Gorilla Journal 34, June 2007
Gorilla Permit Prices
Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo standardized
gorilla permit fees to US$ 500 for foreign non-residents and US$ 475 for
foreign residents as well as East African nationals as of July 1st, 2007
(nationals of the range countries have to pay much less). Until June,
Rwanda and Uganda charged nonresidents US$ 375 and Congo US$ 335.
It was decided to harmonize fees to take account of the migratory trans-boundary
gorillas, such as the Nyakagezi group, which ranges into all three countries;
they can be visited by tourists in the particular country where it is
staying, and the revenues will be shared between the country of origin
(where they were habituated) and the host country. For the Nyakagezi group,
a memorandum of understanding was signed between UWA, ORTPN and ICCN.
Moses Mapesa, the director of UWA, said that the standardized pricing
will strengthen the collaboration among the three countries. This will
be in line with the East African countries intention
of harmonizing their tourism operations. Bookings under the new rates
have already started, as permits can be booked up to 2 years in advance.
Summary of information from the Uganda
Wildlife Authority
Conservation
areas
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