Low Season Gorilla Permits in Rwanda
Low Season Gorilla Permits in Rwanda
Low Season Gorilla Permits in Rwanda. To date, gorilla tourism remains the backbone of Rwanda’s tourism and conservation sector. Flocks of tourists come to the country to also have lifetime chances to trek the gorillas in their natural habitats. An activity that brings one so close, on foot, to the wild beasts that are so endangered.
Despite Rwanda’s gorilla permit almost doubling Uganda and DR Congo’s gorilla permits, nothing stops travellers when the experience is so thrilling.
One minute, you are walking through the bamboo thickets in Rwanda’s Volcanic National Parkark, pushing up a steep lava slope. The next moment, you turn a corner with sunlight streaming through the forest canopy. The experience is simply worth every penny.
Having been shaken by the 50% increase in the gorilla permit fees from 750 USD to 1500 USD, Rwanda’s tourism sector got some relief after the introduction of the 30% low-season gorilla permits. In 2017, the Rwanda Development Board, together with the government of Rwanda, doubled the gorilla permit fee, which was effective immediately. This diverted most of the gorilla trekkers to Uganda and DR Congo,ngo, which were cheap, leaving most of the Rwanda travel operators jobless.
In the urge to encourage more gorilla tours in Rwanda, RDB has introduced a 30% discount on gorilla permits during the low season of April, May, October and November. This implies that trekkers will have to pay 1050 USD. However, the discount is only to be given to those visitors who are to spend at least 3 days in Rwanda and also visit the other two national parks of Akagera National Park and Nyungwe Forest National Park. Undeniably, this strategy has brought back more safaris in Rwanda, and not only
gorilla trips, but also wildlife and cultural tours in Rwanda.
Gorilla permits in Rwanda were increased with the major aim of turning Rwanda into a luxury destination offering mostly first-class services to its visitors. There was also a need to increase the money that was given back to the neighbouring communities and provide more funds to finance the conservation projects that ensure the safety and well-being of the great apes.
Also, the rise in the gorilla permit fees was to reduce the number of trekkers that visited the gorillas in a day. So, to spend an hour with the gorillas in Rwanda during the high season, travellers pay 1500 USForor the permit, which without no one to trek the gorillas.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is done in Volcanoes National Park, a park so rich in diversity and located in the Virunga chain of mountains. The park’s less foliage makes visibility and photography more enjoyable. Take as many pictures as you want during the magical hour with the mighty giants of the
forest provided the camera doesn’t have a flash.
Alternatively, Gorilla trekking can also be done in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park, both located in the Virunga series of Volcanoes that are shared by the three countries of Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo. Gorilla permits in Uganda are at 600 USD, a price that is almost half of the gorilla permit in Rwanda.
Still, gorilla trekking can be done in Virunga National Park, located in eastern DR Congo. Though currently, trekking with the gorillas is suspended in the park due to the political unrest that has caused several murder cases of the park rangers. But when it resumes, when the park security is more tightened and the safety of both the gorillas and trekkers ensured, it will be the time to book your gorilla safari in DR Congo. A permit costs 450 USD.
If it’s a safari, let it be the one in Africa’s gorilla destinations. And if you ever wanted to visit Rwanda and felt like the destination was too luxurious, wait for the low season and enjoy the 30% off discount.
