Updated
gorilla permit Uganda vs Rwanda price is one of Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife experiences, connecting travellers with mountain gorillas in their natural forest habitat. A gorilla permit costs US$800 in Uganda, or US$600 in April, May and November, against US$1,500 in Rwanda, for foreign non-residents. For two people that is a saving of US$1,400–1,800 by trekking in Uganda. Both permits buy the same thing: one hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family in a group of up to eight. Rwanda’s higher price is partly offset by much shorter transfers from its capital. This guide compares the permits, what else changes the total cost, and when each country makes more sense.
Gorilla Trekking Permit Uganda vs Rwanda: Price Comparison 2026
Permit prices side by side
| Uganda (Bwindi, Mgahinga) | Rwanda (Volcanoes NP) | |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign non-resident | US$800 (US$600 in April, May and November) | US$1,500 |
| Gorilla Habituation Experience (about 4 hours) | US$1,500, rising to US$1,800 in 2027 | Not offered |
| Residents and regional citizens | Lower rates for foreign residents and East African citizens | Lower rates, with 2026 promotional prices outside June–October |
| Minimum age | 15 | 15 |
| Habituated families open to visitors | About 20 in Bwindi, plus one in Mgahinga | About 12 |
Prices are set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Rwanda Development Board, not by tour operators, so they are the same whoever you book through. Anyone offering a “discounted” non-resident permit is either including the permit in a package at the normal price or is not selling a genuine permit. Our guide to the Uganda gorilla permit explains booking, rates for residents and the cancellation rules.
What the permit includes
In both countries the permit covers park entry for the trekking day, the morning briefing, a ranger guide and armed escorts, and one hour with the gorillas once you reach them. You are assigned a family on the morning of the trek, though rangers take fitness into account. Transport, accommodation, porters, tips and other activities are extra. The rules near the gorillas, including the 7 m distance, masks when requested and no flash, are essentially the same on both sides of the border.
Why Rwanda charges more
Rwanda doubled its permit price from US$750 to US$1,500 in 2017, choosing a high-value, low-volume model and directing 10% of park tourism revenue to communities around Volcanoes National Park. Uganda has kept its price lower and offers a discount in the wettest months, aiming to keep gorilla tourism within reach of more travellers across a larger forest with more families. In Uganda, communities next to the parks receive 20% of park entry fees and US$10 from every permit sold. See our guide to gorilla tourism and local communities.
Beyond the permit: what else changes the cost
Transfers. This is Rwanda’s biggest advantage. Volcanoes National Park is about 2.5 hours by road from Kigali airport, so a gorilla trip can take two or three days. From Entebbe, Bwindi is 8–10 hours by road, or a domestic flight of 1.5–2 hours, so a Uganda trip usually needs at least four days or the extra cost of flying. Southern Bwindi is also 3–5 hours by road from Kigali, which many travellers use as a cheaper middle way. See our guide to getting from Kigali to Bwindi.
Accommodation. Both countries have budget, mid-range and luxury lodges. Rwanda’s top lodges near Volcanoes National Park are among the most expensive in Africa, while Uganda has a broader choice of mid-range lodges close to each trekking sector. For a comparable standard, Uganda is usually cheaper per night.
Extras. Porters cost roughly US$15–20 in both countries, and tips for rangers, trackers and drivers are expected in both. Visa costs are similar, and the East Africa Tourist Visa covers both countries for US$100.
Sample totals for a couple
Permits alone for two people come to US$1,600 in Uganda (US$1,200 in April, May or November) and US$3,000 in Rwanda. A couple doing a standard trek and the Habituation Experience in Uganda pays US$4,600 in permits, about the same as one standard trek each in both countries (US$4,600). Once transport and lodges are added, a 3-day Rwanda trip from Kigali and a 4–5-day Uganda trip by road from Entebbe often end up closer in total cost than the permit gap suggests. Uganda remains clearly cheaper for travellers who use mid-range lodges, travel by road or go in the discount months.
Which should you choose?
Choose Uganda if budget matters, if you want a longer safari with chimpanzees in Kibale and game drives in Queen Elizabeth, or if you would like the four-hour Gorilla Habituation Experience. Choose Rwanda if you are short of time, want to fly in and trek within a day, and are comfortable with the higher permit price. Many travellers combine both, trekking once in each country. Our full comparison of Uganda and Rwanda gorilla trekking covers the experience as well as the cost.
Gorilla trekking is also possible in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but the Virunga National Park area has been largely closed to tourists because of conflict. Check the current situation and your government’s advice before considering it.
Frequently asked questions
US$800 in Uganda (US$600 in April, May and November) against US$1,500 in Rwanda, for foreign non-residents.
The hour with the gorillas and the rules are the same. Rwanda’s treks start closer to Kigali; Uganda has more families and offers the habituation experience.
No. Permit prices are set by the government in each country and are the same through any operator.
Not for foreign non-residents, who pay US$1,500 all year. Rwanda has offered reduced rates for Rwandans, East African and African citizens and residents outside June–October in 2026.
