is a very risky attempt to finding a gorilla permit in Uganda or Rwanda for a last minute gorilla safari booking. In Uganda, the gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are booked according to the four areas under which the park is divided that is Buhoma, Rihija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. To drive from one area and cross to another for gorilla trekking briefing is quite taxing.

Book the Gorilla permit For last Minute Bookings in Advance

It is possible to purchase the gorilla permit for a Uganda or Rwanda gorilla safari in advance and withhold confirming other related amenities such as accommodation, transport as you put yourself together. There are chances to even reschedule the Uganda or Rwanda gorilla permit to a new date in case you change your mind over the pre-booked date.

When you fail to confirm other related safari logistics, you may end up dis-organizing yourself especially in the peak season when demand for every safari amenity is high. Most of the best options sellout in advance.

The low tourism season on Uganda or Rwanda may present better chances of finding gorilla permits at the last minute even though it is not a guarantee all the time.

Where to do Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda or Uganda

Gorilla Safari destinations In Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is the only home to the mountain gorillas and it is a pristine forest nestled in northwestern part of the country. At the moment about 12 Rwanda gorilla trekking families are open to the public some of which includes Hirwa, Susa, Umubano, Amahoro and others.

In general, the gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda is steeper compared to her counter parts Uganda and D.R.Congo with whom they share the only mountain gorillas there is in the world. The topography of Volcanoes National Park is jugged because of volcanic activities in this area of Rwanda. The Park has five of the six Virunga volcanoes that is Mountain Karisimbi, Muhavura, Sabyinyo, Bisoke and Gahinga    In general, the gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda is steeper compared to her counter parts Uganda and D.R.Congo with whom they share the only mountain gorillas there is in the world. The topography of Volcanoes National Park is jugged because of volcanic activities in this area of Rwanda. The Park has five of the six Virunga volcanoes that is Mountain Karisimbi, Muhavura, Sabyinyo, Bisoke and Gahinga

Other than, the mountain gorillas Volcanoes National Park is home to the endangered golden monkeys which you may get to see when you book a golden monkey trekking permits. Other primates that are residents of Volcanoes National Park in include grey-cheeked mangabey, Vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus and others. More than 200 birds are confirmed residents of Volcanoes forest.

Gorilla Safari destinations in Uganda

Bwindi impenetrable National Park

Bwindi impenetrable National Park is one of the homes to the mountain gorillas in Uganda with so far about 19 gorilla trekking families open to the public and 4 gorilla habituation families. The size of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was too huge to be managed by a single administration there four it was divided into four areas that is Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo. When booking the gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi, they are reserved according to these areas.

Other than the mountain gorillas Bwindi forest which is a biosphere reserve is home to other primates including wild chimpanzees, blue monkeys, black and white colobus, olive baboons and others. More than 350 bird species have been confirmed as residents of Bwindi forest. Over 88 month, 200 different tree species, more than 312 butter fly species and others.

Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park is one of the untamed wildernesses in Uganda but home to mountain gorillas too. At the moment one gorilla family has been confirmed as open to the public that is called Nyakagezi. Other residents of Mgahinga National Park include

Mgahinga National Park is home to the golden monkeys one of the endangered primates species in the world with about 4000 golden monkeys left in the world. While on Uganda safari, and wish to add golden monkey trekking or habituation experience to the activities you wish to be part of, you have to reserve a permit first.

This forest park is home to other primates too including blue monkeys, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, L’hoest and others. More than 115 bird species have been confirmed as residents on Mgahinga forest including chances of spotting Albertine endemics.

How much is the cost of the Gorilla safari permits in Uganda or Rwanda

In Rwanda, the current cost of the gorilla trekking permit is $1500 for foreign nonresidents, $500 for foreign residents, $500 for Other Africans and $200 for East Africans.

In Uganda, the current cost of the gorilla trekking permit is $800 for international nonresidents, $700 for international residents, 300,000 shs for East Africans. In Uganda and Rwanda, the cost of the gorilla trekking permit includes one hour with the fully habituated gorilla family,   

The cost of the Rwanda and Uganda gorilla trekking permit includes one hour with the mountain gorillas, mountain gorilla conservation, park entrance fees, security and other costs. Exclusions in the cost of Rwanda and Uganda gorilla trekking permit are tips, other personal expenses.

The current cost of gorilla habituation experience permit in Uganda is $1500 for international nonresidents, $1000 for international residents and Other Africans and 750000shs for East Africans.

The inclusions in the cost of the gorilla habituation experience permits of Uganda are four hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family, park entrance, ranger guide fee, mountain gorilla conservation support and others. The exclusions in the cost of Uganda gorilla habituation experience permits are tips, accommodation and other personal expenses.

Which is a better gorilla safari destination between Uganda and Rwanda

Both Uganda and Rwanda are great gorillas trekking destinations in Africa even though they may have differences somewhere.

The Rwanda gorilla trekking safaris happen in Volcanoes National Park only where in Uganda, gorilla tours are in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.

At the moment Uganda has about 20 gorilla trekking families and 4 gorilla habituation experience families whereas Rwanda currently has about 12 gorilla trekking families open to the public.

The current cost of Rwanda gorilla trekking permit is $1500 per person whereas the gorilla trekking permit cost for Uganda is $800 per person.

From Kigali city in Rwanda, the drive time to Volcanoes National Park is about 3 hours whereas the drive time from Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park is about 8 to 9 hours excluding stops.

From Kigali in Rwanda, you may drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park in Uganda as an alternative shorter route rather than the long drive from Kampala to Kigali.

After or before gorilla safaris in Uganda, a number of optional safari destinations can be arranged including game drives in Uganda, chimpanzee safaris in Uganda, visit the source of River Nile, water activities on Uganda safari and others. Rwanda has limited options of activities to do after or before gorilla trekking tours including game drives in Rwanda, cultural tours in Rwanda and others.

How Safe Are The Gorilla Safaris In Uganda Or Rwanda

The gorilla safaris in Uganda or Rwanda are safe because on ground there is a security team from each country. The ranger guides often do joint operations with other security organs in the country to maintain law and order in and around these gorilla safari destinations in each respective country. 

On ground there are gorilla safari rules that are expected to be followed by tourists when with the mountain gorillas so that they can enjoy that moment with these primates. Although the mountain gorillas may not be violent, they can charge when provoked but no need to panic as at times they are trying to tease there visitors. Upon noticing some odd behavior amongst the mountain gorillas wait for the ranger guide to establish the cause of the matter. Follow the example of the ranger guide even if getting to the extent of trying to chew some foliage. Showing submission before the dominant silverback may earn you more time with the gorilla family or else he may command them to retrieve as soon as he gets irritated by your presence

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