How to Book Gorilla Permits: Timing, Costs and Fees Explained

A gorilla permit is your ticket to one hour with a mountain gorilla family — and it's the most competitive part of planning a safari. Understanding the system is the difference between a locked-in itinerary and a dashed hope. HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS Each day, a strictly limited number of permits are released per gorilla family — typically 8 trekkers per family. In Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda) around 80 permits are available daily. Once sold, they're gone. Permits are non-transferable and tied to your passport details. PRICES (2026) Rwanda: 1,500 USD per person for foreign non-residents. Uganda: 800 USD for foreign non-residents (May and November drop to 700 USD). DR Congo: 400 USD via Virunga — significantly cheaper but logistically more complex. WHEN TO BOOK High season runs June–September and the December–February holiday window. For those dates, book 3–6 months in advance. Shoulder and low seasons (March–May, October–November) often have availability two to three weeks out — and Ugandan permits dip to 700 USD in April, May, and November. WHO SHOULD BOOK FOR YOU Reputable operators hold allocations and relationships with the park authorities. We confirm and pay for your permit before you travel, then send you the confirmation reference. The permit is fully refundable in most circumstances if you cancel with 90 days' notice, and usable with a date change up to 30 days before departure. ONE LAST THING Your permit cost is per person, per trek. If you plan to trek twice — for example, a gorilla habituation experience — you need two permits. Habituation permits in Bwindi are 1,500 USD and give you four hours with a family being habituated, an extraordinary, far more immersive alternative.