How to Reserve Gorilla Permits Before Paying For Them in Uganda: Booking a gorilla permit in Uganda is straightforward, but it requires planning and prompt action. The Uganda Wildlife Authority manages all gorilla permits and follows a strict first-come, first-served policy. No permit is held or reserved without full payment up front. This rule exists to prevent people from blocking dates without a genuine commitment to travel. Once you pay and receive an official receipt, your permit is secured.
Currently, Uganda issues 208 gorilla trekking permits per day across 26 habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. An additional eight gorilla habituation experience permits are available daily from two families in the southern sector of Bwindi.
Step 1: Choose Your Gorilla Destination
Uganda has two gorilla trekking destinations. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the main one, offering the widest range of gorilla families and trekking options. Mgahinga National Park hosts one gorilla family called Nyakagezi. This family once wandered into Rwanda but now lives permanently in Uganda, making it a reliable option for trekkers.
Bwindi is divided into four trekking sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. Each sector manages its own gorilla families and has its own permit quota. You must book your permit for a specific sector, and you cannot use it in a different one. This is why choosing your sector early and booking accommodation nearby matters so much.
Step 2: Check Permit Availability
Once you decide on a destination and sector, check whether permits are available for your preferred dates. You also need to know how many people will be in your group before you check, as this saves time and avoids confusion. Your tour operator can check availability on your behalf, or you can contact the Uganda Wildlife Authority directly. As soon as you find available permits for your dates, act immediately. Availability changes constantly, and permits disappear quickly, especially during peak season.
Step 3: Purchase Your Permit
Pay for your permit as soon as possible. Uganda’s peak tourism months are June, July, August, September, December, and January. During these months, demand for gorilla permits is extremely high. To avoid missing out, book your permit at least six months to a year in advance for peak season travel. Last-minute permits during high season are very difficult to find.
During the low season, permits may sometimes be available at short notice, but this is never guaranteed. No matter what time of year you travel, always confirm your permit before heading to the trekking destination.
A Uganda gorilla trekking permit costs $800 per person for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, and UGX 300,000 for East African residents. The gorilla habituation experience, which gives you four hours with a gorilla family instead of one, costs $1,500 for foreign non-residents, $1,000 for foreign residents, and UGX 750,000 for East African residents.
The permit cost covers park entrance fees, ranger guide fees, government tax, one hour with the gorillas during trekking, security, a certificate after the experience, and a contribution to local community support and mountain gorilla conservation. Transport, accommodation, porter hire, and personal snacks are not included.
Step 4: Provide Your Personal Details
When collecting your gorilla permit card from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, you must present personal details from your passport. These include your full name, date of birth, nationality, and passport expiry date. Rangers use this information to identify each trekker on the day of the safari through a strip embedded on the back of your permit card.
Can I Reschedule My Permit?
Yes, rescheduling is possible. If your plans change and you cannot travel on your booked date, write to the Uganda Wildlife Authority and request a new date. Include any supporting evidence for your change of plans. The new date must fall within the same year as the original booking. The Uganda Wildlife Authority currently allows one free reschedule per permit. Trekkers who paid in installments must complete full payment before a reschedule is approved.
How Likely Am I to See the Gorillas?
Very likely. There is a 98% chance of encountering mountain gorillas in both Bwindi and Mgahinga. Before any gorilla family opens to the public, it goes through a habituation process. During habituation, researchers follow the family daily, study their behavior, identify individual members, and collect data without disturbing their natural way of life. This process helps the gorillas grow comfortable with human presence. Once a family is ready, the park opens it for public trekking.
Every morning, a team of trackers sets out early to locate the gorilla family and identify their likely resting spots. Rangers then use this information to guide trekkers efficiently through the forest, keeping everyone on track and safe.
Is Gorilla Trekking Difficult?
How to Reserve Gorilla Permits Before Paying For Them in Uganda. The terrain around Bwindi and Mgahinga is volcanic and hilly. Some treks are short and easy, while others are long and steep, depending on where the gorillas are that day. Rain makes the trails slippery, so good footwear is essential. You need a reasonable level of fitness to handle the full trek comfortably.
Pack sturdy hiking boots, long-sleeved shirts, and trousers in neutral colors like khaki or tan, a waterproof jacket, gloves, a hat, snacks, water, sunscreen, insect repellent, a camera, and a first aid kit.
Key Guidelines
How to Reserve Gorilla Permits Before Paying For Them in Uganda. Stay quiet while searching for the gorillas. Do not use flash photography. Keep a distance from the gorillas and never eat or smoke near them. Do not litter the forest. If you need to cough or sneeze, turn away from the gorillas. Anyone with a communicable illness must stay behind. The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years.
Plan early, pay promptly, and your gorilla trekking experience in Uganda will be everything you hope for.
