What is a gorilla permit and why is it important? A gorilla permit is a pass issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda and Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda on behalf of the government allowing visitors to trek and view Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat while simultaneously supporting the conservation activities to safeguard the threatened mountain gorillas and their natural habitat.
Imagine trekking Mountain gorillas in vast forests; this fantasy will only come true once you book and pay for a gorilla trek permit, which will be your pass to the national park. The governing authorities instituted gorilla licenses in order to control gorilla tourism and the access to the gorillas. This lowers the number of visitors to the gorillas, therefore minimizing disease transfer from humans to gorillas and preventing poaching particularly for those who wish to enter the national parks without a gorilla permit.
Gorilla permits are more than just a pass into the national parks but have several purposes that include the following:
The safety of gorillas: Gorilla trekking is done in remote, distant and rugged areas and this is why the government and other security agents came up to provide 24/7 security to both the trekkers and the Mountain gorillas. The permit payment helps to fund all this and pay the guides and armed rangers; safety precautions are also implemented with aid from these professionals.
Regulating gorilla tourism: Mountain gorillas are endangered species and have to be protected at all costs, and to be able to properly regulate the number of people visiting the national parks, the gorilla permit was introduced. Permits assist to reduce human influence on the Mountain gorillas and crowding.
Sustainable tourism: In most cases, when gorilla trekking is done responsibly, it can be good for the future tourism sector in the country. Purchasing the permits helps the governments of each separate nation generate income that is directed back into the travel sector, so benefiting the tourism sector as well as the wildlife.
The types of gorilla permits
There are two types of gorilla trekking permits issued, and these are gorilla trekking permits, also known as standard trekking permits and gorilla habituation permits. Whereas Rwanda only offers the gorilla trekking permit, Uganda boasts both habituation permits and permission for gorilla trekking.
Gorilla trekking permit: This is also known as the standard gorilla trekking permit and grants tourists an hour to observe gorillas in their natural habitat after locating them.
Gorilla habituation permit: A gorilla habituation permit is a permit that grants tourists 4 hours with the primates and this was designed to show tourists how the habituation process takes place and how the semi-habituated gorillas react to human presence.
For more information about gorilla trekking permits that is in both Uganda and Rwandan then Democratic Republic of Congo, do not hesitate to contact us at Focus East Africa Tours we shall plan, organize and prepare for you the perfect gorilla trekking safari that will offer you unforgettable safari memories for your entire life.
