Before booking any tour to Uganda to see mountain gorillas in either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park, you need to be informed of the below crucial changes for 2022. Gorilla trekking to see habituated mountain gorillas in Uganda is an expensive venture and proper planning from the beginning to end will be required to ensure that you get the best out of your tour. Encounter Africa safaris is here to highlight tips on how to make your booking direct and straightforward successfully.

Change in price of gorilla permits from $600 to $700

As you plan to visit Uganda in 2022, you need to know that effective 1st July 2020 onwards, the price of gorilla permit changed from $600 to $700 per person per trek. Uganda Wildlife Authority increased the price by $100 following a stakeholders’ meeting to change all tariffs. Periodically, Uganda Wildlife Authority meets with stakeholders such as Tour operators, Hoteliers, transport services providers plus all tour and travel associations and bodies to review tariffs. The $700 gorilla permit price is for foreign non residents. If you are Foreign but resident in Uganda or any other East African countries, they required you to pay $600 per permit. They charged all East African citizens Ugx250,000 per person per trek. For more information about gorilla permits, please click here.

For those interested in spending more time with mountain gorillas, we recommend gorilla habituation experience whose permit costs $1500 per person for Foreign Non residents, $1000 for residents and UGX750,000 for East Africans. Gorilla habituation experience holidays allow you to spend up to four hours of uninterrupted view and photography of mountain gorillas still under habituation. Encounter Africa safaris was the first Tour company to write about this marvelous experience and we remain committed to providing accurate and timely information to enable you plan better. Free to contact us.

These are some of the popular gorilla safaris for 2020-21

3 Day Uganda gorilla trekking tour from Entebbe Airport
2 Day gorilla safari from Kigali International Airport
3 Day Uganda gorilla trek from Kigali Rwanda
5 Day Gorilla and chimpanzee safari from Entebbe
5 Day Gorilla and game safari from Kigali Rwanda
8 Day gorillas and wildlife safari
14 Day Best of Uganda safari
More Uganda safaris here

Price of gorilla habituation experience permits maintained at $1500

It’s only in Uganda where one can spend four hours with mountain gorillas still under habituation. The southern part of Bwindi is the place where gorilla habituation takes place, and those interested in this activity have to pay $1500 to spend 4 hours. They introduced gorilla habituation experience to give a chance to those willing to spend more time with mountain gorillas in one day. This experience goes beyond seeing and photographing gorillas to engaging in activities that lead to gorillas getting used to human beings. Such exciting activities including naming of mountain gorillas, making calls, collecting specimens and studying the behaviors of mountain gorillas still under habituation. Uganda wildlife Authority has dedicated two mountain gorilla families for this experience and only 4 people may visit each of these families on a daily. Gorilla habituation currently takes place in the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Rushaga and Nkuringo) so one must prepare to visit the southern part of this impenetrable forest to do gorilla habituation experience holiday. Encounter Africa safaris organizes gorilla habituation safaris to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with guaranteed permits. Check any of the below safaris and get in touch for competitive prices.

2022-25 Selected gorilla habituation safaris

3 Day Gorilla habituation safari from Entebbe Airport
3 day gorilla habituation experience from Kigali Airport
5 Day gorilla habituation and game safari from Entebbe
5 Day gorilla and chimpanzee habituation safari
5 Day gorilla habituation and chimp trekking safari
5 or more days, please click here for tailor-made request

Uganda remains the cheapest destination for gorilla trekking in 2022

Africa has three countries where one can visit to see mountain gorillas in the wild. These countries are Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. Of the three, DRC is the cheapest but most unstable country in Africa with constant rebel activities in the east part of this giant nation. With the Democratic Republic of Congo still not trusted by travellers interested in visiting mountain gorillas, Uganda remains the most competitive of the two countries trusted by visitors. $700 for a gorilla permit is relatively less expensive and affordable compared to Rwanda, whose permit price is at $1500 per person per trek. It means that if one prefers Uganda or Rwanda, he or she can save up to $800, which is enough to pay for an all-inclusive 3 day gorilla tour in Uganda. While in Uganda, you may decide to visit Bwindi impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National park. The choice is basically yours.

Uganda has the highest number of mountain gorillas in the world.

According to the current mountain gorilla census that was conducted in the Virunga and Bwindi impenetrable National Park, it put Bwindi impenetrable National Park in position number one, with the highest number of gorillas in the entire world. With 54 mountain gorilla families and the highest number of gorillas, Uganda is indeed a better destination for gorilla trekking. This has been because of concerted efforts to conserve gorillas, and as we write, mountain gorillas are no longer endangered species. Currently, Uganda has about 19 habituated mountain gorilla families, of which a maximum of 8 people may visit each, making Uganda a country with the highest number of gorilla permits available per day. Let’s discuss your travel here.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four different sectors.

Unlike other gorillas National Park in Africa such as Volcanoes National Park and Virunga National Park in Rwanda and The Democratic Republic of Congo respectively, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four key gorilla trekking regions of Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the East, Nkuringo and Rushaga in the south. Each of the four regions has different gorilla families and lodges, providing options for tourists to select from. Each of the four mountain gorilla locations has more than four habituated mountain gorilla families available to be visited on a daily. Encounter Africa safaris operates tours in all four regions of Bwindi impenetrable National Park and works closely with Lodges in each region thus in a position to offer you competitive prices and rates. Before you book any lodge, let us first book your gorilla permit, which will determine where to book your overnight accommodation.

UWA base gorilla permit allocation on regions, not gorilla family.

Due to the fact that Bwindi impenetrable National Park has four gorilla trekking locations of Ruhija, Buhoma, Rushaga and Ruhija, gorilla permit booking and allocation is based on regions and not family. They did this to allow proper planning on the side of tourists, tour operators and Uganda Wildlife Authority. This therefore means that the permit booked for you will either be for one of the four regions specifically and not for a given gorilla family. One can only get to know the gorilla family to trek on an actual day of trekking after briefing. When booking gorilla permits at Uganda Wildlife Authority, we book them per region. One can book permits of Buhoma or Ruhija without knowing the actual gorilla family to be visited. Once the region is known to you, you will then be free to request for a gorilla family of your interest in that region. Uganda Wildlife Authority at the park headquarters are the ones who determine which gorilla family they will allocate to you. Beforehand, you need to explain to them your interests and they will try as much as possible to allocate you a gorilla family to best suit your interest and physical abilities.

Older people or people with disabilities can trek gorillas in Bwindi and Mgahinga.

In Uganda, there is no maximum age limit for gorilla trekking. The older people of 100+ years can still achieve their dream of visiting mountain gorillas at any time of the year. As pointed out in most literature about gorilla trekking, it is known that one has to be physically fit to complete a gorilla trek. It’s also known that older people or people with disabilities don’t suit this activity. However, with the use of SEDAN CHAIRS AND PORTERS, it is now possible. Please contact us for more information about sedan chars and how to organize it for you. While gorilla trekking does not have a maximum age, there is a minimum age one has to have to be allowed to trek gorillas, and this is 15 years and above.

Don’t forget to book your gorilla permit and safari in advance.

As earlier noted, gorilla trekking is one of the most sought after tourist activity for those visiting Uganda. Because of this, and other factors, gorilla permits sell out quickly. To avoid missing out, we encourage you to book your gorilla permit and tour at least 4-5 months in advance or even a year ahead. Following the increase of Rwanda gorilla permit to $1500, all Uganda and Rwanda tour operators are now competing for Uganda gorilla permits, causing scarcity most especially during high and peak seasons. Encounter Africa safaris is committed to provide a soft landing to all potential clients that contact us. We check gorilla permits availability on your behalf, reserve, book, and secure them at no cost as long as you book an all-inclusive gorilla trekking and Uganda safari package with us. Contact us in advance.

You can fly to Bwindi and Mgahinga Instead of driving.

Driving from Entebbe Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park will take you from 9 to 10 hours. Most people don’t enjoy long drives much as part of this drive is punctuated by scenic views and lots of things to see en route. Both charter and scheduled flights are available daily from Entebbe to Kisoro or Kihihi Airstrip. These flights will let you spend 2-3 hours followed by a one and half drive to your respective Lodge. Contact us for more information about flights to gorilla National Park. Encounter Africa safaris works closely with several companies that offer both charter and sceduled flights to Bwindi impenetrable National Park and we ensure that all those interested in our Flying Safaris to see gorillas are catered for.

You can access Bwindi and Mgahinga through Kigali instead of Entebbe.

It’s now possible to drive from Kigali and trek Uganda mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga. This allows you to spend only 4-5 hours on the road compared to 9-10 hours spent when you use Entebbe International Airport, which is Uganda’ s official Airport. From Kigali Airport, you may choose to cross into Uganda at Chanika or Gatuna border and then drive to Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park. (please note that Uganda-Rwanda Boarders are currently closed and we will endeavour to update you when opened. ) Please check out of Uganda gorilla tours from Kigali and request for a quote.

Mind about the minimum age for gorilla trekking

Before hassling to book your tour to visit mountain gorillas in Uganda, you need to be 15 years of age and above. This is because Uganda and Rwanda have an age restriction of 15 years and above. Those who are 14 years and are almost making it to 15 years are eligible for gorilla trekking. For more information on age limit for gorilla trekking, please contact us.

Choosing a tour operator for your gorilla trek in 2022

It’s simple to get a credible tour operator to organize your gorilla tour to Bwindi impenetrable National Park. The first step to select one is by establishing if the said Tour Operator belongs to AUTO (Association of Uganda Tour Operators), you may also look at reviews on Trip Advisor or Safari bookings and how long this company has been operating. Encounter Africa safaris fits the above, and when contacted, you will be overwhelmed by how swift and straightforward your booking will be.