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.
The Cost of Gorilla Permits
The cost of a gorilla permit depends on the country in which you trek, the visitor category applicable to your booking, and the type of gorilla experience selected.
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.
Booking your gorilla permit should ideally be one of the first steps in planning your safari.
Step 1: Send Us Your Preferred Travel Dates
Contact Gabba Gorilla Expeditions with your intended travel period, number of travelers and whether you prefer Uganda or Rwanda.
If your dates are flexible, providing several possible trekking dates can improve the chances of finding suitable availability.
Step 2: We Check Gorilla Permit Availability
We check the relevant availability for your requested dates and advise you about suitable options.
For Uganda, the trekking sector is extremely important because your accommodation should normally be selected in relation to the sector attached to your trekking arrangements.
Step 3: Confirm Your Preferred Trekking Date
Once availability has been established, we provide the booking details and payment instructions necessary to proceed.
Permit availability can change, so an availability check should not be treated as a confirmed reservation until the required booking and payment process has been completed
Step 4: Permit Purchase and Confirmation
After the necessary payment and traveler information have been received, the permit booking can be processed through the appropriate official system.
We then provide confirmation and incorporate the trekking date into your safari itinerary
Step 5: We Organize the Rest of Your Gorilla Safari
If you are booking a complete safari, Gabba Gorilla Expeditions can coordinate your private transportation, accommodation, airport transfers, park activities and other itinerary arrangements around your confirmed gorilla trekking date.
Information Required to Book a Gorilla Permit
When arranging a permit, travelers should be prepared to provide the information required by the relevant wildlife authority and booking process.
This may include your full name as it appears in your passport, nationality, passport details, preferred trekking date and other traveler information required at the time of booking.
Your passport is also important when traveling, as visitor eligibility and booking information may need to be verified.
How Far in Advance Should You Book Gorilla Permits?
We strongly recommend arranging gorilla permits as early as practical once your travel dates are reasonably certain. For travel during popular periods such as June to September and December to February, booking several months in advance is advisable.
Travelers planning highly specific dates, larger groups or luxury itineraries may benefit from planning even earlier.
During wetter periods such as parts of March to May and October to November, availability can sometimes be more flexible, but this should never be assumed. There is no universal rule that guarantees availability a certain number of months before travel. Permit demand changes according to season, group size, trekking destination and date. For this reason, checking actual availability is more useful than relying solely on a general booking timeline.
Can Children Get Gorilla Trekking Permits?
Gorilla trekking has a minimum-age requirement established by the responsible wildlife authorities.
Families traveling with children should therefore provide the ages of all travelers before permits and the wider itinerary are confirmed.
If some family members are too young to participate, Gabba Gorilla Expeditions can help plan alternative activities or suitable arrangements while eligible family members undertake their gorilla trek.
What Happens on the Day of Gorilla Trekking
Your day normally begins early with breakfast at your lodge followed by a transfer to the appropriate park briefing point. Park officials and ranger guides provide a briefing covering trekking procedures, forest conditions and appropriate behavior around the gorillas. Visitors are then organized according to the day’s trekking arrangements before entering the forest with the ranger team. The trek may involve steep slopes, thick vegetation, mud and uneven forest trails. Once your assigned gorillas are located, your ranger controls the encounter according to park regulations. For a standard trek, visitors normally receive up to one hour with the gorillas. After the encounter, you trek back out of the forest and continue with your safari program.
Gorilla Permit Cancellation and Rescheduling
Gorilla permit cancellation, amendment and rescheduling conditions are determined by the responsible wildlife authorities and can vary according to the circumstances and rules applicable at the time.
Travelers should therefore request the current cancellation and rescheduling conditions before making payment.
Do not assume that a gorilla permit is automatically refundable or transferable.
We also strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance that provides appropriate protection for your safari arrangements, subject to the terms of your insurance policy.
Tell us Exactly what you want
Ready to embark on an Unforgettable adventure in Africa? No idea where to start? No worries, just reach out?
If you are planning gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda in 2026/2027, contact Gabba Gorilla Expeditions with your preferred dates, number of travelers and desired destination.
We can help you check suitable permit options and design the rest of your journey around your gorilla trekking experience.
WhatsApp: +256 795881032
Email: info@gorillatrekkinginuganda-rwanda.com
A gifted Journey to the Mountain Gorillas Starts