Can I Reschedule My Gorilla Permit with a 30% Deposit? Gorilla trekking in Uganda ranks among Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife experiences. To take part, every visitor must hold a valid gorilla permit. This permit grants you one hour with habituated mountain gorillas in either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. It also covers park entry fees, ranger guide fees, and a certificate at the end of your trek. For those who want more time with the gorillas, the gorilla habituation experience permit allows four hours with a gorilla family.
Can You Buy a Gorilla Permit in Installments?
Can I Reschedule My Gorilla Permit with a 30% Deposit? Yes, you can. If your travel date is still several months away, you do not need to pay the full amount up front. The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) allows visitors to secure a gorilla permit with an initial deposit of 30%, provided your trekking date is at least three months away. This option works especially well for travelers booking one to four years in advance.
A standard gorilla permit costs $800 for foreign non-residents. A 30% deposit, therefore, amounts to $240, with the remaining $560 due two months before your trek. For the gorilla habituation experience, which costs $1,500 per person, the initial 30% deposit comes to $450, with the final $1,050 payment also due two months before the activity. Missing the final payment deadline risks losing your permit entirely, so plan your finances carefully and pay on time.
Other Permit Costs
Can I Reschedule My Gorilla Permit with a 30% Deposit? Gorilla permit fees vary based on a visitor’s residency status. Foreign non-residents pay $800, while foreign residents pay $700. African residents pay $500, and East African Community citizens pay UGX 300,000. These rates apply to both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Can You Reschedule a Gorilla Permit?
Can I Reschedule My Gorilla Permit with a 30% Deposit? Unexpected situations sometimes force travelers to change their plans. Fortunately, rescheduling a gorilla permit is possible. However, you must first complete the full payment, including the remaining 70%, before the authority considers your request. Submit your rescheduling request in writing to the Executive Director, clearly explaining your reasons for the change. Once the authority approves the request, it reschedules your permit to a new date. Note that you may only reschedule a gorilla permit twice, so use this option carefully.
Where and How to Book Your Permit
The Uganda Wildlife Authority issues all gorilla permits. You can contact UWA directly by phone or email, or you can work through a licensed tour operator. Using a tour operator simplifies the entire process considerably. They check availability, handle reservations, process payments, and assist with any changes or cancellations. This saves you time and removes the stress of dealing with administrative back-and-forth on your own.
Of the 25 habituated gorilla families in Bwindi, only eight visitors may spend one hour with each family per day. For the gorilla habituation experience, only four visitors may visit each of the two designated families daily. Because permits are strictly limited, booking early is essential.
Choosing Your Trekking Region in Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is unique because it offers four distinct trekking regions: Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the east, and Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south. Each region hosts four to five habituated gorilla families. The region on your permit determines your trekking route and, importantly, where you should book your accommodation. Always confirm your permit region before reserving a lodge to ensure everything lines up smoothly.
For gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, permits cover the Nyakagezi gorilla group, with only eight permits available each day. The gorilla habituation experience, on the other hand, is only available in the southern sector of Bwindi.
Getting to the Parks
Entebbe International Airport serves as the main entry point for most international visitors. From Entebbe, you can drive to Bwindi in roughly nine to ten hours, or take a two-hour charter flight to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip. Alternatively, fly into Kigali International Airport in Rwanda and drive four to five hours to Bwindi via the Katuna or Chanika border crossings.
Mgahinga National Park sits in the Kisoro district of southwestern Uganda, bordering Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. From Kigali, the drive to Mgahinga takes about four hours via the Chanika crossing. From Kampala or Entebbe, the journey takes eight to nine hours along the Kampala-Mbarara-Kisoro highway. Charter and scheduled flights from Entebbe to Kisoro Airstrip take around two hours, with the park headquarters just 30 minutes from the airstrip.
What to Wear on a Gorilla Trek
The trek can last anywhere from one to six hours through dense, hilly forest. Dressing appropriately makes the experience far more comfortable. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers to protect your skin from thorny plants and insect bites. Choose lightweight, waterproof trousers rather than jeans, which become heavy and uncomfortable when wet. Wear sturdy, waterproof hiking boots with strong ankle support and pair them with long, thick socks. Add waterproof gaiters, a rain jacket, and gloves to complete your outfit.
Gorilla Trekking Rules
Protecting the endangered mountain gorillas is a shared responsibility. All visitors must follow the park’s rules at all times. Maintain a distance of at least seven meters from the gorillas throughout the encounter. Flash photography is strictly forbidden. Keep noise to a minimum so as not to disturb the animals. Dispose of all rubbish in designated bins and, if you need to use the toilet in the forest, dig a hole 30 centimeters deep and cover it properly using a biodegradable toilet. The minimum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 15 years.
Best Time to Go
The dry seasons offer the best trekking conditions. These run from June to September and again from December to February. During these months, trails are drier, skies are clearer, and gorillas tend to move more predictably. Fruit is also more plentiful in the dry season, which keeps gorilla families in more accessible areas. These months also overlap with many school holidays, making them convenient for family travel. However, expect more visitors and book permits well in advance during these peak periods.
What to Pack
Bring a light daypack containing waterproof hiking boots, a rain jacket, insect repellent, sunscreen, a refillable water bottle, and energy snacks. Carry a camera without a flash, binoculars, a portable charger, and any personal medications. Pack plastic bags for storing wet or dirty clothes, and keep your load as light as possible throughout the trek.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Book your permit early, prepare thoroughly, and get ready to come face to face with one of the world’s most magnificent creatures.
