Gorilla permit discounts in Rwanda

Rwanda offers discounts on gorilla trekking permits for target people or during certain times of the year. This is done to ensure that a wide range of visitors can trek the critically endangered mountain gorillas in the wild. This is also done for a range of strategic economic, conservation, and tourism development reasons. Therefore, Rwanda offers discounts on gorilla permits during select situations such as the following,

Low season

During the low season in Rwanda, visitors can enjoy discounts on every purchase of a gorilla permit. The low season in Rwanda typically coincides with the country’s wet season, from November to May. In addition to enjoying discounts on your gorilla permit, the day of the trek will also offer intimate encounters with gorillas in the wild. The forest is less crowded during the peak season to ensure that the gorilla trek is peaceful.

The discount offered is 30%, implying that a foreign resident meant to pay USD 1,500 will now pay only USD 1,050. To qualify for this discount, you need to have combined trips from either Nyungwe National Park/or Akagera National Park. For clarity, you need to have stayed in any of the mentioned destinations for 2 consecutive nights. Alternatively, this discount is also offered after spending a night at Akagera National Park and a night at Nyungwe consecutively.

But that is not all. You must prove that you stayed in either destination by presenting a payment receipt from the accommodation. This is in addition to at least 1 activity you paid for in either destination. Visitors planning to trek mountain gorillas more than once, the situation is quite different regarding gorilla permit discounts. You are required to stay either in Nyungwe National Park or Akagera National Park for 3 more days or 2 more nights.

Promotional offers

Rwanda also offers discounts on gorilla permits during some promotional offers. These offers are normally applicable in other months apart from June to October. For example, with this offer, foreign non-residents will be offered a gorilla permit at USD 1,500 per person. A foreign resident will pay only USD 500 according to the current promotional offer. A Rwandan citizen will pay USD 200 according to this offer.

East African citizens will pay only USD 200 per person under the current promotional offer. And finally, African citizens will pay only USD 500 per person according to this promotional offer. Keep in mind that gorilla permits are always limited each day, so you must purchase yours in advance to avoid any disappointments. But with Standard Safaris, we shall update you regarding the availability of the gorilla permits.

Conferences

Rwanda offers discounts on gorilla permits for an individual delegate or a group of delegates on a MICE tour. A 15% discount is offered on each gorilla permit to track gorillas either before or after the MICE tour. A foreign non-resident will now have to pay only USD 1,275 instead of USD 1,500. A foreign resident will pay USD 425 instead of USD 500, and an East African citizen pays USD 170, not USD 200.

Minimum age to buy a gorilla permit in Rwanda

The minimum age to purchase a gorilla permit in Rwanda is 15 years. This is necessary because people of that age are considered mature enough to do a physically demanding activity like gorilla trekking. They are also considered safe since they might be capable of following gorilla trekking rules properly. These include, among others, staying calm and quiet during a gorilla trek to avoid startling the mountain gorillas, which is dangerous.

Where gorilla trekking is done in Rwanda?

In Rwanda, gorilla trekking is done in Volcanoes National Park. This is situated in the northwestern part of the country. Driving there from Kigali City takes a duration ranging from 2 to 3 hours. The journey covers approximately 95 km and offers scenic views of the exceptionally beautiful countryside throughout. Air transportation is also available from Kigali International Airport to Musanze Airstrip.

Flights by helicopter are offered by Akagera Aviation daily and take less than 30 minutes. These chartered flights have the advantage of offering aerial views of the hilly terrain throughout the journey. From Musanze Airstrip, the headquarters of Volcanoes National Park is a short distance away, around 10 minutes. You can also travel from Akagera National Park or Nyungwe National Park to reach Volcanoes National Park.

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.

I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.

If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.

The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.

The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.

The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.

The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.

I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.

We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.

Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.
The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.
Game drive security is assured.
Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.
Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.
The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.
It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.
I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.
My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.
I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.