Booking Your Gorilla Permits
Any traveler needs to know what a gorilla permit is. This is a pass or authorizing document for the tourist to engage in either gorilla habituation or trekking adventures. This is perhaps the main document required and center to taking part in the experiences. These permits being essential make it an individual’s duty to access one on time. Recommendation is for a tourist to procure one, 5 months prior to their trip. In fact, the tourist is advised to commence permit acquisition process as soon as they confirm their trip dates. Acquisition of these permits differs in cost and access location.
In Rwanda, permits can be accessed via Rwanda Development or through a trusted tour agency. Rwanda increased the permit costs in the year 2017 to 1,500USD. This permit cost is the highest in the world, with her counterparts similarly engaged in gorilla trekking charging lesser amounts. Rwanda aims at establishing itself as a high-end gorilla trekking destination.
Uganda’s gorilla trekking permits are accessed through Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters. Gorilla permit price in Uganda is 700 USD each. This is a fair price considering activities engaged in the trek. Uganda lately boasts increased number of tourists compared to her counterparts especially the Republic of Rwanda. Uganda Wildlife Authority sells over 150 gorilla trekking permits daily. In Uganda, trekking is only done in Mgahinga and Bwindi national parks. These account for half of the total mountain gorilla population that breeds in the Virunga region.
Gorilla permits in D.R. Congo are accessible from Kahuzi – Biega National Park. Also, these permits can be acquired from authorized national wildlife agency outlets. All national parks in the country where gorilla trekking is done offer these services. Therefore, a tourist is advised to check out for more information whenever they require traveling on the national park’s websites. The unfortunate bit with D.R. Congo is that it’s frequented by civil and milia wars and in most of these trekking regions, rebels have hideouts. This call for caution to prospective tourists which consequentially leads to low permits sales.
Gorilla permits in D.R. Congo are accessible from Kahuzi – Biega National Park. Also, these permits can be acquired from authorized national wildlife age. For all the three countries, acquisition of gorilla permits can also be done through their desirable tour operators. Agencies have websites and can always be contacted for more information and arrangements. The importance of these is that they ease the permit acquisition process since the tourist’s only role is making payments. They make all the necessary arrangements and a tourist only has to await arrival. Each tour operator’s charges differ and therefore advice is given to tourists to find out from a considerable number of these operators before making a suitable informed choice. ncy outlets. All national parks in the country where gorilla trekking is done offer these services. Therefore, a tourist is advised to check out for more information whenever they require traveling on the national park’s websites. The unfortunate bit with D.R. Congo is that it’s frequented by civil and milia wars and in most of these trekking regions, rebels have hideouts. This call for caution to prospective tourists which consequentially leads to low permits sales.
Tourists are advised to make bookings at the earliest possible opportunity, especially during the peak season. This season is when demand is highest and incoming tourists are many. This therefore calls for prior booking of at least 5 months as will usually be similarly advised by your tour operator.
Summer comes up as the best time for gorilla trekking. The months from June up to August and then later from around December to January are suitable since the tropics in those months register low rainfall totals compared to the rest of the year. The permit is inclusive of entry fees into the gorilla parks and also an addition of the trekking services from the park. During acquisition of the permit, the tourist should carry their passports. A copy of the same is asked and required by the contracted tour operator to help them ascertain whether the tourist qualifies with trekking age requirement. Another reason why a copy is required is to ascertain the language accustomed to the tourist in order for the tour operator to make proper language translation services if needed. However, the permit charges don’t cover your transportation, accommodation and other travel services.
Travelers are also advised to look out for refund policies from the different countries beforehand to know what underlies after cancellation on their part. Also, they ought to beware of the bank accounts on which to transact with their tour operators. Unless otherwise, they should never do transactions onto personal accounts.
