Uganda Gorilla Permit Booking Information
As of today, if you intend to visit Uganda for any Primate experience, you can only book your Gorilla Trekking Permit through a licensed tour operator. Our Reservations Team has, on several occasions, received many inquiries on Uganda Gorilla permit booking information, when the best time to book the Gorilla Trekking permit is, and how much a Uganda Gorilla Permit is. In this article, which is titled “Uganda Gorilla Permit Booking information”, we give a deep insight into all you need to know about the Gorilla permits of Uganda.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is an exclusive and undoubtedly a bucket-list experience that promises nature enthusiasts breathtaking encounters with one of the world’s most endangered species. This is a journey that only a fortunate few get to embark on, and it all begins with securing a valid gorilla permit, a ticket to an experience that is truly one-of-a-kind.
The ultimate guide to booking your Uganda gorilla permit provided here covers everything you may need to know about securing a permit, essential travel tips to ease the process involved, and the cost. It also includes deep secrets on enhancing your gorilla trekking adventure experience. A valid Uganda gorilla permit is required, whether you are a seasoned trekker or plan to visit Uganda for the first time to track gorillas. Here are the details to guide you when booking a gorilla permit and a tour to Uganda.
Why book a gorilla permit
Gorilla permits are official legal documents or tickets to gorilla trekking. It is an essential document any trekker visiting to track gorillas must have. Without a gorilla permit, you won’t have a chance to track mountain gorillas. The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is the body or organ responsible for issuing gorilla permits in Uganda and also sets conservation tariffs.
Obtaining a valid gorilla trekking permit has multiple benefits. First, it allows you to see gorillas. Visitors must have a valid gorilla permit to see gorillas in Uganda.
Secondly, booking a gorilla permit in Uganda means contributing to conservation efforts. The most significant financial support is derived from the gorilla permits sold. The funds generated from selling gorilla permits and tours are returned to pay those involved in conserving gorillas and protecting these apes’ habitats.
By securing a gorilla permit, you are not just gaining access to a unique experience. Still, you are also playing a significant role in meeting the high cost of conserving gorillas. The park authorities incur a considerable cost in facilitating park ranger guides, guides, scientists, researchers, and gorilla doctors. Your contribution by purchasing a gorilla permit is a direct investment in conserving these magnificent creatures, making you a responsible and integral part of this noble cause.
How to book a gorilla permit in Uganda
A valid gorilla permit in Uganda can only be booked through a registered gorilla trekking company. Considering this policy, Native Africa Tours is in the right place to assist you in securing a gorilla permit and organizing the entire gorilla trekking adventure. Contact our reservation team and let us start the long process of booking your permit early enough.
When to book a gorilla permit? A gorilla permit should be booked in advance. We recommend you secure your Uganda permit for gorilla trekking at least 2 to 6 months in advance. The demand for a gorilla permit is high, and obtaining it early not only secures your spot but also increases your chances of hiking to see mountain gorillas, making you a proactive participant in this unique adventure.
Visitor category
The Uganda Wildlife Authority states that the conservation tariffs for gorilla permits vary depending on the visitor categories. The categories include foreign nonresidents, foreign residents, the Rest of Africa, and East African citizens.
How much is a Uganda gorilla permit today?
The gorilla permit cost in Uganda varies depending on your visitor category. Currently, a valid gorilla permit in Uganda is available for USD 800 per visitor for foreign nonresidents, USD 700 per tourist for foreign residents, and USD 500 per person for the Rest of Africa. Ugandans and other East African citizens who plan to participate in the trek with gorillas secure permits at UGX 300,000 per person. These fees contribute to conserving the gorillas and their habitats, so you can trek with peace of mind knowing that your permit fee supports these significant efforts.
The process of booking a Uganda gorilla permit
The steps involved in securing a gorilla permit include contacting the tour operator. During this stage, you should share the dates you intend to trek gorillas in Uganda. The team at Native Africa Tours then cross-checks the availability of permits for the dates you suggested.
Your personal information is essential when you contact the tour operator to book a gorilla permit. The required details include your full name, passport, and other important information you must share with the tour operator.
Book and pay –Our reservation team handles the booking process. A respective percentage deposit will be required for you to pay to help reserve the permit and cover other costs. The reservation team shall provide all payment details. You use the details shared by the tour operator to make payment. Do not make payment anywhere else except where you have been directed. After making the payment, the tour operator will get back to you.
However, you must make a 100% payment for gorilla permits if the dates you intend to track gorillas are within less than 3 months. If the dates are beyond 3 months, a 30% deposit is requested to enable the tour operator to secure a gorilla permit.
Checking the availability of a gorilla permit
Before you travel to track gorillas, the tour operator checks the availability of permits. Permits are booked only for the available dates. If the available dates don’t fit within your travel plan, you may be requested to adjust.
The best time to visit Uganda’s gorillas
When planning to track gorillas, the dry season is a special period that guarantees ideal weather conditions. The first phase of the dry season begins in December, January, and February. The last phase of the Dry season runs from June to September. These are the months with less rainfall, and the forest floor remains drier, making it possible to navigate through in search of gorillas.
Do I own a gorilla permit after purchasing it?
Once you have purchased a gorilla permit through your tour operator, you are given a receipt acknowledging the purchase. The receipt also contains a booking ID in the top left corner of the paper. A scanned copy is sent to a visitor with dates when you intend to travel to trek gorillas. A valid gorilla permit can be valid for a single gorilla trek; it expires after you track gorillas. If you have plans to track more than one gorilla group, you need two permits. Each permit is given to one visitor to track one gorilla family.
How many gorilla permits are in Uganda?
The 25 habituated gorilla families translate to about 200 gorilla permits. These are the gorilla permits available for booking in Uganda. So that you know, a single gorilla group is tracked by a maximum of 8 (eight) tourists daily. Mgahinga National Park with only one gorilla group means a maximum of 8 (eight) gorilla permits can be available for booking, then the rest are available for tourists visiting Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Gorilla permit refund policy
As you know, gorilla permits are generally non-refundable. However, certain conditions may apply, and a refund can be made.
First, the Uganda Wildlife Authority can refund the full amount of the gorilla trekking fee if a guest fails to trek gorillas due to sickness. This can apply at the discretion of the warden in charge and only applies to visitors already at Bwindi or Mgahinga to track gorillas.
If a visitor fails to trek gorillas in Mgahinga due to the movement of gorillas to the nearby country, they can be refunded. The visitor took time to hike through the park the entire day and failed to find gorillas. A refund of 75% of the trekking fee may apply.
