Rwanda Gorilla Permit Availability: When Dates Sell Out
Rwanda issues only about 96 gorilla trekking permits a day.
- Why so few:Volcanoes National Park has about 12 habituated gorilla families, and each can be visited by at most 8 people a day.
- How they’re sold:first come, first served, with no public live availability calendar.
- Peak season(June to September and December to February): dates often sell out 4–6 months ahead. Christmas, New Year and August go first.
- Low season(March to May and November): permits are often available a few weeks to two months ahead.
- To check your dates:send us your dates and group size. We check with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and reply within 24 hours.
Looking for prices? See our Rwanda gorilla permit cost guide. A standard permit costs US$1,500.
How Many Gorilla Permits Does Rwanda Issue Each Day?
| Figure | |
| Habituated gorilla families open to visitors | About 12 |
| Maximum visitors per family per day | 8 |
| Gorilla permits per day | About 96 |
| Time with the gorillas | 1 hour |
| Minimum age | 15 |
RDB limits visitor numbers on purpose. Fewer visitors means less stress and less disease risk for the gorillas, which is a key reason Rwanda’s mountain gorilla population has recovered. The limit also means every permit counts: if eight people have booked a family for your date, that family is full.
Month-by-Month Permit Demand in Rwanda
| Month | Demand | How far ahead to book |
| January – February | High (short dry season) | 3–5 months |
| March – May | Low (long rains) | 2–8 weeks; often available at short notice |
| June – September | Very high (long dry season, summer holidays) | 4–6 months or more |
| October | Medium–high | 2–4 months |
| November | Low–medium (short rains) | 1–2 months |
| December | Very high (Christmas and New Year) | 5–6 months or more |
Also expect demand to rise around Kwita Izina, Rwanda’s annual gorilla naming ceremony, and during large conferences in Kigali, when permits can sell out unexpectedly.
Tip: from November to May, international visitors can also get a 30% low-season discount by adding two nights in Akagera or Nyungwe. See discounted gorilla permits in Rwanda.
How to Check Rwanda Gorilla Permit Availability
RDB doesn’t publish a public live calendar. Availability is checked at the time of booking. You have two options:
- Check through us:send your preferred date, a back-up date and the number of trekkers by WhatsApp or our contact form. We check with RDB and reply within 24 hours.
- Check on RDB’s portal:when you start a booking on RDB’s official portal, it shows whether your date can be booked.
Availability isn’t a reservation. A date that’s open today can sell out tomorrow. Permits are secured only once they are paid in full, so once your date is confirmed, pay quickly. See how to book a Rwanda gorilla permit.
Can I Get a Last-Minute Gorilla Permit in Rwanda?
Sometimes, especially in low season.
- From March to May and in November, permits are often available a few days or weeks ahead.
- Cancellations occasionally free up peak-season permits, but don’t plan a trip around this.
- For a last-minute trek, send us several possible dates. A flexible date gives you a much better chance.
What If Rwanda Gorilla Permits Are Sold Out for My Dates?
You still have good options:
- Move your trek date by a day or two.Often the day before or after is still open.
- Trek in Uganda instead.Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga national parks have more habituated families and more daily permits. A standard Uganda permit also costs less, and you can reach southern Bwindi from Kigali in about 4–5 hours. See how to get a gorilla permit in Uganda.
- Keep Rwanda for other activities.You can still do golden monkey trekking, the Dian Fossey hike or a Bisoke climb in Volcanoes National Park, and trek gorillas in Uganda.
Does the Gorilla Family I Get Depend on Availability?
Yes. You book a permit for a date, not a specific family. On the morning of your trek, rangers at Kinigi assign visitors to families, taking fitness and age into account where possible. We tell the rangers about any fitness or mobility needs, so you can be considered for a closer family.
FAQs: Rwanda Gorilla Permit Availability
How many gorilla permits are available in Rwanda per day? About 96: roughly 12 habituated families, with a maximum of 8 visitors each per day.
How far in advance do Rwanda gorilla permits sell out? Peak-season dates (June to September and December to February) often sell out 4–6 months ahead. In low season, permits are often available a few weeks ahead.
Is there a live calendar showing Rwanda gorilla permit availability? No. RDB doesn’t publish one. Availability is checked when you book, either on RDB’s portal or through a licensed operator.
Can I get a gorilla permit in Rwanda the day before? Only rarely, mostly in low season. Short-notice permits depend on cancellations and how flexible you are with dates.
What if Rwanda gorilla permits are fully booked? Try nearby dates, or trek in Uganda’s Bwindi or Mgahinga, which have more permits each day.
Check Your Dates Today
Trek Rwanda Gorillas (Maranatha Tours & Travel) is licensed by RDB and the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB/RTT/TT/2024/101151), and has been running gorilla safaris since 2009.
Send us your dates on WhatsApp at +256 701 800 149, email in**@****************as.com, or contact us here.
