Book 2014/14 Gorilla Permits in Rwanda: Information for Booking Rwanda Gorilla Trekking / Tracking Permits.

To book your Gorilla Permits for href="../safaris/east-africa-safaris/"> Gorilla Tours to Rwanda or Uganda, Follow this procedure: Please Note that we do not charge any fees for buying gorilla permits if you are booking the tour service, or the transfers with us.

In Rwanda, Gorilla tracking is done in Volcanoes National Park (Parc Nationale du Volcanoes) and gorilla trek/ tracking permits booking is managed by the Rwanda Tourism Office (ORTPN). Each gorilla permit costs US$750 in Rwanda. On each particular day, about 56 persons can visit Rwanda gorillas, 8 persons per each gorilla family.

Gorilla permits are in high demand, because of the stiff competition for them, and therefore are booked with payment on the basis of first come first served. Book your gorilla permit in advance to avoid disappointment.

Let us Help you book you Gorilla Permit and Safari (no fees on permits)

To track gorillas each person must have the day’s gorilla permit which needs to be arranged and paid for in advance, preferably at least 10 months for the high seasons - June-September and December-February; or latest 4-6 months in advance for the low seasons - October-November and March-May.

In Rwanda Gorilla Permits can only be purchased from ORTPN , either directly or through a tour agent. Contact us for the latest status of availability, even for last-minute bookings.

Gorilla permits are booked with payment on the basis of first come first served. Availability of gorilla permits for a required date is not guaranteed. There is a lot of competition for the gorilla permits, which makes it hard to get one for yourself. Any delay in confirmation and/or payment may mean that you will be unable to obtain the permit on your preferred date.

Once you book and send your money for permits, the date cannot change (changing a tracking date means a cancellation fee is charged). Rwanda charges $100 for each permit date changed.

Booking Gorilla Permits directly through ORTPN
To book your gorilla permit (from out of Rwanda) you first have to contact ORTPN’s reservation office by email inquiring about availability of the dates you intend to track the gorillas. If the exact dates you want are unavailable, you can request ORTPN to let you know of the nearest dates. You then reply to them expressing your intent to book those permits, and requesting them to temporarily hold them as you make payment. At this time, they will advise you of their banking details, so that you can proceed to make an electronic transfer of the money. Please remember to immediately send a copy of the transaction voucher/ receipt by email or fax to ORTPN.

The transfer should usually take not more than 3 days and ORTPN will keep your tentative booking for at least 7 days as they await the transfer to go through. Please ensure that you instruct you bank to deduct the bank charges from you. Otherwise is the money sent is less, your permit may not be booked.

Booking Gorilla Permits through a Tour and travel agent

Many intending gorilla trekkers have however found the above procedure tedious and have sought our quicker and less tedious ways of reserving their gorilla permits by working with local Rwanda tour operator. The tour operators will usually charge a fee of US$25-$60 per gorilla permit. Gorillas and wildlife safaris will not charge you for buying gorilla permits if you are getting other tour services (like transfers and tours) through them.
The procedure is almost similar as above, except that the tour agencies tend to speed-up the process and most likely you will get you gorilla permit confirmation faster.

1. Contact us and let us know of the dates you want to tour Rwanda with the days you want to see the gorilla permits

2. We let you if the days you want for your gorilla tour are available for gorilla tracking and tentatively book them for you (but with no guarantee).

3. We send you our bank details for you to send the money for gorilla permits.

4. It takes about 16 hours for us to receive the money from your bank and pay for your permits. We shall send you acknowledgement for the money and the official Gorilla Permit (by scan and email). Please ensure you pay the bank charges when authorizing the transaction.
We do not charge any fee for gorilla permits buying/booking if you are booking the rest of the tour (or a part of it) with us. In case we do charge, this is to cater for any costs like telephony, transport, etc we incur to get you the permit.

5. Send us your passport details to register your gorilla permits. Usually, we only need the Full names, passport number, and nationality.

Let us Help you book you Gorilla Permit and Safari (no fees on permits) more >>

6. We register your names and get the gorilla permits. We send you scanned copies of your gorilla permit.

As soon as the payment has been received, the permits for gorilla tracking be purchased. Getting a gorilla permit is not a guarantee of seeing a gorilla. However, the chances of seeing them are 98%.

Related articles from our Blog:

Trekking Tour Packages in Rwanda and Uganda
1 day Gorilla trek Rwanda with tour price
2 days Gorilla tracking Rwanda with tour price
3 day Gorilla tracking Rwanda with tour price
4 days Rwanda Gorilla Tour -
5 days Gorillas trek Rwanda and Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda
5 days Rwanda, Uganda Gorillas
3 days Uganda Gorilla tour
6 days gorilla tracking, wildlife safari
14 days Uganda Rwanda Safari
7 days Uganda Gorilla Safaris
9 days Gorillas, primates wildlife
8 days Uganda Gorilla Game safari
7 days Gorillas, chimpanzee, wildlife -

Bwenge Family – A mountain gorilla group in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

13 Group (aka Agasha Group) Gorilla Family in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park

Karisimbi Gorilla Family (Susa-B gorilla group) of Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Sabyinyo Gorilla Group–A mountain gorilla family from Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

Amahoro Gorilla Group – A mountain gorilla family of Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Kwitonda Family–A mountain gorilla group in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Susa Group (Susa A Family) - Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

Who Needs and How to Apply for Rwanda Visa– Tourist Visa Entry Requirements

All you need to know about Golden Monkey Tracking in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

Gorillas are our closest living relatives among the World’s great apes, studies of fossils, genes, physiology and behavior have revealed just how recently our shared lineage divided. Gorillas are complex, highly intelligent apes besieged by threats on all sides, including poachers, diseases and confined to a dwindling habitat that is in constant danger of being further eroded.

Charismatic animals such as Gorillas serve as “flagship” species. The Mountain gorilla not only attracts public support in its own right, but also helps to focus attention on its afro-montane habitat, upon which many other species depend for survival.

Mountain gorillas are the big attraction of Bwindi and Mgahinga. They are very special animals - rare, gently, like us yet so different. Tracking gorillas is a unique experience - it leads you into a strange land to meet unusual creatures on their own terms. This can be humbling and thrilling at the same time.

We must stress that, while you have a very good chance of seeing gorillas, success is NOT guaranteed! They are wild creatures with no fixed routines.

The guides and trackers have helped to habituate the gorilla groups and know them intimately. They will take you to the areas where they left the gorillas the day before. Before leaving, they will be able to suggest how long the hike might take. While walking, please ask your guides to slow down if they are going too fast and if you need a rest. Feel free to stop and look at the birds or flowers, etc., the guide will ensure that they do not leave you behind. Watch out for safari ants on the trail - they bite and hang on, and if you step in them and get covered, the only solution is to strip. The actual trail you will follow will depend on where the trackers left the group and what signs they find to indicate where the group has gone. They are looking for crushed vegetation, broken plants that the gorillas might eat, and fresh dung. If you find the place where the group slept, you will see the gorilla's nests, which they make fresh each night.

When you find the gorillas, there is no guarantee that you will be able to photograph them. They often range in broken forest where vegetation is dense.

· When taking photographs, remember your subjects are black animals in dim light and use a fast film (400-800 ASA); over expose, if possible.

In order to minimize behavioral disturbance to the gorilla and the risk of exposure to human-borne disease some rules must followed:

· Do not use a flash - this could frighten the gorillas and bother other visitors.

· Please always keep your voices low. You will then also be able to observe the great bird life and other wildlife in the forest.

· DO NOT leave rubbish in the park. Whatever you bring into the forest should be carried back out with you.

· Keep a minimum of 5 meters (15 feet) from the gorillas. This is to protect them from catching human diseases

· Keep your voices down at all times. However, it is OK to ask the guide questions

· Do not eat or drink while you are near the gorillas. Eating or drinking inevitably will increase the risk of food/drink morsels/droplets falling, which could increase the risk of transmission of diseases.

· Sometimes the gorillas charge. Follow the guides example-crouch down slowly, do not look the gorillas directly in the eyes and wait for the animals to pass. Do not try and take pictures and do not attempt to run away. Running away will increase the risk.

· Flash photography is not permitted! When taking pictures move slowly and carefully.

· The maximum time you can spend with the gorillas is one hour. However, if the gorillas become agitated or nervous, the guide will finish the visit early.

· After the visit keep your voices down until you are 200 metres from the gorillas.

Remember gorillas are very susceptible to human diseases. The following are ways to minimize the risk your visit might pose to them:

· Respect the limits imposed on the number of visitors allowed with the gorillas each day. This minimizes the risk of disease transmission and stress to the group.

· If you are feeling ill, or you are carrying a contagious disease, volunteer to stay behind. An alternate visit will be arranged for you, or you will be refunded your money.

· If you feel the urge to cough or sneeze when you are near the gorillas, please turn your head away and cover your nose and mouth in order to minimize the spread of bacteria or viruses.

· Always stay 5 metres (15 feet) away form the gorillas. The further back you are, the more relaxed the group will be.

· Do not leave any rubbish (e.g. food wrappers) in the Park; foreign items can harbor diseases or other contaminants.

· If you need to defecate, whilst in the forest, please ask the guide to dig you a hole with a panga. Make sure the hole is 30cms deep and fill it in when you are finished.