Plan with confidence
Gorilla trekking permit cost in Uganda and Rwanda
The permit is the heart of any gorilla trek — your reserved hour with a wild mountain gorilla family, and the funding that keeps them protected. Here is how the system works in Uganda and Rwanda, with the current figures in one place.
The numbers
What permits cost
Per person, foreign non-resident rates, as of June 2026. Permits are issued by the wildlife authorities, not by tour operators; these are their fees, separate from any safari package.
Uganda — Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga
$800
Set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). One hour with a habituated family. In April, May and November, a low-season rate of $600 applies — low-season permits cannot be rescheduled once issued.
Rwanda — Volcanoes National Park
$1500
Set by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). One hour with a habituated family. A reduced rate applies between November and May for itineraries that add at least two nights in Akagera or Nyungwe (one night in each also qualifies). That rate is $1050.
Habituation — Bwindi, Rushaga
$1500
The four-hour habituation experience runs in Bwindi's Rushaga sector; UWA has announced a rise to $1,800 under the next tariff cycle.
Chimpanzees — Kibale Forest
$250
Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale, with a $200 low-season rate in April, May and November.
Uganda gorilla permit, by residency
| Residency | Standard | Low season |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign non-resident | $800 | $600 |
| Foreign resident | $700 | $500 |
| Rest of Africa | $500 | — |
| East African citizen | UGX 300,000 | — |
Rwanda gorilla permit cost, by residency
| Residency | Permit |
|---|---|
| Foreign visitor | $1,500 |
| Foreign resident in Rwanda | $500* |
| African citizen or foreign resident in Africa | $500* |
| Rwandan or East African citizen | $200* |
Between November and May, foreign visitors can get 30% off ($1,050) by adding two nights in Akagera or Nyungwe, or one night in each, with a paid hotel stay and one activity there. One discounted permit per stay of three days and two nights.
Gorilla habituation experience, by residency
| Residency | Permit |
|---|---|
| Foreign non-resident | $1,500 |
| Foreign resident | $1,000 |
| Rest of Africa | $1,000 |
| East African citizen | UGX 750,000 |
Correct as at June 2026 and subject to change without notice. Permit fees are set by the wildlife authorities, not by us, and are shown per person unless a table states otherwise. They change on the authorities’ schedule rather than ours, so we confirm the current rate with every quote and the figure in your quote is the one that applies. These figures come from operator and guide reporting of the authorities’ tariff announcements, not from a current tariff document published by the authorities themselves.
Before you book
Your permit is for one sector of Bwindi
Bwindi is worked from four sectors — Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo — each with its own trailheads and its own gorilla families. A permit is valid in one sector only, so the sector settles your trailhead, the drive in and where you sleep the night before. Rushaga is the only sector where the four-hour habituation experience runs.
We settle the sector with you when the permit is booked, working from where you are travelling in from, where you will stay the night before, and how much walking you want on the day. More about Bwindi and its sectors.
How permits are booked · What the trek day is like · How fit you need to be
Choosing
Uganda or Rwanda?
Both are extraordinary. The right choice comes down to your route and your budget rather than to the gorillas themselves. Uganda’s permits cost roughly half Rwanda’s and Bwindi holds the largest population of mountain gorillas anywhere, but it is a long, scenic drive from Entebbe. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is a short drive from Kigali, which suits tighter itineraries. Many of our travellers combine the two countries in one journey — and because we run trips in both countries, we will say which one fits yours.
Good to know
Questions travellers ask about permits
- How much is a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda?
- As of June 2026, a Uganda gorilla permit costs $800 per person for foreign non-residents, set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and valid in Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga. In the low-season months of April, May and November a discounted $600 rate applies.
- How much is a gorilla permit in Rwanda?
- A Rwanda gorilla permit for Volcanoes National Park costs $1500 per person for foreign visitors, set by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) (checked 13 September 2026). Foreign residents of Rwanda and African citizens pay $500 and Rwandan and East African citizens $200, but those are promotional rates that do not apply from June to October 2026. A reduced rate applies between November and May for itineraries that add at least two nights in Akagera or Nyungwe (one night in each also qualifies). That reduced rate is $1050.
- What does the permit fee actually buy?
- Park entry on the day, the ranger guides and trackers who locate your gorilla family at first light, and one hour in the family's company. The fee is also the engine of gorilla conservation — it funds protection of the parks and a share goes to surrounding communities.
- Is there a minimum age for gorilla trekking?
- Yes — 15 in both Uganda and Rwanda.
- How far ahead should permits be booked?
- Daily numbers are strictly limited in every park, and the driest months sell out first. Book months ahead for June to August and December to February; we secure permits on your behalf as soon as your dates are confirmed.
- What is the gorilla habituation experience?
- A four-hour visit to a gorilla family still being accustomed to people, alongside researchers and rangers, in Bwindi's Rushaga sector. As of June 2026 it costs $1500 per person for foreign non-residents; UWA has announced a rise to $1,800 under the next tariff cycle.
Put one to use
Safaris that include a gorilla trek
- 6 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking6 days · Uganda & Rwanda
- 8-Day Rwanda Gorillas and Chimps Safari8 days · Rwanda
- 11 Day Uganda Safari11 days · Uganda
- 12 Days Albertine Rift Endemics Birding Safari12 days · Uganda
- 16 Day Uganda Rwanda Safari16 days · Uganda & Rwanda
- 28 Days Kenya, Tanzania & Uganda — The Great East Africa Safari28 days · Kenya & Tanzania & Uganda
Weighing the two countries against each other? Uganda or Rwanda for gorilla trekking compares permit cost, access, terrain and trek difficulty side by side.
Deciding between the two treks themselves? Gorilla or chimpanzee trekking compares the terrain, the effort and what the hour is actually like.