Common Mistakes to Avoid When Booking Gorilla Permits: Booking gorilla permits starts the organization process of the memorable and incredible gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda and Uganda. The permit is the password you need to get guided access to the gorillas in their natural habitat. Besides the passport, a gorilla permit is a vital travel document for the gorilla safari.
The logistical process of booking the permit can be daunting for many travelers because it involves back-and-forth communication and wire transfer of money. You can make many mistakes even when you employ a tour operator to take logistical heat.
Therefore, we have pinpointed some of the most common mistakes you can avoid when booking gorilla permits in Rwanda and Uganda for a seamless planning process.
Don’t plan a gorilla safari without first booking a gorilla permit.
Gorilla trekking is a highly supervised tourist activity in Rwanda and Uganda, authorizing a minimum number of tourists to visit a gorilla group daily. That means the number of permits available daily is limited compared to the number of interested visitors.
Avoid last-minute gorilla permit bookings.
Making last-minute gorilla permit bookings may miserably disappoint you. As mentioned earlier, gorilla permits are scarce, especially during the peak travel season when many travelers hope to travel to Uganda and Rwanda to trek the gentle giants in their natural habitat.
Book your permits three to twelve months in advance, as they could sell out as long as six months ahead, which will help you avoid disappointments and disruptions in planning your gorilla trekking adventure.
Don’t try to buy the permits yourself.
Although some travelers prefer booking permits by themselves, we strongly advise that you use a trusted and registered tour company. Tour companies can strongly protect you from the horrifying local logistics involved and will help you reschedule the permit to another date in case of unanticipated eventualities.
To avoid this common mistake, look up a trusted tour company (registered with the Association of Uganda Tour Operators and Uganda Tourism Board) that can plan your entire trip, including transport, lodging, and other activities.
Anthill Safaris is trusted by many travelers registered by the Association of Uganda Tour Operators and licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board to provide such services. Please email us with your correct names and travel dates to help you book your gorilla permits in Rwanda and Uganda.
Ensure you give the correct names to the reservation officer.
A common mistake in booking gorilla permits in Rwanda and Uganda is giving the reservation offices nicknames instead of your real names.
In most instances, the booker will ask for a copy of your passport biodata page to make the gorilla permit reservation. If they don’t ask for the passport copy, insist on sending them a copy because when you get to the gorilla trekking starting point, the office will ask for your passport to verify payment and ownership.
If the permit is in some other person’s name, the office may prohibit you from entering the gorilla park. So, ensure that the correct names appear on your gorilla permit before you get excited about the trekking experience.
The gorilla permit price is not negotiable.
Gorilla permits in Uganda are sold at face value by government-appointed bodies, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), and Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Every traveler above 15 years can buy the gorilla permits from UWA and RDB or through a local tour operator at the advertised price.
Some tour companies will charge a sourcing fee, but they can never change the price of the permit. On some occasions, UWA and RDB may advertise a discounted price that everyone else will follow, but you cannot negotiate the price of a gorilla permit.
Uganda Wildlife Authority currently charges a gorilla permit at US$800 per person to foreign non-residents. The one for foreign residents (with work permits) costs $700, and for EAC nationals, UGX 300,000 per person.
RDB costs the gorilla permit at US$1,500 per person and EAC nationals $200 per person.
You will lose money when you cancel or let your permits expire.
The gorilla permit holder or tour operator, on behalf of the holder, can reschedule the date up to 8 days before the tracking date. Unfortunately, you can not reschedule after the expiry date.
One can book a gorilla permit up to two years ahead of the tracking date and pay at least a 30% deposit of the permit price at reservation time.
You get no refund if you cancel your gorilla trekking permit less than eight days before the tracking date. Canceling the permit ninety days before can get you back 50% or less for days closer to the tracking date.
You can always avoid rescheduling and canceling inconveniences by hiring a local operator to handle the permits for you.
Don’t ignore gorilla permit allocation in Uganda.
Uganda Wildlife Authority operates five gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks. Buhoma Sector in the north of Bwindi, Rushaga and Nkuringo Sectors in the south, Ruhija in eastern Bwindi, and Mgahinga headquarters. The sectors operate independently, are dozens of miles apart, and each has a regulated number of gorilla permits corresponding to the number of resident gorilla groups.
When booking gorilla permits in Uganda, don’t make the mistake of not knowing which sector is indicated on your gorilla permit. Otherwise, you can not track gorillas in a sector not indicated on your permit.
Knowing the allocated sector will also help you make accommodation reservations near the trailhead to make it in time for the gorilla trekking briefing.
You cannot book a specific gorilla group.
Your friend might have recommended a gorilla group they enjoyed watching on their previous trip. It is natural to want the same, but a common mistake for many travelers is to expect the same choice. When booking your gorilla permits in Rwanda and Uganda, you cannot choose a specific gorilla group.
UWA officers assign the gorilla group to track during your briefing at the trailhead in the morning before you head off into the forest. You can maybe whisper your preferred gorilla group in the officer’s ear your preferred gorilla group. Still, it isn’t easy to influence the choice.
The easiest thing you can do is select the trailhead where your preferred gorilla group lives and ask for a gorilla permit for that sector.
Avoid these mistakes when you book with .us
Booking your gorilla permits with Anthill Safaris helps you avoid these common mistakes and ensures a successful trip in Uganda and Rwanda.
Anthill Safaris is a licensed operator in Rwanda and Uganda and will also book your accommodations, transport between places, and any other activity you would want to add to your journey.
Why Anthill Safaris
With over 10 years of experience operating in the greater East African region, Anthill Safaris is one of the few trusted and tested tour operators that will guarantee you the best experience when it comes to safaris to see mountain gorillas and wildlife in Africa. We decided to go green and promote responsible travel whenever we visit sites in Africa. We have a team of professionally trained office and field staff ready to serve you with diligence. Our satisfied clients always leave some reviews on TripAdvisor as well as Safari booking.
