Discounted Gorilla Permits in Rwanda – Foreign Residents and African Citizens
Discounted Gorilla Permits in Rwanda were first introduced to boost the tourism industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. The government of Rwanda lowered the price of gorilla permits by between 60 to 80 percent. The new prices were valid till the end of 2020 but have stayed on to this day. You can check out Gorilla permit discounts in Uganda in a separate article.
Gorilla tourism has been bringing in over 6 million US Dollars to the economy of Rwanda each year. This is a result of the aggressive positioning of the country as a leading primate destination by the Rwanda Development Board. Extensive marketing and collaborations with influential partners had turned the small country into a very popular tourism destination especially for high-end travelers. The country offers discounts on tourism related permits in order to boost the tourism industry and also support Travelers from developing countries in Africa. The government hopes that thee discounts will help increase the number of both local and international tourists visiting the county.
Discounted Permits in Rwanda – Conference Attendees and Large Groups
What are the current discounts being offered? Well, the government has introduced discounted permits for the year 2026 with interesting propositions. A gorilla permit in Rwanda will cost $500 for foreign African Union Citizens and foreign residents in Rwanda. Rwandan and East African citizens will pay $200 for the permits.
International tourists will still pay $1500 for a permit but can get discounts (15%) if they arrive in very large groups or as a family. International Travelers also get special discounts of they are attending a conference. Those traveling to the Volcanoes National Park and another destination like Akagera or Nyungwe National Park also receive a discount for their permits during the low season (March, April, May, November). The 30% off the $1500 which is equivalent to $1,050. The international tourists must show evidence of booking at least 2 nights in Nyungwe or Akagera National Park.
The country hopes that these gorilla permit discounts will attract more international travelers and also boast the local tourism. Most citizens in the country could not afford the high price for permits and gorilla trekking was done by mostly international tourists or residents who could afford.
Though the price of gorilla permits has been reduced, one needs to book their tours in advance. This will allow Tour operators to reserve their permits early enough. The Gorilla Permit is issued by the Rwanda Development Board through registered Tour Operators.