Best Time to See Gorillas in Uganda in 2027
The best months to trek gorillas in Uganda are June to September and December to February, but you can trek all year. Here is what each season really means.
Read the guide →Written by the Paramount Gorilla Expeditions team, comparing gorilla trekking permit cost in Uganda and Rwanda
Gorilla Trekking Permit Cost for 2027
The prices here are the published ones now. Permit prices are set by the wildlife authorities and can change, so we confirm the rate for your date.
Last updated: September 2026.
Gorilla trekking permit prices are set directly by government wildlife authorities and can change — we recommend confirming the exact current rate at the time of booking, which is exactly what we do for every guest before we lock in a trip.
This guide weighs up which permit is better value. For current permit rules, availability and how to book, see our gorilla permits page.
If you're planning a mountain gorilla trek, the first real number you'll run into is the permit fee — and it's the single biggest line item in your entire trip. A Uganda gorilla trekking permit currently costs $800 for foreign non-residents in high season, while a Rwanda gorilla permit costs $1,500 — nearly double. But the cheaper option isn't automatically the better one, and the honest answer to "which country should I choose" depends on your budget, your timeline, and what kind of experience you actually want. Here's the full, current breakdown of gorilla trekking permit costs in both countries, what's actually included, and how to decide.
Quick Answer: Uganda Vs. Rwanda Permit Cost At A Glance
Foreign non-resident, high season: Uganda $800 — Rwanda $1,500 Foreign non-resident, low season: Uganda $600 — Rwanda $1,500 (no low-season discount) Foreign resident in Africa: Uganda $700 / $500 (high/low) — Rwanda $500 East African / Rwandan citizens: Uganda ~300,000 UGX (~$80) — Rwanda $200 Time with gorillas: Uganda 1 hour (standard trek) — Rwanda 1 hour Daily permits available: Uganda ~168 total (Bwindi + Mgahinga) — Rwanda 96 total Habituated gorilla families: Uganda 20 (19 Bwindi, 1 Mgahinga) — Rwanda 12
Uganda Gorilla Trekking Permit Cost(2026–2027)
Uganda's gorilla permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and cover trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park's four sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo — plus Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Uganda uses a genuine seasonal pricing structure, one of the clearest ways to reduce your gorilla trekking cost without changing anything else about your trip.
Uganda gorilla permit prices by season:
High season (June–September, December–February):
Foreign non-resident $800, foreign resident $700,
East African citizens: approximately 300,000 UGX.
Low season (April, May, November):
Foreign non-resident $600; foreign resident $500,
East African citizens: approximately 300,000 UGX (unchanged year-round).
That $200 low-season discount is real money, and April, May and November also happen to be quieter, greener months in Bwindi, making Uganda's low season one of the best-value windows in East African travel, not just a fallback for budget travellers.
What a Uganda gorilla trekking permit includes:
Park entry, a ranger-guided trek with an armed UWA ranger for the duration of the hike, and up to one hour observing your assigned habituated gorilla family once contact is made. It does not include transport, accommodation, meals, gratuities, or porters (porters are available separately and are genuinely worth hiring — they support the local community and make a steep trek significantly easier).
Uganda's Gorilla Habituation Experience:
Four hours instead of one. Uganda offers something Rwanda doesn't at this price point: the Gorilla Habituation Experience, which gives you four hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family instead of the standard one hour, accompanied by researchers and trackers as they continue the habituation process. This is currently priced at $1,500 for foreign non-residents, rising to $1,800 effective for 2027 travel dates and bookings — so if this experience interests you, booking before the increase takes effect is worth doing sooner rather than later. Only two semi-habituated families in Bwindi are available for this experience, and just 8 permits are issued per day, so it sells out well in advance.
Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Permit Cost(2026)
Rwanda's gorilla permits are issued by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and cover trekking exclusively in Volcanoes National Park, home to 12 habituated gorilla families available for tourism (with additional groups reserved for researchers).
Rwanda gorilla permit prices: foreign non-resident $1,500 (flat rate, applied year-round in peak season with no lower off-season tier for this category); foreign resident living in Africa $500; Rwandan and East African Community citizens $200.
Unlike Uganda, Rwanda does not offer a straightforward seasonal discount on the standard non-resident permit — RDB has occasionally run promotional combo pricing when a gorilla trek is bundled with visits to other Rwandan parks outside peak months, but this isn't guaranteed and changes from year to year, so it's worth confirming current promotions directly with RDB or your tour operator rather than assuming a discount applies.
What a Rwanda gorilla permit includes:
A guided trek to and from your assigned gorilla family, park entry, and one hour observing the gorillas once you reach them. As with Uganda, transport, accommodation, meals, gratuities and porters are separate.
Uganda Vs. Rwanda: Which Should You Choose?
Here's the honest breakdown, not the sales pitch.
Choose Uganda if: you want the lowest gorilla trekking cost without sacrificing quality, you're open to a slightly longer or more varied hike through Bwindi's forest terrain, you want the option of a four-hour Gorilla Habituation Experience, or you're already planning to combine your trip with a Kenya Great Migration safari or Tanzania safari — Uganda connects easily to both.
Choose Rwanda if: travel time matters more than cost — Volcanoes National Park is roughly a 2–3 hour drive from Kigali International Airport, versus a longer journey to Bwindi from Entebbe; you want a slightly more predictable, shorter trek on average; or you're combining gorilla trekking with a wider Rwanda itinerary.
For many travellers, the honest answer is that Uganda offers significantly better value for essentially the same core experience — roughly half the permit cost for the same one hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family, in a country with more available permits and more trekking sectors to choose from. Rwanda's premium is largely about accessibility and shorter travel times, not a better encounter with the gorillas themselves.
Other Costs To Budget For Beyond The Permit
The permit fee is the highest single cost, but it's not the only one. Budget separately for: internal flights or road transfers to Bwindi, Mgahinga or Volcanoes National Park; accommodation, which ranges from comfortable mid-range lodges to ultra-luxury forest camps; a porter (USD 20), paid directly and highly recommended; and gratuities for your Ranger Guide and ranger team. A realistic all-in gorilla trekking cost, permit included, typically starts from a few thousand dollars per person for a well-planned trip and rises significantly with luxury accommodation and multi-country combinations.
How To Book Your Gorilla Trekking Permit
Permits are officially issued by UWA and RDB respectively, but in practice almost all travellers book through a licensed tour operator rather than applying directly — this ensures your permit is correctly matched to your itinerary dates, sector, and gorilla family, and that everything from transport to lodging is coordinated around your trekking day. Because permits are limited and sell out months in advance during high season, we recommend booking 6–10 months ahead of your travel dates, especially if you have a specific season or gorilla family in mind. As of March 2026, UWA also requires full payment at the time of booking rather than a temporary reservation hold, so it pays to have your dates and budget confirmed before you start the booking process.
What else differs between a Uganda and Rwanda gorilla permit
Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park is a shorter drive from Kigali's international airport, which suits travellers short of time. Uganda has a longer drive but more choice: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest has four trekking sectors, there is a lower permit price, and you can combine gorillas with chimpanzees and savanna parks such as Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls in one trip. Read Uganda vs Rwanda for the wider comparison.
Compare whole trips, not just permits
The permit is only part of the budget, so compare complete trips: transfers, nights and guiding as well as the permit. Our Classic Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda (6 days) and 3-Day Gorilla Express in Rwanda show what a complete trip looks like in each country, and we quote both side by side on request.
Book your gorilla trekking permit
Keep planning with our Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda: The Complete Guide and Uganda safari destination guide. Gorilla and park permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and the Uganda Tourism Board publishes official visitor information. Gorilla permits and park fees are set by the Rwanda Development Board (Visit Rwanda). We confirm the current fees for your dates in every quote.
Planning more than one country?
Many guests trek in more than one country. These pages help you plan that, in the right order.
- where the trek belongs in the route: where the trek belongs in the route.
- two treks in one trip: two treks in one trip.
- the road crossing between the two countries: the road crossing between the two countries.
- every route, visa rule and package in one place: every route, visa rule and package in one place.
Ready to plan it? See our gorilla trekking safaris and lodges: real itineraries, lodges and how to book.
The permit is only one line of the budget. Our guide to what a full East Africa safari costs adds park fees, lodging, vehicle, visas and tips.
For what the longer, costlier habituation permit adds, see our gorilla habituation experience guide.
For the four-hour permit and how it is priced, see our gorilla habituation experience guide.
Uganda has a lower-priced permit in some months: see our Uganda gorilla permit discount guide.