Planning a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda or Rwanda in 2026/2027 begins with one essential requirement: securing a gorilla trekking permit. A gorilla permit is the official authorization that allows a visitor to participate in a guided trek to see a habituated mountain gorilla family in its natural habitat.
Mountain gorilla trekking is one of Africa’s most sought-after wildlife experiences, and the number of visitors permitted to see each habituated gorilla family is strictly controlled. This means permit availability can become limited, particularly during popular travel periods. Travelers planning a Uganda gorilla safari, Rwanda gorilla trekking tour, luxury gorilla safari, or fly-in gorilla trekking experience should therefore consider securing permits before finalizing the rest of their itinerary.
Gabba Gorilla Expeditions can assist travelers with checking permit availability, coordinating suitable trekking dates and organizing a complete gorilla safari around the confirmed permit.
Gorilla Permit Prices 2026/2027
Uganda Gorilla Permit Prices 2026/2027
Uganda offers mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in southwestern Uganda.
The applicable permit rates should always be confirmed at the time of booking because wildlife authorities may revise fees and eligibility requirements.
Visitor Category| Gorilla Trekking Permit
Foreign Non-Residents| US$800 per person
Foreign Residents| US$700 per person
Rest of Africa / eligible African citizens| US$500 per person
East African Citizens| UGX 300,000 per person
Gorilla Habituation Experience| US$1,500 per person
Eligibility, residency requirements and current Gorilla Habituation Experience rates should be confirmed when booking.
A standard Uganda gorilla trekking permit provides the opportunity to spend up to one hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family after the gorillas have been located.
The Gorilla Habituation Experience is different. It is designed around a longer field experience with a gorilla group undergoing the habituation process and can provide considerably more time in the forest and around the gorillas, subject to the applicable wildlife-authority rules.
Rwanda Gorilla Permit Prices 2026/2027
Mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda takes place in Volcanoes National Park, located in the northwestern part of the country.
The standard international gorilla trekking permit has been priced at US$1,500 per person per trek, although travelers should confirm the current RDB rate and any applicable promotional or special categories when making a reservation.
Rwanda is particularly attractive to travelers looking for a convenient luxury gorilla trekking experience because Volcanoes National Park can be incorporated into an itinerary beginning in Kigali relatively easily.
What Is Included in a Gorilla Trekking Permit?
A gorilla permit is much more than an entrance ticket to a national park. It controls access to habituated gorilla families and contributes toward the management and conservation of the protected areas where gorillas live.
A standard gorilla trekking permit generally covers participation in the scheduled gorilla trek, services of the ranger team, access to the designated trekking area and the permitted period spent observing the gorillas after they have been located.
For a standard trek, visitors normally spend up to one hour observing the gorillas once their assigned family has been found.
The trekking itself can take considerably longer.
Depending on the gorillas’ location, terrain, weather and movement of the family, you may spend several hours walking through the forest before reaching them.