# Rwanda Gorilla Permits

> Rwanda gorilla trekking specialists: we book Rwanda Development Board (RDB) gorilla permits and run gorilla trekking tours in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda — from Kigali day trips to luxury safaris. Operated by Rwanda Safari Tours, an RDB-licensed tour operator based in Kigali since 2014. Contact is by WhatsApp only: +250 796 077 321.

## Key facts (updated 2026-10-14)

- RDB gorilla trekking permit: $1,500 per person per trek (fixed government fee, same with every operator).
- Budget gorilla trek from Kigali (shared vehicle, 1 day): $1,900 per person, permit included.
- Private gorilla trekking day trip from Kigali: $2,000 per person ($1,500 permit + $500 service: private 4x4, driver-guide, breakfast, lunch, water, Wi-Fi).
- Gorilla habituation experience: $2,000 per person ($1,500 permit + $500 service); up to about 4 hours with the gorillas, max 4 visitors; availability confirmed case by case.
- 2-day gorilla trekking safari (gorillas + Kigali city tour, all meals, 1 lodge night): $4,000 per person.
- 3-day gorillas and golden monkeys (2 lodge nights, breakfast and dinner): $3,348 per person.
- Luxury gorilla safari (2 nights One&Only Gorilla's Nest, 2 gorilla treks, private guide): from $13,850 per person sharing (Forest Treehouse $13,850; Susa Treehouse $14,200; Virunga Lodge $17,950; Ingagi Lodge $34,950; Silverback Lodge $38,100).
- 5-day gorillas & Big Five safari (2 nights Akagera, 2 nights near Volcanoes): $4,350 per person sharing; gorilla permit, park fees, lodges and all meals included.
- 5-day gorillas & chimpanzees safari (Nyungwe chimp tracking and canopy walk, Lake Kivu road, gorilla trek): $4,250 per person sharing; both permits included.
- 7-day gorillas, Big Five & Lake Kivu safari: $5,250 per person sharing.
- 10-day complete Rwanda safari (Kigali city tour, Akagera Big Five, gorilla trek, Lake Kivu, Nyungwe chimpanzees and canopy walk, King's Palace and Ethnographic Museum): $6,950 per person sharing.
- Golden monkey trekking: private day trip from Kigali $690 per person (permit included); add-on near the park $250 per person (permit included). Golden monkey permit alone: $100. Dian Fossey tomb hike permit: $75. Uganda gorilla permit (for comparison): $800.
- 12 habituated gorilla families open to trekking in Volcanoes National Park; max 8 visitors per family per day; 96 permits per day nationwide.
- One hour with the gorillas; 7-metre distance rule; minimum age 15; no upper age limit.
- Briefing 7:00 AM at Kinigi park headquarters; Kigali to Kinigi about 105 km / 2.5 hours; day-trip pickup in Kigali at 4:30 AM.
- Best time: dry seasons June to mid-September and mid-December to February; trekking runs all year.
- Book permits 3–6 months ahead for peak season; permits must be paid in full to be secured and are generally non-refundable.
- Contact and booking: WhatsApp only, +250 796 077 321 (https://wa.me/250796077321), 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM Kigali time (GMT+2). Booking form: https://rwandagorillapermits.com/book.

## Gorilla trekking tours

- [Budget Gorilla Trek](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/tours/budget-gorilla-trekking): $1,900 per person, 1 day. Shared vehicle from Kigali, same permit, same hour with the gorillas.
- [Private Day Trip from Kigali](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/tours/gorilla-trekking-day-trip-from-kigali): $2,000 per person, 1 day. Private 4x4 and guide, 4:30 AM pickup, back in Kigali tonight.
- [Gorilla Habituation Experience](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/tours/gorilla-habituation-experience): $2,000 per person, 1 day. Join trackers with a family still being habituated. Tiny groups.
- [3-Day Gorillas & Golden Monkeys](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/tours/3-day-gorilla-trekking-golden-monkeys): $3,348 per person, 3 days. Gorillas, golden monkeys and Kigali, two nights near the park.
- [2-Day Gorilla Safari](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/tours/2-day-gorilla-trekking-safari): $4,000 per person, 2 days. Trek, a night near the park, and a guided Kigali day.
- [Luxury Gorilla Safari](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/tours/luxury-gorilla-trekking-safari): $13,850 per person, 3 days. Two nights at One&Only Gorilla's Nest, two private treks.
- [Golden Monkey Day Trip from Kigali](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/tours/golden-monkey-trekking-day-trip): $690 per person, 1 day. Private 4x4 from Kigali to track golden monkeys in the bamboo forest. Permit included.
- [5-Day Gorillas & Big Five Safari](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/tours/5-day-gorilla-trekking-big-five-safari): $4,350 per person, 5 days. Two days in Akagera for lions, elephants and rhinos, then the gorilla trek.
- [5-Day Gorillas & Chimpanzees (Nyungwe)](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/tours/5-day-gorilla-chimpanzee-nyungwe-safari): $4,250 per person, 5 days. Chimp tracking and the canopy walk in Nyungwe, then mountain gorillas.
- [7-Day Gorillas, Big Five & Lake Kivu](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/tours/7-day-gorilla-big-five-lake-kivu-safari): $5,250 per person, 7 days. Akagera game drives, the gorilla trek and two days on Lake Kivu.
- [10-Day Complete Rwanda Safari](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/tours/10-day-rwanda-safari-gorillas-big-five-nyungwe-kivu): $6,950 per person, 10 days. Gorillas, Big Five, chimps, Lake Kivu, Kigali and Rwandan culture.

## Main guide

- [Gorilla Trekking Rwanda](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/): The complete guide to trekking mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.

## Permits

- [Rwanda Gorilla Permits 2026](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/gorilla-permits): What the $1,500 permit covers, who sells it, and how availability really works.
- [Gorilla Trekking Cost](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/gorilla-trekking-cost): Every dollar of a Rwanda gorilla trek, from permit to porter tip.
- [Gorilla Trekking Cost Calculator](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/gorilla-trekking-cost-calculator): Instant estimate of your full trip cost — then send it as a WhatsApp quote.
- [How to Book a Gorilla Permit](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/how-to-book-gorilla-permit): Step-by-step: from checking dates to standing at the Kinigi briefing.
- [Rwanda vs Uganda Gorillas](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/rwanda-vs-uganda-gorilla-trekking): Permit price, access, terrain and who each country suits.
- [Bwindi Gorillas from Kigali](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/bwindi-gorilla-trekking-from-kigali): Uganda's gorillas via Rwanda: route, permits, border.

## Plan Your Trek

- [Volcanoes National Park](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/volcanoes-national-park): The park, its five volcanoes, and everything to do besides gorillas.
- [Rwanda's Gorilla Families](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/gorilla-families): The 12 habituated groups, their silverbacks and how hard each trek is.
- [Best Time for Gorilla Trekking](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/best-time-for-gorilla-trekking): Month by month: weather, crowds and permit pressure.
- [What to Expect on Trek Day](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/what-to-expect-gorilla-trekking): Hour by hour, from hotel pickup to the moment you meet the family.
- [How Hard Is Gorilla Trekking?](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/gorilla-trekking-fitness): Honest fitness guidance, altitude, and how families are assigned.
- [Gorilla Trekking Packing List](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/gorilla-trekking-packing-list): What to wear and bring into the Virunga forest — and what to leave.
- [Gorilla Trekking Rules](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/gorilla-trekking-rules): The 7-metre rule, the one-hour rule and why each exists.
- [Where to Stay Near the Park](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/where-to-stay-volcanoes-national-park): Lodges around Kinigi and Musanze, from guesthouse to One&Only.
- [Kigali to Volcanoes NP](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/kigali-to-volcanoes-national-park): Road, timing and the best stops on the drive north.
- [Rwanda Travel Tips](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/rwanda-travel-tips): Visas, money, health and etiquette for gorilla travellers.

## Guides

- [Mountain Gorilla Facts](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/mountain-gorillas): Biology, behaviour, population and the conservation comeback.
- [Dian Fossey](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/dian-fossey): Her life with the gorillas, Digit, her death and her legacy.
- [Gorilla vs Chimpanzee](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/mountain-gorilla-vs-chimpanzee): Two great apes compared — and where to see both.
- [Is Gorilla Trekking Safe?](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/is-gorilla-trekking-safe): The real risks — and non-risks — explained.
- [Is Gorilla Trekking Ethical?](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/is-gorilla-trekking-ethical): The honest conservation case.
- [Gorillas + Safari Combos](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/gorilla-trekking-and-safari): Add Akagera, the Masai Mara, Serengeti or Zanzibar.
- [Gorilla Trekking Insurance](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/gorilla-trekking-travel-insurance): What your policy must cover.
- [Golden Monkey Trekking](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/golden-monkey-trekking): Volcanoes NP's other primate — and the easier trek.
- [Dian Fossey Tomb Hike](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/dian-fossey-tomb-hike): Up to Karisoke, where the most famous gorilla researcher is buried.
- [Gorilla Photography Tips](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/gorilla-trekking-photography): Settings, lenses and etiquette for photos in dark forest.
- [Kwita Izina](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/kwita-izina): Rwanda's annual gorilla naming ceremony explained.
- [Age Limits, Seniors & Families](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/gorilla-trekking-age-limit): The 15+ rule, older trekkers and what families can do.
- [Rwanda Gorilla Itineraries](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/gorilla-trekking-rwanda-itinerary): Day-by-day plans from 1 to 10 days.
- [25 Gorilla Trekking Tips](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/gorilla-trekking-tips): Practical advice from guides who trek every week.
- [Is Gorilla Trekking Worth It?](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/is-gorilla-trekking-in-rwanda-worth-it): An honest answer to the $1,500 question.
- [Gorilla Trekking in the Rainy Season](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/gorilla-trekking-rainy-season): Mud, green forest and easier permits.
- [Solo Gorilla Trekking](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/solo-gorilla-trekking-rwanda): Costs, safety and how it works when you travel alone.
- [Rwanda vs Congo Gorillas](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/rwanda-vs-congo-gorilla-trekking): Price, safety and access compared honestly.
- [Mount Bisoke Hike](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/mount-bisoke-hike): A crater-lake day hike to 3,711 m.
- [Things to Do in Musanze](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/things-to-do-in-musanze): Caves, Twin Lakes, culture and more around the gorillas.
- [Gorilla Trekking FAQ](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/faq): Straight answers to the 40 questions we get asked most.

## Blog

- [Dian Fossey and Jane Goodall: Leakey's Angels](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/blog/dian-fossey-and-jane-goodall): How two women — and a third, Biruté Galdikas — changed what we know about great apes.
- [Gorillas in the Mist: The Best Dian Fossey Books & Films](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/blog/gorillas-in-the-mist-books-and-films): The book, the film and the documentaries worth watching before you trek.
- [How Strong Is a Silverback Gorilla?](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/blog/how-strong-is-a-silverback-gorilla): Size, strength, bite force — and why they are gentle with trekkers.
- [Gorilla Trekking vs Gorilla Tracking: Is There a Difference?](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/blog/gorilla-trekking-vs-gorilla-tracking): Two names for the same adventure — and the one time the distinction matters.
- [Should You Hire a Porter for Gorilla Trekking?](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/blog/should-you-hire-a-porter-gorilla-trekking): What porters do, what they cost, and why almost everyone should hire one.
- [How to Train for Gorilla Trekking: An 8-Week Plan](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/blog/how-to-train-for-gorilla-trekking): A simple, week-by-week plan to make trek day easier.
- [Sick Before Your Gorilla Trek? What Happens to Your Permit](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/blog/sick-before-gorilla-trek): Colds, rangers, refunds and insurance — what to do if you feel unwell.
- [Gorilla Permits 2027: Prices and How to Book Early](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/blog/gorilla-permits-2027): What we know about 2027 permits and how to secure peak dates now.
- [Gorilla Trekking in November: Weather, Permits & Tips](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/blog/gorilla-trekking-in-november): Short rains, quiet trails and easy permits — is November right for you?
- [Gorilla Trekking at Christmas and New Year](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/blog/gorilla-trekking-at-christmas): Peak season planning for December treks — book early.
- [A Gorilla Trekking Honeymoon in Rwanda](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/blog/gorilla-trekking-honeymoon-rwanda): Gorillas, a lake and the best lodges for two.
- [Flights to Rwanda for Gorilla Trekking: From the USA, UK, Europe & South Africa](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/blog/flights-to-rwanda-for-gorilla-trekking): How to reach Kigali and how many days to allow.
- [Things to Do in Kigali Before or After Gorilla Trekking](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/blog/things-to-do-in-kigali-gorilla-trip): How to spend a day or two in Rwanda's capital.

## About and booking

- [About Us](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/about): Who runs this site and how we operate.
- [Book Your Trek](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/book): Send your dates — we check permit availability the same day.
- [Booking Terms](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/terms): Deposits, cancellations and permit rules.
- [Privacy Policy](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/privacy): What we collect and why.

## Optional

- [Full text of every page](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/llms-full.txt): all guides and tour pages in one Markdown file
- [Sitemap](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/sitemap.xml)
- [Photo credits](https://rwandagorillapermits.com/photo-credits): photographs are Creative Commons, from Wikimedia Commons