Uganda Wildlife Authority as well as Uganda Tourism Board has confirmed that they will increase the cost of the gorilla permits after Rwanda doubled the fee from $750 to $ 1500 per person tracking. The $600 charge for the Ugandan permit will remain at the same rate for 12 months and this has been promised by the authorities. The executive director of UWA said that Gorillas are one of the World’s most valuable natural resources and their conservation is the fore front for UWA’s decisions. This will help in allowing the global travelers the chance to fulfil their lifelong dreams to view these animals and is also the key to their conservation.
By increasing the price of the permits, we shall be allowing only a group of people to travel to Uganda and discouraging the low income earners and also denying them an opportunity of tracking these beautiful primates. In addition, having the international tourists staying at many of the grade hotels and lodges also means that locally owned business will fully benefit.
This idea will also help Uganda to look after its mountain gorillas well. More so, the increase in gorilla permits in Rwanda will unavoidably have a knock on the effect on tourism in Uganda where the cost of permits is less. The percentage of the money that is obtained by the use of a gorilla permit also contributes to the primate’s survival, there was a recent baby boom that gave hope to conservationists and travellers that are looking for this one time life adventure.
Rwanda also puts it that the increase in the cost of the permit fees have been made to preserve the gorillas and also conserve their natural habitat, there is also an understanding that the percentage of the permit fee is given to the local communities, which helps in contributing towards the funding of schools, hospitals and libraries, and has also increased to ensure that tourism in Rwanda remains so sustainable and also gives something back to the community across the country.
The gorilla permit fees in Rwanda also apply to the nationals while Uganda offers a discount to the nationals in order to encourage them to visit the mountain gorillas. Uganda is also committed to protecting the natural resources as well as welcoming the tourists to view the most amazing wildlife. The price of gorilla permits in Uganda remain at $600 per person and $400 for the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The gorillas in Rwanda are found in Volcanoes National Park, in Uganda are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National park which in Congo they are found in Virunga mountain ranges. All the three countries are good for gorilla trekking throughout the year.