Purchasing Bwindi Gorilla Permits in Installments. A gorilla permit, a document or card, allows you to spend time with habituated mountain gorillas in National Parks like Bwindi. Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo offer mountain gorilla trekking holidays. To go on any gorilla trek to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you need a valid gorilla permit, which includes one hour with these great apes, park entry fees, a ranger guide, and a certificate at the end of your trek. For those interested in spending more hours, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offers a chance to spend four hours if you book a gorilla habituation experience permit. Here’s how you buy Bwindi gorilla permits in installments.
Deposit Your Initial 30% on Your Gorilla Permit
Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the body in charge of all National Parks in Uganda, issues all gorilla permits to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You have two options to secure your gorilla permit. You can choose to pay your permit in full by paying 100% or pay in installments of 30% and 70% later.
The Math and Cost of a Bwindi Gorilla Permit
Currently, a gorilla permit to see gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park costs $800 per person for Foreign Non-Residents and $700 for Foreign Residents in East Africa. At the time of booking, you can pay 30% of $800, which is $240, and then pay the remaining 70%, which is $560. If you are interested in a gorilla habituation experience, your initial deposit of 30% will be $450, and the last deposit of 70% will be $1050.
A gorilla permit is a core element in any given package to see mountain gorillas, and it is the most expensive. By allowing visitors to pay in installments, UWA helps them plan with minimum resources since gorilla permits require booking. Last-minute bookings are possible, but you must pay them in full.
Terms and Conditions You Must Follow
While you can make payments in installments, terms and conditions apply. UWA accepts 30% deposits only if your actual trekking date is three months or more away. This, therefore, applies to those planning to book their gorilla permits four months to two years in advance.
You must top up all permits bought in installments three months before the trekking date; otherwise, the holder stands to lose their deposit. For more information about buying Bwindi gorilla permits in installments, please contact us.
Where and How to Buy Bwindi Gorilla Permits
Uganda Wildlife Authority issues gorilla permits for trekking habituated mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You can buy your gorilla permit directly by contacting UWA by email or telephone, or you can choose to use the services of a licensed Tour Operator in Uganda. Two types of gorilla permits exist: the standard gorilla permit, which allows you to spend one hour with mountain gorillas and costs $800, and a gorilla habituation experience permit, which allows you to spend four hours with mountain gorillas under habituation but costs $1500 per person per trek.
Process of Booking Your Bwindi Gorilla Permit
Whether you plan to pay your gorilla permit in full or in installments, the process of reserving and securing your gorilla permit remains the same. It starts with checking the availability of space on your desired date, followed by reserving, and then making a payment to UWA. UWA can only guarantee a gorilla permit once you pay for it. Gorilla permits are very scarce, and to secure them, you must make payment as quickly as possible. Of the 19 habituated mountain gorilla families in Bwindi, only 8 people can spend an hour with them, and 4 people for the two families reserved for the gorilla habituation experience.
While you can book your gorilla permit directly, it is wise to hire the services of a licensed tour operator like Anthill Safaris to do the job for several reasons. When you contact them, checking availability, making a reservation, and securing your gorilla permit becomes simple. See here for information about booking gorilla permits in Uganda. If you face a challenge and want to cancel or postpone your gorilla trip, Anthill Safaris comes in handy to assist, instead of you having to contact the relevant offices at UWA.
Can You Reschedule Your Gorilla Permit at a 30% Deposit?
For one reason or another, you may decide not to go on with the trek as per your gorilla permit dates. If you want to change dates, you know that you can, but make sure you top up the remaining 70%, as it is a requirement. You must put this request in writing, addressed to the Executive Director, requesting that their office push your permits to later dates for reasons stipulated in your letter. Once approved, your permit will move to another future date. Please note that you can only reschedule a gorilla permit twice.
When Booking Bwindi Gorilla Permits
Unlike other mountain gorilla national parks in Africa, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is unique because it has four locations for gorilla trekking. Before proceeding with any bookings, note that permits are issued per region/location, and this will determine your overnight accommodation and the route you use.
Four regions exist in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and each has around 4 to 5 habituated mountain gorilla families for gorilla trekking. These regions are Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga. The last two regions are located in Kisoro district, while Ruhija and Buhoma are located in Rubanda and Kanungu districts, respectively. If you book gorilla permits for the Buhoma region, we recommend you consider lodges in this region. The same applies to other regions. For more information about this, please contact us.
When you buy or consider a gorilla habituation experience, know that this only happens in the south of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Only two gorilla families are available for this experience, with only 4 people allowed to visit any of the two families daily.
About Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the four National Parks in the entire world that houses mountain gorillas. The other three are Mgahinga in Uganda, Volcanoes in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda, spreading over three districts: Kisoro, Kanungu, and Rubanda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is divided into three parts: the East, which is Ruhija; the North, or Buhoma; and the South, which has Rushaga and Nkuringo. Make sure you receive advice about these regions before booking your Lodge and gorilla permit.
Accessing Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Purchasing Bwindi Gorilla Permits in Installments. Entebbe International Airport is the main airport in Uganda where those interested in trekking mountain gorillas must land. From here, you can drive 9-10 hours to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or fly 2 hours from Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip. You also have the option of flying into Kigali International Airport and driving 4-5 hours to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Katuna or Chanika Border crossings. Whichever route you choose, ensure you book your overnight accommodation in your chosen region, as it is a requirement since you will never know the time you will return on the day of gorilla trekking. Also, arrange important transfers to and from the airstrip for those opting to fly from Entebbe to Kihihi or Kisoro.
Why Purchase Your Gorilla Permits in Installments with Anthill Safaris?
Purchasing Bwindi Gorilla Permits in Installments. Before booking a gorilla trek to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, we recommend you research online to gather more information. If you contact Anthill Safaris, you do not have to worry, as we will take care of providing all relevant information about gorilla trekking in Bwindi, how to book gorilla permits, the age limit for gorilla trekking, terms and conditions, as well as tailoring your Bwindi gorilla trip to suit your time, budget, and interests. Anthill Safaris is one of the leading Safari companies with offices in Uganda. We have handled and successfully executed gorilla trips on behalf of our clients, and we come highly recommended on TripAdvisor and SafariBookings. Benefit from our vast experience organizing ultimate safaris to see these great apes. Please contact us.
