Gorilla Trekking: Rwanda vs Uganda (Permit Price, Parks, Rules)
Updated November 2026 · by Safari Broker, an independent safari research service
A gorilla permit is US$800 in Uganda and US$1,500 in Rwanda for foreign non-resident adults: a US$700 gap per person. Both limit visits to one hour and set the minimum age at 15; Uganda has two gorilla parks, Rwanda has one.
The permit gap
- $800
- Uganda permit (Bwindi, Mgahinga)
- $1,500
- Rwanda permit (Volcanoes NP)
- $700
- difference per person
- $1,400
- difference for two travelers
- Uganda gorilla permit$800
- Rwanda gorilla permit$1,500
Side by side
| Uganda | Rwanda | |
|---|---|---|
| Permit (foreign non-resident) | $800 | $1,500 |
| Gorilla parks | Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks | Volcanoes National Park |
| Time with gorillas | 1 hour per group per day | 1 hour per day |
| Group size | Max 8 visitors per gorilla group | 8 permits per troop per day |
| Minimum age | 15 | 15 |
| Longer experience | Habituation experience $1,500 | Not stated on the page |
| How to book | Licensed tour operators (for foreign non-residents) | Irembo platform, or a licensed operator |
| Permit includes | Guide fee, park entrance for the day, community contribution | Not stated on the page |
Travel times, difficulty and availability are not in the tables.
Which one fits you?
Uganda
- Lower permit price ($800)
- Two gorilla parks to choose between
- Habituation experience offered ($1,500)
- Chimp tracking in Kibale ($250) can sit in the same trip
Rwanda
- Higher permit price ($1,500)
- One park, meeting point at Kinigi, 7am
- 96 permits a day in total
- Booking through Irembo or an operator
Visiting both countries? Ask operators to quote each leg separately so you can see where the money goes.
Chimp tracking, Kibale (Uganda)
- $250
- Kibale chimp tracking, foreign non-resident
- 12
- minimum age (gorillas: 15)
- 1 hour
- with the chimpanzees
- $300
- Kibale chimp habituation experience, 4 hours
UWA tariff July 2024 - June 2026. Tracking rates include guide fee and, for Kibale, the park entrance.
Compare gorilla trips for your dates
We cover Uganda and Rwanda. We contact 3-10 vetted operators, compare permits, lodging and transfers line by line, and recommend three. You book the operator directly.
Budgeting the whole trip? See African safari cost per person in East Africa, Tanzania safari cost: 5 real quotes and how to choose a safari operator.
FAQ
Is gorilla trekking cheaper in Uganda or Rwanda?
The permit is cheaper in Uganda: US$800 for foreign non-residents (UWA tariff July 2024 - June 2026) against US$1,500 in Rwanda (Visit Rwanda). That is US$700 less per person per permit. Lodging, transfers and transport between parks are separate, so compare whole itineraries, not permits alone.
How much is a Rwanda gorilla permit?
US$1,500 per person per day, according to Visit Rwanda (accessed 13 November 2026). Permits are booked in advance through the Irembo platform or through a licensed operator.
How much is a Uganda gorilla permit?
US$800 for foreign non-residents in Bwindi and Mgahinga (UWA tariff July 2024 - June 2026). It includes guide fee, park entrance for the day and a community development contribution. That tariff period ends in June 2026, so confirm the current figure on the UWA site before you pay.
What is the minimum age for gorilla trekking?
15 years in both countries, per UWA's park rules and Visit Rwanda. UWA sets 12 for chimpanzee tracking.
How long do you spend with the gorillas?
One hour per group per day, in both Uganda (UWA rules) and Rwanda (Visit Rwanda). UWA also lists a longer paid gorilla habituation experience at US$1,500; Visit Rwanda lists no such option on its gorilla page.
Can Safari Broker compare gorilla trips in both countries?
Yes. Safari Broker covers Uganda and Rwanda (not DR Congo). We contact vetted operators for your dates, compare itemised quotes (permits, lodging, transfers) and recommend three. Flat fee, no commissions, you book the operator directly.
Get 3-10 competing quotes for your dates
Flat fee, no operator commissions. You book the operator directly.
Keep reading
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- African safari costHow much is an African safari? East Africa cost drivers for Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda, official fees with sources, and how not to overpay.
- Safari from NairobiAlready in Nairobi and want a safari? Options by trip length, drive vs fly-in, private vs shared, what to check in a quote, and short-notice booking.
- Best safari operators in Tanzania: how to chooseHow to choose a Tanzania safari company: licence and association checks, red flags, questions to ask, and what five real quotes for one trip showed.
- Example safari comparison reportWhat you receive for the flat fee.
- Safari Broker pricing: $49 or $99Standard or express research.
Sources
- UWA - Conservation Tariff July 2024 - June 2026 (PDF linked from ugandawildlife.org)Gorilla permit USD 800 for foreign non-residents in Bwindi (BINP) and Mgahinga (MGNP); gorilla habituation experience USD 1,500; the rate includes guide fee, park entrance for the day and community contribution. Rules: minimum age 15, maximum eight visitors per gorilla group, visits limited to one hour. Chimpanzee tracking Kibale USD 250 (minimum age 12). Gorilla and chimpanzee permits for foreign non-residents can only be booked through licensed tour operators. The tariff period ends June 2026; it was still the tariff linked on the UWA home page today. Accessed 13 Nov 2026.
- Visit Rwanda - Gorilla trackingPermit US $1500 per person per day; minimum age 15; eight tracking permits per troop per day, 96 permits available each day; visits limited to one hour per day; meet at Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi at 7am; booking in advance through the Irembo platform; private operators should be licensed. Accessed 13 Nov 2026.
- Safari Broker - African safari cost (East Africa)Our own overview of official headline fees by country. Accessed 13 Nov 2026.