Uganda Gorilla Trekking Permits FAQs.
What is a Gorilla Permit?
A gorilla permit is a card that allows tourists above the age of 15 to trek and spend an hour watching gorillas.
How do I get gorilla permit?
At their headquarters in Kampala, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) sells gorilla permits. To verify that you are older than 15, they will require to see a passport or other kind of identification. All purchases are recorded by UWA
There is fierce competition for permits, and they occasionally sell out. It is advised that you purchase one at least five months in advance. Peak seasons, from December to February and June to October, see the highest demand. UWA provides Bwindi National Park with 88 licenses. Once a permit is bought, gorilla trekking is assured.
At initially, permits were distributed according to first-come, first-served. If you wanted to trek with a certain gorilla family, you might choose to do so.
But as of January 2014, UWA now issues licenses in accordance with the park’s four regions: Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Rushaga. Trekking is done in eight-person groups.
Please be advised that the permit fee does not include transportation, lodging, or meals. When you plan your vacation with us, we’ll take care of everything.
How much does a gorilla permit cost in Uganda?
At the time of writing, Ugandan gorilla licenses cost $700 per person. Prices have gone up by $100 since July 2020. This will assist in assisting community-based dialogue projects, hospitals, schools, and small enterprises.
The best permit rates are available in Uganda, where there is a good opportunity of viewing gorillas in their natural environment. Gorilla licenses in neighboring Rwanda cost $1,500 per person.
Please be aware that low-season discounts on permits are no longer available.
What else do I need to know about gorilla Permit?
Each person is only permitted to utilize a permit once. Upon arrival, you will be divided into groups according to your degree of fitness, your desire to visit a particular gorilla family in your area, and whether you wish to stay with family or friends. Depending on the size of the group, a decision will be made that day.
The duration of the journey might range from 30 minutes to 9 hours. A highly trained guide will be by your side the entire time.
The UWA will refund 50% of the permit money if you take a gorilla trek but fail to see any gorillas. This is really implausible, as nobody has ever gone on a hike and not seen gorillas.
The Gorilla Habituation Experience.
You must purchase the gorilla habituation experience if you want to spend more than an hour with the gorillas. At the time of writing, this permit costs $1500 per person.
The event happens at Rushaga, which is located in the southern region of Bwindi. Four hours will be spent with trackers and perhaps researchers.
You will gain a detailed understanding of the past at this period and take part in activities designed to help the gorillas get used to people so that they can be walked normally in the future.
Only 4 of these permits are sold each day despite the tremendous demand for them.