How far in advance should I book a gorilla permit and safari in Uganda in 2024-25?

How far in advance should I book a gorilla permit and safari in Uganda in 2024-25? Gorilla trek permits in Uganda must be booked 3 to 6 months in advance, especially if traveling during the peak season (June to September and December to February). There are only 152 permits printed per day in Uganda, which usually causes scarcity, which is why you need to book in advance. No gorilla permits are sold on-site at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga. The permits must be booked before you fly into the county to prevent large crowds within the national park.

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The gorilla safari should also be booked 3 to 6 months or even a year before the trek date because last-minute planning can cause inconveniences. Booking early ensures everything is in place, especially accommodation and transport, making the safari successful.

Where to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda in 2024-25

Uganda has two gorilla trek safari destinations, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is carried out in four sections:

• The Rushaga sector is where gorilla habituation is carried out.
• The Nkuringo sector.
• The Ruhija sector.
• The Buhoma sector.

There are 19 habituated gorilla families, and each person will be assigned a gorilla family on the trek day, depending on the industry you were given to. Mgahinga National Park has only the Nyakagezi gorilla family and only eight permits are printed daily for Mgahinga.

How much does a gorilla trek permit cost in Uganda in 2024-25?

The gorilla permit varies depending on the category of tourists you belong to. Set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the cost is constant, and no discounts exist. If there is a change in the price, a formal communication will be made on the website. The cost of the gorilla trek permit for Bwindi and Mgahinga is the same throughout the year. The cost of the trek permits in Uganda is as follows.

$800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents and 300, 000 UGX for East African citizens (Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and Burundi). Uganda also offers the gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, costing $1500 per person.

Purchasing a gorilla permit in Uganda in 2024-25

The Uganda Wildlife Authority, a government agency, is in charge of printing and issuing the gorilla permits in the country. It also oversees the conservation of the national parks and the gorillas. The gorilla permits can be purchased from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, but the best option is buying through a tour operator as this is less tiring and faster.

After deciding on the tour operator to use, get in touch with them with the trek dates you want to find out the availability of the trek permits. The operator will check to see if the permits are available on those dates, and in case they aren’t, you will be able to discuss and come up with the best alternative dates. The next step is to send money to purchase the gorilla permits. You must pay the total amount for the permits to be bought. Once payment has been confirmed, the permit will be purchased, and proof in the form of a scanned copy will be sent to you.

Is it possible to cancel gorilla permits in Uganda in 2024-25?

The money paid for gorilla permits goes directly to the government, and if there is any cancellation, the government does the refund. Still, a few things are considered before the refund is made. You will not be refunded just because you missed your flight. There is a refund policy that is followed, and we have explained it below.

If you cancel after making a deposit, no refund will be made

You get 75% off if you cancel three months before the trek date

A 50% refund is made when you cancel one month and a half before the tracking date

A 25% refund is made on a cancellation of 1 month to the trek date

Refundsncel is only a week before the trek date; no refund will be made.

Guidelines to follow when purchasing a gorilla permit in Uganda

The guidelines to follow when purchasing a gorilla permit in Uganda were changed in early 2023 by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and these include the following:

• You must pay at least 100% of the permit cost if you book six months before the trek date. Only purchases are made if you pay the full payment.
• Payments for online reservations must be made at least within 72 hours.
• You can pay 50% of the total payment for the permit; however, the rest of the money has to be paid 90 days before the trek date.
• Only one reschedule will be made. If you have more than one, a surcharge of 25% will be added to the original fee.
• Reschedules for complimentary permits are not allowed.
• A 25% surcharge will be added if you do not make the reschedule 14 days before the trek date.
• You will not be allowed to change from a regular trekking permit to a habituation permit and vice versa.
• The cost/ fees for other safari activities will not be rescheduled or transferred to any other activity.

What you to consider when planning a gorilla safari in Uganda

Planning a gorilla trek safari is easy when you have the right tour operator to help and information regarding gorilla trekking in Uganda. Several things need to be put into consideration when planning a gorilla trek safari in Uganda, and these include:

The tour operator: Uganda is a diverse country with many safari destinations, and organizing a gorilla trek safari on your own might be complicated and expensive. Conduct extensive research about the tour operator you wish to use, read reviews, and ensure that they are registered with Auto.

The gorilla permit: The gorilla permit is the first thing you need to get when planning a gorilla trek safari in Uganda. It can be purchased through a tour operator. Gorilla permits are your tickets to trekking the gorillas, and if you don’t have them, you will not be allowed to walk the primates.

Budget: You need to look at the budget you will use to determine the type of gorilla safari you will be having in Uganda. Your tour company will help and advise on what to do within your budget, but note that your traveling budget will determine the type of transport and accommodation to be used during the safari.

The season of travel: Uganda has two seasons of travel: wet and dry. The wet season is from March to May and October to November, and during this time, some accommodation facilities offer discounts to attract more tourists; it is an excellent time to travel for tourists who prefer fewer crowds and are on a budget, but the downside of traveling during the wet months is that the rains might disrupt the activity and the routes used for trekking are both muddy and slippery.

The dry season, on the other hand, is from June to September and December to February, which is considered the best time for gorilla trekking in the country. The gorillas are best seen during this time; the routes are easy to use, and although there is rain during this season, they are bearable compared to the wet season. The downside of gorilla trekking during the dry season is that there are large crowds of people during this period. It is an expensive season, and gorilla permits are sold out fast.

Gorilla trekking rules and regulations

Trekking rules and regulations are important when it comes to gorilla trekking because they are a way of protecting the gorillas that are already endangered. The trekking rules and regulations in Uganda include the following:

• One hour will be spent with the gorillas when you find them. The one hour spent with the gorillas protects them from diseases and other infections.
• Each gorilla family is trekked by a group of 8 people only per day, which is one way of protecting the gorillas.
• The national parks need to be kept clean at all times, and this can be done by not littering the national park and taking out all the rubbish you come with.
• Avoid eating when with the gorillas; this reduces disease transmission through food crumbs, and you are not allowed to feed the gorillas.
• You are not allowed to get close to the gorillas, so a distance of 7 meters is to be kept between you and the gorillas at all times.
• Phones should be put in silence or flight mode to avoid disrupting the gorillas. Less or minimal noise should be made during and after the gorilla trekking.
• Since there are toilets, you have to dig a hole of 30 cm and cover it up after use, especially if you are going for number 2.
• No one is allowed to smoke when trekking the gorillas because the smoke affects the gorillas.
• No one is allowed to touch the gorillas throughout the trek
• The flash on the camera scares the gorillas, so you must shut it off when taking photos.
• When stomached by the gorillas, you need to keep calm, not run, but walk backward slowly and crouch in a submissive posture.
• Avoid making abrupt movements and keep with the trek group at all times.
• Follow all the instructions/guidelines given to you by the lead guide.

What to wear and bring for the gorilla safari in Uganda

The clothes: Clothes fit for a gorilla safari should be in neutral colors to easily blend in with the environment. You should avoid bright colors, white, and blue, which attract tsetse flies. You should also avoid camouflage since it is associated with the army, but you can carry green, khaki, and brown clothes. The types of clothes you should bring on your safari include long-sleeved shirts, undershirts, lightweight pants, comfortable hike boots (hike boots should also be waterproof, ankle length, and not heavy), Gardening gloves to protect your hands during the trek, long thick socks used to keep you warm and also protect insect crawls by tucking in your trousers, adjustable gaiters to be used during both the dry and wet season, waterproof rain jacket, windbreaker, warm sweater, and shawls.

Gadgets: Gadgets are essential when planning a gorilla trek safari, and the recommended gadgets to bring on your gorilla trek safari in Uganda include a camera which should come with a tripod, extra batteries, extra lenses, lens cleaners, a waterproof camera bag, and a second camera if you can, chargers, binoculars, and phones.

A refillable water bottle (at least one liter), a flashlight and extra batteries, a first aid kit, snacks, a day backpack, sunscreen, a sunhat, insect repellent, cash, sandals, toiletries, and walking will be provided in case you need it.

You do not need to pack a lot of luggage for the safari because this might slow you down. There are porters to help you carry the luggage, but their maximum is 15 kgs, so as you pack for the gorilla trek safari in Uganda, make sure that the luggage has essential things.

As you plan for the gorilla safari in Uganda, ensure you have all your documents in order and provide the correct information to the tour guide, and you will have a good safari. Other activities you can engage in while on a gorilla safari in Uganda include the golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga, the Batwa trail, cultural trips, and primate walks.

Contact us to book your gorilla permits in advance.