Permis de gorille au Rwanda : comment réserver et quand (2026)

A Rwanda gorilla permit costs US$1,500 per person for international visitors (Rwanda Development Board, checked in October 2026). Permits are limited each day, they are tied to a named person and a date, and they are generally not refundable. For that reason, book as soon as your dates are firm, and several months ahead if you want to trek between June and September or between December and February.

This article explains what the permit covers, how many are available, how to book one, and what happens if your plans change. It is part of our complete guide to gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

The permit gives you a place in one gorilla group for one day. It covers park entry, the guided trek with rangers and trackers, and a maximum of one hour with a habituated gorilla family. It does not cover lodging, transport, meals, your visa, travel insurance, tips or a porter. Our article on the full cost of gorilla trekking in Rwanda shows what to budget around the permit.

Part of every permit funds the rangers and trackers who protect the gorillas. In addition, RDB shares 10 per cent of park tourism revenue with communities around the parks.

Each group is limited to eight visitors, and each habituated gorilla family is visited by one group a day. RDB's booking page lists ten habituated families open to visitors, which means about 80 permits a day. Older articles quote 96 permits, which was based on twelve families, so check the current number with RDB or your operator when you plan. Whatever the exact figure, the supply is fixed and demand in the dry months is high.

The promotional rates are listed by RDB until the end of December 2026 and do not apply from June to October 2026. The international rate does not change with the season. These figures were checked in October 2026, and fees can change, so confirm the current rate before you pay.

As soon as your dates are firm. The dry months, June to September and December to February, fill first, so for those months we suggest booking several months ahead. The wetter months, March to May and October to November, usually have more choice, so a shorter lead time can work, although we still recommend booking early.

Book your permit and your lodge together. Lodges near Musanze have a limited number of rooms, and a permit is of little use if you cannot sleep near the park the night before. We also suggest allowing a spare day in your itinerary, because a permit is for a fixed date and cannot move with a delayed flight.

1. Choose your trek date and group size. Check lodge availability near Musanze at the same time.
2. Book through a licensed tour operator or the RDB booking portal. An operator handles the permit, the lodge and the transfers together, and confirms the booking in writing.
3. Give each traveller's details exactly as they appear in the passport. The permit is issued to a named person.
4. Pay to confirm. The permit is not secure until it is paid for and confirmed.
5. Bring your passport on trek day. You report to the RDB office in Kinigi at 7:00 a.m. and your details are checked.

You can read how the day itself works in our gorilla trekking guide.

Plan on the basis that a permit is not refundable. RDB generally does not refund a permit when a traveller cancels, and travellers who ask are usually offered a new date, depending on availability, instead. Rescheduling is decided by RDB, not by the operator, and the new date depends on what is free. Terms differ between operators, so ask for the cancellation and rescheduling rules in writing before you pay, and check whether your travel insurance covers a non-refundable permit.

If you are ill on trek day, rangers may stop you from trekking to protect the gorillas. Ask your operator and your insurer how this is handled before you travel.

Best for: travellers with fixed holiday dates, groups travelling together, and anyone visiting in June to September or December to February.

May not be ideal for: travellers who do not yet know their dates, or who cannot afford a non-refundable payment. If that is you, wait until your dates are firm, or choose a lower-demand month.

• Waiting for cheaper flights first. A permit sells out faster than flights, so secure the permit first.
• Booking the lodge but not the permit. A room in Musanze without a permit means no trek.
• Passport name mismatches. Spell each name exactly as in the passport, and check passport validity.
• Scheduling a tight flight on the afternoon of the trek. The walk can take four hours or more. See our trekking tips.
• Forgetting the age limit. Everyone in the group must be at least 15. Read our age limit guide.
• Assuming the discounted rates apply to you. The promotional rates are for citizens and residents of Africa only.

It is not a safe plan. Permits are limited each day, and the dry months sell out. Book before you travel.

For international visitors, yes: US$1,500 in every month. The lower promotional rates for African citizens and residents do not apply from June to October 2026.

No. A Rwanda permit is for Volcanoes National Park only. Uganda sells its own permits through the Uganda Wildlife Authority. See our Rwanda versus Uganda comparison.

Yes, golden monkey tracking has its own permit. We combine both in the 4-day golden monkey tracking tour.

Tell us your dates and group size and our tour specialist will check permit and lodge availability together. See our 4-day Rwanda gorilla trekking tour or Talk to Our Tour Specialist.

Source: Rwanda Development Board gorilla tracking page.