A gorilla permit is your ticket to spend one hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family. Uganda and Rwanda both offer them, at very different prices.
What it costs
- Uganda: US$800 per person for treks up to 31 December 2026, and US$1,000 for treks from 1 January 2027.
- Rwanda: US$1,500 per person.
What the permit includes
Park entry for the day, a briefing, armed rangers and trackers, and one hour with the family once you find them. Porters, transport and accommodation are extra.
How they compare
Rwanda is quicker: Volcanoes National Park is a short drive from Kigali, which suits short trips. Uganda costs less and has more gorilla families spread across Bwindi and Mgahinga, and it pairs naturally with chimpanzees in Kibale and savannah game drives.
Short on time, choose Rwanda. Want more for your budget, choose Uganda.
How to book
Permits are sold by the park authorities in limited numbers and must be bought for a specific date. We secure yours as soon as your dates are set, then plan the rest of the trip around it.
Plan a trip around this
Tell us your dates and what you want to see. We will build the route.
