Rwanda Discounted Gorilla Trekking Permits: Are there discounted gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda? Given that Rwanda positioned itself as a luxury gorilla safari destination, one may wonder if it is possible to find discounted gorilla permits. Yes, discounted gorilla trekking permits are available too, and booking one marks the start of the journey to set foot into the jungle to witness the endangered mountain gorillas.
The available Rwanda discounted gorilla trekking permits apply to specific periods of the year. Usually, promotional or discounted gorilla permits are available for the low or off months of the year. Take note, that discounted gorilla permits are not available for the peak months of the year.
The available discounted gorilla permit applies to visitor categories, especially Rwandans and East African citizens, and Africans and African residents. Gorilla permits for Volcanoes National Park for Rwandans and East African citizens cost USD 200. The requirements to obtain this category of permits include National ID, Birth Certificate, and Valid passport.
Africans and African residents are charged USD 500 per person. The essentials to have for booking this type of gorilla permit include Diplomatic Cards, Valid passports, Resident ID, and a valid visa. The visa should be valid for at least 4 (four) consecutive months.
Other special discounted offers during the low season
The following discounted offers are also available during the low season. Here are the details;
30% discount offer which translates to USD 1050 runs between November to May. This is slightly below the normal rate of USD 1500 per person. To obtain this particular type of gorilla permit, you should have also a plan to visit other National Parks including Nyungwe Forest National Park or Akagera National Park.
15% discount offer which is ideal for families. This is USD 1275 and the advantage with this offer is that you get to a chance to visit gorillas before or after having a MICE event in Kigali. Rwanda gorilla tours also come with private gorilla trekking offers where you can book a permit at USD 15,00. The private gorilla tours include exploring the entire gorilla family and you are given exclusive guide services.
You may also opt for a small group gorilla trip with 3pax at USD 3,000. This is available for the behind-the-scenes experience. It is also perfect for photographers and those interested in filming mountain gorillas in their natural environment.
What are the requirements to book discounted gorilla permits
Booking a discounted gorilla permit in Rwanda is possible so long as you are over 15 years. You should also have a valid passport and visa. The passport details are needed to help the tour operator book a permit.
How much is a normal gorilla permit in Rwanda?
The cost of a normal gorilla permit in Rwanda still stands at USD 1500 per person. The normal gorilla permits are obtainable at the same rate during the peak season and in case you are looking for a permit in the month outside the discounted offers.
How to book a discounted gorilla permit
A valid permit –discounted or normal can be booked through a reliable tour operator/company. Talk to an expert at Native Africa Tours to begin planning and booking not only a permit but the entire gorilla tour. A valid gorilla permit must be reserved in advance and we recommend you to do so about 2-6 months before the actual trekking with gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.
About gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, Ruhengeri
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is solely done in Volcanoes National Park. The park is set in Ruhengeri, Northwestern Rwanda. It was established in 1925 expanding in the land area of 160 sq. km and was originally created the same year the Virunga National Park founded.
At Volcanoes National Park, expect to visit mountain gorillas. Treks with Rwanda gorillas start at Kinigi in Volcanoes National Park. The gorilla families to explore include Susa A, Hirwa, Ugenda, Kwitonda group, Umubano, Amahoro gorilla family, Karisimbi (Susa B), and Titus.
Besides gorillas, Volcanoes National Park also has other species to explore including golden monkeys, blue monkeys, hyenas, red-tailed monkeys, bush pigs, bushbucks, black & white colobus monkeys, plus 200 species of birds. The birds to expect to find in this protected area include Kivu ground thrush, Rwenzori double-collared sunbirds, Red-faced woodland warblers, Archer’s ground robin, white-winged swamp warblers, and handsome francolin.
The best time to go for gorilla trekking in Rwanda
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is best done any time during the dry season. The long dry months begin from June, July, August to September then shorter dry months start from December, January, to February. These are characterized by pleasant temperatures and the ground can be drier making it easier to navigate through the forest.
Gorilla treks can also be arranged and conducted during the off or low season. The longest months wet or rainy months run from March, April to May and shorter wet months are October and November. These are the off months of the year when it comes to gorilla tours. They are perfect for budget travelers with plans to track gorillas in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda.
What to carry for gorilla tours in Rwanda
A well-planned gorilla tour requires you to pack right and some of the essentials to consider include long-sleeved shirts, a daypack, a first aid kit, insect repellents, long trousers, and a camera. Don’t leave out a sweater, a rain jacket, gaiters, a safari hat, strong gardening gloves, toiletries, sunblocker cream, and a valid gorilla permit.
What else to do in Rwanda
In addition to gorilla trekking, visitors have plenty to explore in Volcanoes National Park alone or other destinations. Still within Volcanoes National Park, expect to engage in golden monkey tracking, volcano hiking, birding, and visit the nearby local community –Iby’Iwacu Village.
Visit Nyungwe National Park in the Southern Province, home to 13 primate species, 75 mammal species plus 310 species of birds including Kungwe apalis, black saw-wing, regal sunbirds, and handsome spurfowl, etc. The different primates to find in Nyungwe include golden monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, chimpanzees, Dent’s Mona monkeys, Crowned monkeys, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, Rwenzori colobus monkeys, and others.
The best things to experience in Nyungwe include chimpanzee tracking, canopy walk, forest walks, and bird watching. Gishwati-Mukura is the other place to consider for primate encounters in Rwanda. Gishwati-Mukura National Park is a new primate park found in Rwanda and features chimps plus many other species of primates.
If you love the Big 5 game encounters, Akagera National Park tours should be a must to add on your itinerary. At Akagera, expect to explore the Big 5 game on a game drive, aquatic life on a boat cruise; multiple birds during a guided birding tour.
How to get to Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
Accessibility to Volcanoes National Park Rwanda is easier by road and takes you about 2-3 hours to drive up to Kinigi from Kigali Capital. You can also cross from Bwindi (Kabale) or Mgahinga (Kisoro) to Volcanoes National Park via the Katuna or Chanika border crossing. For visitor-safe connectivity to and from Volcanoes National Park, your expert –Native Africa Tours is in the right place to secure comfortable transportation means.
