How to Book a Uganda Gorilla Trekking Permit
HOW TO GET A GORILLA TREKKING PERMIT
Booking permits for Uganda gorilla trekking – A Gorilla trekking permit is merely a paper that permits you to spend one hour with the gorillas and can only be obtained from a licensed Tour Operator in Uganda or Rwanda, or through the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in Uganda and the Rwanda Tourist Board (RTB) in Rwanda.
However, it is considerably easier and faster to get a Gorilla trekking permit through a Tour Company or Safari business since it is quicker and less tiring. Another advantage of booking with a safari company is that they are familiar with the numerous Gorilla families as well as the surrounding town and the various locations of stay, which they can reserve for you. They can also provide excellent travel advice if you wish to prolong your trip. As a result, you can contact us at Adventure in the Wild Safaris for assistance in reserving your gorilla trekking permit/trip.
However, if you want to book your Gorilla trekking permit directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), especially for tourists from outside Uganda, you must E-mail the Uganda Revenue Authority’s reservation office inquiring about the availability of the dates you want to track or trek the Gorillas, and if they are not available, you should ask them to update you on the nearest dates.
How to Reserve a Gorilla Trekking Permit
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, but due to the unreliability of the Mountain Gorillas in Mgahinga National Park, gorilla trekking is mostly done in Bwindi, and thus most of the gorilla trekking permits that are sold are for Bwindi, but during your booking of a gorilla trekking permit, you can still specify which National Park you would like to visit, in either of
Before you go gorilla trekking, you will be advised on which gorilla family to trek based on your fitness level, particularly in the case of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which has 14 habituated gorilla families and is divided into four regions, including Buhoma in the north, Rujiha in the east, Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south, and each region has different habituated gorilla families.
When should you reserve your gorilla trekking permit?
Tourists are advised to book a Gorilla trekking permit three months in advance, six months in advance, and up to two years in advance, which primarily favors tourists going for Gorilla Trekking during the Peak season or High season, in the drier months of June, July, August, September, December, January, and February. As a result, the earlier you book, the sooner you may go gorilla trekking because permits tend to run out quickly during peak season. Because Uganda removed low-season discounted gorilla permits in 2017, your delay in reserving may force you to choose the Rwanda low-season gorilla trekking permit between the months of May and November.
How much does a gorilla permit cost?
A Gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs $700 for foreigners who do not remain in Uganda or any of the East African Community nations, $500 for foreigners who stay in East African Community partner states, and Shs250,000 for locals who stay in the East African Community. In Rwanda, gorilla trekking licenses cost $1500 in the high season and $1050 in the low season, all of which are per person.
You should be aware that you cannot go gorilla trekking unless you obtain a Gorilla Trekking Permit. To book your gorilla trekking permit, you must submit your name, nationality, passport number, and date of birth. In this scenario, you should be aware that Gorilla trekking permits cannot be handled in the custody of another person, thus you will be required to present your passport and identity documents at the pre-trekking briefing.
You will also have to provide your payments as well as the dates when you want to go gorilla trekking, and if the dates you have suggested are already booked, you will have to ask whoever is organizing your permit for the nearest dates that can act as alternative options for you to go gorilla trekking.
Finally, you will receive a scanned copy of your Gorilla trekking permit within a few days or weeks, and when you arrive in the country, the Safari Company that worked on your permit will be able to provide it for you, or you will have to collect it from the UWA office if you are traveling independently. Your permit will have a serial number and your personal information inscribed on it.
