Rwanda gorilla permits
For a Rwanda trek, the permit date anchors the short Kigali-to-Volcanoes journey.
Check availabilityRates and conditions can change. Confirm the actual date and category before payment.
Permit first. Route second.
This order protects you from a beautiful lodge in the wrong place, or a rate quoted for the wrong visitor category.
Step 1
Confirm your trekking date and visitor category.
Step 2
Secure the permit through the Rwanda Development Board process.
Step 3
Build Kigali transfers and your Volcanoes stay around that date.
A Rwanda gorilla permit gives access to the regulated mountain gorilla tracking experience in Volcanoes National Park. The permit is controlled by Rwanda Development Board and should be secured for the correct date before the rest of a short gorilla trip is made non-refundable.
Rwanda gorilla permit price
RDB’s current mountain gorilla tracking booking page lists the standard foreign visitor permit at USD 1,500 per person.
The same platform lists lower promotional rates for some categories, including Rwandan citizens, East African citizens, African citizens and qualifying residents. Promotional terms can change and may exclude certain periods, so eligibility must be checked on the official booking system at the time of purchase.
Do not quote an old promotional rate as if it applies to every date.
Minimum age for gorilla trekking in Rwanda
The minimum age is 15 years. RDB states this directly on its gorilla tracking booking page.
For family trips, this needs to be resolved before accommodation is chosen. A younger child cannot simply wait at the trekking briefing and be added to the group.
What should be checked before paying?
Confirm:
- Trekking date
- Correct visitor category
- Passport or residency documentation required for that category
- Name details exactly as required by the booking system
- Any promotional-rate restrictions for the travel month
- Cancellation and amendment conditions applying to the permit purchased
RDB warns that incorrect or false supporting documents can lead to denial of entry even where a system-generated permit exists.
Can a tour operator issue the permit?
No. Rwanda Development Board controls the permits. A licensed operator can arrange the purchase for a traveller, but the inventory and rules remain with RDB.
If a gorilla trek is the reason for the trip, the permit should be one of the first items confirmed. The lodge and Kigali transfers can then be built around the trekking date.
Rwanda permit or Uganda permit?
For most foreign visitors, Rwanda’s standard permit is more expensive than Uganda’s. That does not automatically make the total Rwanda trip more expensive. A shorter route from Kigali can reduce the number of transfer days and hotel nights.
Uganda often gives better combination value if you also want chimpanzees or a savannah safari. Compare the full route on Uganda vs Rwanda gorilla trekking.
Planning note: permit prices and promotional rules can change. The final amount should always be verified against RDB for the actual travel date before payment.
