Gorilla Permits
A tourist will need an official permit handled by each of the national parks to see the gorillas. Typically you have to obtain these several months in advance. In case you are going with a tour it will be arranged for you.
In Uganda this permission costs USD 500 per day per person. You may get the permits in Kampala (the capital of Uganda) at the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) headquarters.
In Rwanda you can get permits through the Rwanda Tourism Board offices in Kigali or Ruhengeri.
How to Get There
The majority of tours will include transport from either Kigali in Rwanda or Kampala in Uganda. In case you want to travel independently there are some options available.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
You can get to Butogota a town near the park entrance from Kampala by public buses that run (almost) daily. It will take about 10 hours. The final destination is Buhoma and you'll have to catch a taxi from Butogota to get there.
Mgahinga National Park
Kisoro is the main town outside of the Mgahinga Park. To get to that city you have to go through Kabale. It is an easy ride around 6-8 hours by bus from Kampala to Kibale.
PNV in Rwanda
Arriving at PNV in Rwanda is a fairly easy 45 minute drive from the capital Kigali.
Places to Stay
Nearly all gorilla safaris will include accommodations, but these links below will help those traveling independently and also give you an idea of what is available.
You may choose among hotels and lodges, as well as campsites and bandas (there are several campsites and bandas (simple accommodation) just outside the park in Bwindi, Uganda).
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