Gorilla permit overbooking in Uganda

Is there gorilla permit overbooking in Uganda? The Uganda Wildlife Authority is the gorilla permit regulating body but at times, the gorilla permits overbooking may happen especially when the demand for them is at its peak. At times tourists may be waitlisted for a particular date, which causes tension at the park headquarters.

In Uganda two national parks are famous for hosting the mountain gorillas that is Bwindi Impenetrable National  Park and Mgahinga National Park.

Uganda’s gorilla trekking peak seasons are normally June to September and December to January. We advise our clients to book there gorilla permits in advance to reduce on the chances of falling victim of gorilla permit overbooking.

Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda are normally sold according to area that in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This park has about 18 gorilla families all placed in four areas that is Buhoma area, Ruhijah area, Nkuringo area and Rushaga area.

Most Popular Gorilla Safaris

• 3 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking
• 5 Day Gorilla and Chimp
• 8 Day Gorilla Tracking
• 2 Day Bwindi Gorilla Via Kigali
• 3 Day Uganda Gorilla Via Kigali
• 5 Day Chimp and Gorilla Habituation
• 3 Day Fly in Gorilla Habituation
• 3 Day Fly in Safari to Murchison Falls National Park
• 3 Day Bwindi Double trek via Kigali
• 5 Day Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

In the past the Mgahinga gorilla trekking permit were sold on ground because of the unstable only gorilla trekking family in this park. Nyakagezi gorilla family used to meander into Rwanda and D.R. Congo. Of late it has steadily been living in uganda.

When you are waitlisted for a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda, you look forward to a no show. Incase no opening comes up, you may be taken to trek the still under habituation gorilla families. This is however not guaranteed.

To avoid such confusion on your lifetime gorilla trekking experience, you need to reserve your permit at least 3 months in advance or to be safe at least 6 months prior. You may be allowed to pay for your permit in instalments if you purchase it before 90 days to the date of trekking. Top up is normally requested for 90 days to the date of trek or you may lose it.

How To Book Uganda Gorilla Trekking Permits

When you send us an enquiry about the date or time when you wish to do gorilla trekking, our safari consultant gets checks availability. Encounter Africa Safaris is one of the luck companies in Uganda to access the Uganda Wildlife Gorilla permit status list.

 In case the status of your permit per your date is positive, we advise you to book your permit as soon as possible. This because they get sold out quickly because of the high demand worldwide. At the Uganda Wildlife Authority, first come first served basis is used to reserve the gorilla permits. Order with cash is the principle used.

This is to avoid reserving permits for clients who book with no intension of using them. Reserving the gorilla permit is the only confirmation that shows your commitment to taking this gorilla trekking safari.

You need to note where your gorilla permit is booked for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This is to avoid booking accommodation on the wrong side of the park. This mistake may cost you your dream Africa safari of meeting the mountain gorillas.

Towards your gorilla trekking date, we request for some personal details like your full names as per the passport, nationality, date of birth, passport expiry date and others.

When Is the Best Time to Book Uganda Gorilla Trekking Permits

Reserving your gorilla trekking permit in advance guarantees your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda. Its also the starting point for booking other components of this safari like accommodation, the guide, vehicle hire and others.

Reserving the Uganda gorilla permit at least 6 months in advance prevents you from experiencing the hassle of searching for one at the last minute.

The peak seasons normally come with high demand for accommodation facilities and so in order not to fall out of the best choices of where to overnight, you need to book your permit in advance.

Are Uganda Gorilla permits Refundable?

Yes and no based on the Uganda wildlife Authority principals. You need to have a backed up genuine reasons for not attending the gorilla trekking date you booked. This report must be given to the Authority before the date of the trek.

When you volunteer to stay behind in case you catch a communicable infection, you must report the matter to the Uganda Wildlife Authority prior to starting the trek.

All gorilla permit refund is done according to the guidelines of Uganda Wildlife Authority so Encounter Africa Safaris has no hand in reimbursing gorilla permit funds. terms and conditions of Uganda Wildlife Authority apply.

Which gorilla Trekking Park of Bwindi and Mgahinga Is Best For trekking

The moment you meet the mountain gorillas is exceptional because you forget the hassle you may have gone through during the trek.

The feeling you get after gorilla trekking gives you the best answer of which park of Bwindi impenetrable National park and Mgahinga National Park is best for this activity. It even gets better when you trek gorillas in both parks. You can easily make that comparison.

Bwindi Impenetrable national park has a number of gorilla trekking families amounting to about 18 gorilla families so far and all steadily available. Mgahinga National park has only one gorilla family so far open for tourists viewing. It however has a history of meandering into neighboring countries that is Rwanda and D.R.Congo.

Mgahinga National Park has virgin environment full of still entangled creepers because its is less visited. Bwindi Impenetrable National park has a series of trails created by regular visitors to the park

By road the distance from Entebbe airport to Bwindi impenetrable National park is about 530 km while the distance you can travel by road to Mgahinga national Park may take about 540 km.

Bwindi Impenetrable National park has a wide range of accommodation facilities you can choose from for gorilla trekking and others activities. Mgahinga National Park however is limited on where to overnight

From Buhoma the main gorilla trekking point in Bwindi Impenetrable National park to Queen Elizabeth National park is about 5 hours to 6 hours but Mgahinga National park to Queen Elizabeth National Park may take about 7 hours or more

What else to do after Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Game Drives in Uganda

Uganda is endowed with variety of activities apart from gorilla trekking and a well designed itinerary gives you a wonderful feel of an African safari. The Game drives in the great parks of Uganda walks you into the wilderness life of the wild animals of Uganda.

Some of the Uganda game parks you can combine with gorilla trekking include Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park and others.

A few of the animals you may get to see include giraffes, cape buffaloes, lions, hartebeests, water bucks, elephant herds, topis, oribi, jackals, cheetahs and others.

Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda

Trekking the chimpanzees in Uganda is one of the incredible primate experiences. After gorilla trekking, you may go chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National park the home of the largest population of habituated chimpanzees in Uganda. Kyambura gorge in queen Elizabeth National park, Kaniyo Pabidi in Murchison Falls National Park, Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary and others.

You need a well customized itinerary to get the best flow of your gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda.

Birding In Uganda

Keen birders on a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda have high chances of potting a variety of birds including Albertine endemics. The Ruhijah area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park hosts some of the incredible birds of Africa including Albertine endemics on the red list of IUCN.

A few of the birds you may get spot includeWestern Green Tinkerbird, Mountain Masked and Chestnut-throated Apalis, African Hill Babbler, Collared Apalis, Rwenzori Batis and white-tailed Crested Fly Catcher

Community walks Around The Gorilla trekking areas

To bring the local community into the gorilla trekking campaign, some community based projects have been allowed to be affiliated to gorilla trekking.

 The Batwa community and Garama cave visit take you into the local life of the Batwa who were former occupants of the forest. A local Mutwa guide who know the history of their forest life leads this visit. The Garama cave was the Batwa hiding place after raiding the farmers.

A local guide, who takes you to encounter the day today life of the community members, also leads Buhoma community visit. You may get to visit the local medicine man, beer brewery and more.

 The Nkuringo Community visit may give chance to visit the local black smith, local beer brewery, homestead and much more.

Nature Walks before or after Gorilla trekking

You may opt to take a nature walk through the forest to enjoy the features you may have failed to see during gorilla trekking. You may get to spot primates like black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons and others

White water Rafting

Taking off some time to enjoy the white water rafting on River Nile doesn’t require having any experience. Instructors are in place to help you go through all the necessary procedures.

You need to safely secure your protective gears and beat the tides with your peddles so as to go through the heavy tides.

This has several levels of tides but you can chose where to stop because its an adrenaline stimulating experience through thrilling.

What are The Rules of Gorilla trekking In Uganda

Avoid provoking the mountain gorillas because it irritates them and may push them into hiding.

In case you catch any communicable infection like flu, cholera, covid-19 volunteer to stay behind so that you don’t pass these infections to the gorillas.

Never surround the mountain gorillas when you locate them. They feel ambushed by your surroundings.

Using flash photography is forbidden because gorillas are usually scared of unfamiliar occurrences in there vicinity.

Do not eat before the mountain gorillas, which may prompt them to grab this from you. They are wild animals that must fend for there own life.

In case you wish to sneeze or cough do it away from the mountain gorillas or in your elbow

Wear a mask when in front of the mountain gorillas as it is one of the strict requirement after the Corona Virus.

A void spitting on vegetation because this is food for the mountain gorillas. It is unhygienic too for the regular visitors.

Littering the forest is forbidden because this alters the nature of the forest where they feed from.

Only persons aged 15 years are allowed to see the mountain gorillas. This is because the time of finding the gorillas is unknown even the nature of the topography is high too.

Strictly, one hour is allowed to be in the presence of the mountain gorillas. This is because they have been habituated to be in human presence for just that time.

What to Pack for Gorilla trekking Safari in Uganda

• A camera to keep memories of your experience with the mountain gorillas.
• Safari tracking boots to protect your feet from getting hurt by forest sharp objects
• Insect repellants to keep stinging insects from hurting you
• Foldable Safari hat with a large brim to protect your hair from getting wet
• Sweater or fleece to keep warm as it gets cold early morning and late afternoon
• Garden gloves to catch a tighter grip on creepers when it gets slippery.
• Energy bites to keep you going in case you get hungry
• A Travel adapter and charger to reenergize when you get hungry while in the wilderness
• Pajamas to wear in the night for extra warmth because this place gets so cold
• Toiletries in case your lodge doesn’t give them
• First Aid box in case of any emergency
• Light water proof bag to carry with your belongings so that they do not scatter in the wilderness.
• A pair of binoculars to see clearer far ranging items
• Medicated insect repellant to keep away stinging insects.
• A duffel bag to carry your baggage because at times you may need to carry them by your self
• Long sleeved shirt or trousers in colors that are wilderness friendly. Colors like Khaki or tan are suitable for the gorilla trekking adventure.

Contact us for more information.