Gorilla Trekking Permit Uganda-Cost, Booking & Availability Guide
Gorilla Trekking Permit Uganda act as approval documents for visitors to trek gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Travelers who wish trek gorillas in Uganda are always advised to book gorilla permits at least 6 months before their trekking date. This is because these permits are issued in limited amounts as a measure of preserving the conservation of gorillas.
To obtain a Gorilla Trekking Permit in Uganda, there are several important steps and considerations to keep in mind which include selecting a national park, contacting a tour operator, paying the gorilla permit fees, receiving confirmation, following trekking guidelines, and ultimately enjoying an unforgettable experience with the mountain gorillas.
How To Get a Gorilla Trekking Permit in Uganda
Choose a National Park for the Gorilla trek
Gorilla trekking in Uganda can be done in two national parks which are located in the south west and they include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Bwindi National Park is the most popular choice for gorilla trekking in Uganda due to its larger population of gorillas and Mgahinga national park also offers a unique experience.
The two national parks also differ in terms of the drive time and getting there despite being located in the south western part of Uganda. Getting to Bwindi national park by road takes about 8 hours while the drive to Mgahinga national park is about 10 hours.
Flights to Bwindi national park from Entebbe airport can be got to Kisoro airstrip and Kihihi airstrip and getting to Mgahinga national park by flight is through the Kisoro airstrip. These flights are offered by domestic airlines such as Aerolink.
Bwindi national park offers different options for gorilla trekking including sectors such as Ruhija, Rushaga, Nkuringo and Buhoma while there is one gorilla group in Mgahinga national park which is the Nyakagezi group.
Contact a tour operator
To secure a gorilla permit, it is recommended to contact a registered tour operator or travel agency in Uganda like Engabi Tours and travel. We will assist you in obtaining the necessary permits and provide guidance on planning your trip.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority issues out the gorilla permits in Uganda through licensed tour operators. The tour operator who is chosen to book the gorilla permit will require information such as personal details, preferred date of gorilla trekking and payment for the permit fee.
Engabi Tours and Travel is a tour operator licensed by Uganda Tourism Board and a member of Association of Uganda Tour Operators that will help you to book your Gorilla Permit or a Gorilla Trekking Tour.
Gorilla Trekking Permit Cost in Uganda
The cost of gorilla trekking permit in Uganda for foreigners $800 per person for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. And foreign residents are charged 700 USD, the rest of Africa 500 USD and East African citizens are charged 250,000 Uganda shillings for gorilla trekking.
The payment for gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is usually made through bank transfers or credit card payments by the tour operator. It is advisable to book your gorilla permit in advance, as availability can be limited especially during peak tourist seasons around June to October.
Due to the limited number of permits issued out on a daily for gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park, checking for permits availability in a specific sector or destination is crucial as it helps the visitors to know where they will engage in the activity.
Once payment for the gorilla permit has been processed, a confirmation from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is sent to the tour operator and serves as proof of your permit and should be presented upon arrival at Bwindi national park or Mgahinga national park.
The fees collected from gorilla permits play a crucial role in conservation efforts and protecting the mountain gorillas’ habitat. By obtaining a permit and participating in gorilla trekking, visitors directly contribute to the conservation of these endangered species
Gorilla Trekking Guidelines
On the day of gorilla trekking in Uganda, guidelines are provided during a briefing by the Uganda Wildlife Authority at the park headquarters.
These guidelines for gorilla trekking are designed to ensure the safety of both visitors and gorillas, as well as minimize any negative impact on their natural habitat. During this briefing, visitors are also assigned groups to search for the gorilla groups.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is organized into small groups, with each group allowed a maximum of 8 visitors per day. This helps to avoid overwhelming the gorillas during the interaction with visitors.
Visitors are also required to avoid using flash photography during time spent with the gorillas, not littering, avoiding noise, keeping a distance of about 7 meters from the gorillas during the trek, staying with the assigned group during the gorilla trek.
Before the gorilla trek in Bwindi national park or Mgahinga national park, there are also guidelines to follow and they include making sure visitors are in good health condition and those with contagious disease are discouraged from interacting with the gorillas to avoid contamination.
Gorilla trekking experience
After having the briefing at the park headquarters during gorilla trekking in Uganda, visitors hike through forests in search of gorilla families with their ranger guides. Once the visitors find the gorillas in their habitat, visitors are allowed to have one hour to observe and photograph the gorillas from a safe distance.
The year-round good weather in Uganda makes gorilla expeditions possible. However, the best times to go are considered to be during the dry seasons, which occur from June to September and December to February.
Because there is less rainfall during these times, trekking conditions are more pleasant. Due to the country’s equatorial climate, rain showers can happen at any moment, even during the dry season. As a result, it is advised to arrive prepared with the proper rain gear.
Apart from gorilla trekking, visitors can also engage in gorilla habituation in Bwindi national park, golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga national park, community tours, bird watching, as well as guided nature walks and hikes.
Other costs associated with the gorilla trekking experience in Uganda apart from paying for the gorilla permits include accommodation costs, transport costs, activity fees and also additional costs like tips and gratuities.
CONTACT US to book your Gorilla Trekking Permit or a Gorilla Trekking Tour.