Trekking gorillas though the jungles of Rwanda is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Seeing the majestic animals up close and in their natural environment should be on every traveler’s bucketlist. However, protecting them is also an important initiative for the Rwandan government and conservation groups. To that affect, the Rwanda Development Board has announced an increase in the price of gorilla permits, effective immediately. Permits are now priced at $1,500 USD for all visitors, but does not affect travelers who have already purchased their permits or made a deposit on their permits before May 6, 2017.

As an incentive for travelers to explore other areas in Rwanda, the Rwanda Development Board will extend a discount of 30% on permits to travelers who visit other Rwandan national parks for a minimum of three days, namely Nyungwe and Akagera. Both parks offer the opportunity to see amazing wildlife and explore a different part of Rwanda. Nyungwe is known for its primates – chimpanzee trekking is a favorite activity. It also has an exciting tree canopy walkway, allowing travelers to experience the forest at bird and monkey height! Akagera is home to a variety of wildlife including zebra, giraffe, elephant, lion and hundreds of bird species, such as the rare shoebill stork.