The cheapest way to see gorillas in Rwanda is by keeping a lookout for discounted gorilla permits. Rwanda, during different periods and events, offers discounts on the normal gorilla permit prices as a marketing strategy to pull more numbers of visitors and also improve local tourism. These discounted gorilla permits offer the one opportunity to trek mountain gorillas in Rwanda, cheaply compared to the normal routine. These gorilla permits can have a 15% discount from the normal permit cost. Rwanda, by far, offers one of the most expensive gorilla trekking experiences in the world. This is evident because, among the few remaining mountain gorilla destinations of the Virunga Conservation Area, Rwanda’s gorilla permits are the most expensive. Therefore, the discount on gorilla permits is the only guaranteed cheapest way to see gorillas in the country.
Rwanda is a recognized gorilla destination in the world after it falls in the famous Virunga Conservation Area. This area is renowned as the last gorilla habitat in the world, where one can go to encounter mountain gorillas in their natural environment. Several protected areas across East Africa fall under this conservation area. These include Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. All these gorilla destinations of East Africa combine to host over 1,062 mountain gorillas. With only these numbers left in the wild today, these mountain gorilla primates are considered an endangered species.
In Rwanda, the activity of seeing or encountering mountain gorillas in their natural habitats is called gorilla trekking. This gorilla trekking experience blesses the visitors after intense hours navigating the dense forest searching for these primates, with a full hour in their presence upon encountering them. The country’s Volcanoes National Park, located in the northern region of Rwanda in Musanze district, is the perfect spot for encountering these primates. The park ranks first as the oldest protected area in Africa after it was established in 1925. It has since then hosted some of the great and renowned figures, like Dr. Dian Fossey, who was a widely known primatologist and conservationist who championed campaigns against poaching. She fueled conservation and protection projects of mountain gorillas, and her efforts later paid off. Today, several visitors flock to Volcanoes National Park to encounter mountain gorillas. The park has an average population of about 300 mountain gorillas. These primates are social beings living in groups known as gorilla families, each headed by a silverback. Over 12 families inhabit the 160 square kilometers of Volcanoes National Park.
How to obtain a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda?
Spotting these primates in the wild requires preparation, patience, and precision. However, most importantly, a gorilla permit is required, which is a document that grants visitors access to the park to embark on this gorilla trekking adventure. Obtaining this gorilla trekking permit is no child’s play, as it is expensive and sometimes unavailable on some dates. Therefore, it is very important to always contact a local tour company like Standard Safaris to help you out. Purchasing a gorilla trekking permit is only done through a local registered tour company before the Rwandan Development Board approves the payment and issues the gorilla trekking permit. This applies to the purchase of a cheaper or discounted gorilla permit when embarking on a cheap way to see gorillas.
The cost for a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda varies variations on the originality of the visitors. This means each gorilla permit costs differently per the country or the citizenship of the visitor. Visitors coming from outside the continent are called foreign non-residents, and their permits cost USD 1,500. The foreign residents pay USD 1,000, and the East African citizens, including Rwandans, pay USD 200.
When is the cheapest way to see gorillas in Rwanda?
The best time to embark on a cheap mountain gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda is during a few highlighted periods in the year by the government. These periods a designated as shown in the following.
During low seasons
Rwanda, as a top gorilla trekking destination, experiences two seasons of different trekking atmospheres these are the peak or high season and the low season. The peak or high is a period that sees a huge turn-up of visitors to the country’s gorilla destination to trek gorillas. This season is very competitive because of the high number of visitors. The low season, on the other hand, is the opposite, as this period sees a drastic reduction in the number of visitors. This is attributed to different reasons, such as the weather conditions that affect the park and cause some challenges. The low season is experienced from May to March and October to November, thus a good time to have a cheap gorilla experience.
Important events
These important events can be conferences and other world-recognized events hosted in Rwanda. During these events, the country puts some gorilla trekking permits on discount to enable more visitors to purchase and explore the volcanoes to encounter the mountain gorillas. Promotions can also be categorized in this blanket of important events. These promotions see a spike in discount gorilla permits and the best time to enjoy a gorilla trekking experience cheaply.
