How to pay gorilla habituation experience permits in installments

Let us address ourselves on how to pay gorilla habituation experience permits in installments. Gorilla habituation experience is a prolonged and only option in Africa where one can spend more hours with mountain gorillas in the wild. Gorilla habituation experience was first established in the southern parts of Bwindi impenetrable National Park, allowing a maximum of 4 people to spend four hours with mountain gorillas under habituation. Please see some of our gorilla habituation experience tours.

Gorilla habituation experience permits

A gorilla habituation experience permit is a card issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority and allows the holder to spend up to four hours with mountain gorillas under habituation in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This permit included four hours with gorillas, services of an informed armed UWA ranger, park entry fees and a certificate after your four-hour trek. Read information about booking gorilla permits

How to pay gorilla habituation experience permits in installments.

At the moment, a gorilla habituation experience permit costs $1500 per person per trek and UGX750.000 for East African Citizens. All payments for gorilla habituation experience permits are paid directly to Uganda wildlife Authority offices in Kampala. UWA provides options of paying for these permits in full amount or in installments. Below is how one can pay his or her gorilla habituation experience permits in installments.

Its is possible to pay your gorilla habituation experience permits in installments of 30% as initial or down payment followed by a 70% final pay or top up as it is normally referred to.  By paying 30% of the total price of the permit, you will be guaranteed of a spot to see gorillas for four hours in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable National Park. To do this however, you must ensure that by the time of trekking, 70% balance is cleared.

Let’s look at the actual mathematics

A gorilla habituation experience permit costs $1500 per person and 30% of $1500 is $450. So, one will be required to make an initial deposit of $450 and pay the rest of the 70% which is 1050 at a later stage. For more information about gorilla trekking in Bwindi, kindly contact Encounter Africa safaris.

Terms and conditions on paying gorilla habituation experience permits in installments.

While it is possible to deposit 30% to secure your gorilla habituation permit, Uganda Wildlife Authority can only do so if the booking is four and more months in advance. This is because the 70% final deposit must be paid three months to the trekking date.

If you are one person planning to do gorilla habituation 6 or more months in advance or a year and more, you can pay 30% and pay the rest closer to time (three months before trekking). For last minute bookings or those planning for their trek in a period less than three months must pay their permit in full.

How to book and pay for gorilla habituation permits

Uganda wildlife Authority reserves all rights of issuing out gorilla habituation permits but an individual can book directly or utilize services of licensed and recognized tour operators such as Encounter Africa Safaris.

If you employ Encounter Africa safaris to do this job on your behalf, we will of course assign you one of our safari experts who will be your main contact all through. He or she will assist in checking availability of gorilla habituation experience permits, advise you on whether the time is right and qualifies you to pay 30% deposit. If so, He/She will send you an invoice with our bank details and as soon as payment is made, we at Encounter Africa safaris will go ahead to pay and secure your gorilla habituation experience permits.

After your permit has been paid partially, Uganda Wildlife Authority normally issues out a receipt which we will scan and send to you as proof of payment. The same safari consultant will remind you on when to pay the final 70% deposit to top up and collect your gorilla habituation experience permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority head offices in Kampala. Isn’t the process simple when you contact the experts? If so, hit the CONTACT US button and one of us will be at your service.

Please note that Encounter Africa safaris accepts both bank transfers and Credit card payments much as the later attracts a 5% surcharge. Kindly let us know which mode of payment preferred and we will action accordingly.

What happens when you fail or delay to pay the final payment?

It is possible to delay or fail to pay the final 70% final deposit due to unforeseen circumstances. Should this happen, two things might happen.

The first instance is that should time for top us comes and you don’t pay the final deposit, you will automatically lose your spot and money. As a must, your gorilla habituation experience permit must be paid in full 3 months before trekking date.

If you use services of Encounter Africa safaris, we will do the following:

First of all, we will remind you before hand so that you don’t forget. Once payment is made, we will go ahead and top up your permit. Alternatively, we can use our credit and top it up and then move it to another date where we have a booking. We will then refund your 30% initially paid to us. Isn’t this cool?

Is it possible to reschedule the date of my permit paid in installment?

The answer is yes and no. It is possible to move your gorilla habituation experience permit to another date as long as you top it up by paying the remaining 70% deposit. With this, Encounter Africa safaris will on your behalf write a formal letter to Uganda Wildlife Authority expressing your interest to move your permit to another date. Once approved, we will then go a head to top up and then confirm the new dates to you.

About gorilla habituation experience (FAQ)

Below are some of most asked questions about gorilla habituation experience.

Which countries in Africa do offer gorilla habituation experience safaris

Africa is the only continent where mountain gorillas live in their natural habitat. Not all African countries have mountain gorillas. Its only Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo that are home to these great and rare apes. While all the three countries offer a one-hour opportunity to visit these mountain gorillas, Uganda is the only country where 4 hours are allowed with mountain gorillas under habituation. Therefore, Uganda remains the only country in Africa and the entire world where gorilla habituation experience is done. Book your gorilla habituation experience holiday with the experts now.

Which National Park in Uganda offers gorilla habituation experience safaris?

There is only one National Park in Africa and entire world that offers gorilla habituation experience safaris. This national park is called Bwindi impenetrable National Park and is located in the small East African country called Uganda. For those interested in spending four house with mountain gorillas under habituation should consider visiting Uganda popularly called “ The Pearl of Africa”.

Which part of Bwindi impenetrable national Park has gorilla habituation experience?

Bwindi impenetrable National Park has four locations of Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the East and Rushaga plus Nkuringo in the south. Not all sectors of Bwindi have gorilla habituation experience excursions. Its only Rushaga and Nkuringo located in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable National Park that have gorilla habituation experience as an extended gorilla trek option. All those interested in spending more time with mountain gorillas should plan to visit the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable national Park.

How do I get to Rushaga and Nkuringo for gorilla habituation experience?

There two options of accessing Rushaga and Nkuringo parts of the southern sector of Bwindi impenetrable National Park. By road, one has to drive 9-10 hours from Kampala city/Entebbe Airport via small towns of Mbarara and Kabale onwards to Rushaga and Nkuringo. The other option is to fly from Entebbe international Airport to Kisoro Airstrip which takes 2 hours followed by a road transfer of one hour to your lodge. You may choose to charter or use scheduled flights that are available daily. For more information about our fly-in safaris to see gorillas, please do contact us.

What is the age limit for gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi?

Just like the standard gorilla trekking of one hour, the age limit for gorilla habituation experience safaris in Bwindi impenetrable National Park is 15 years and above. All children below the age of 15 are not allowed to do gorilla habituation experience safaris. Uganda Wildlife Authority is strict about this and passport copies to establish the actual age are always asked before issuing your permit as well as on the day of the actual trek.

What are the chances of seeing gorillas on this experience?

We can confirm to you that ever since gorilla habituation experience started in 2014, there has been 100% citing of mountain gorillas on all done treks. All tourists booked through Encounter Africa safaris have been able to see mountain gorillas on their trek. While the standard trek is 98% guarantee to see mountain gorillas on any given trek, it is about 90% on gorilla habituation experience. The reason is that mountain gorillas are semi habituation and still under going habituation. For what ever reason, they may decide to move very fast to elude you. Never mind this since if this happens, your ranger guide and his team have an option of taking you to another family since there are two families assigned for this.

Where to stay for my gorilla habituation experience safari?

As earlier noted, gorilla habituation experience is done in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable National Park and one has to consider lodges and hotels in Rushaga, Nkuringo and Rubuguri. This side of Bwindi has both budget and Luxury lodges. Encounter Africa safaris works hand in hand with lodges on the southern part of Bwindi and we are in position to negotiate better rates on your behalf.

Why should one choose to pay gorilla habituation permits in advance?

Uganda Wildlife Authority terms and conditions say that one is allowed to pay 30% deposit and top up three months to the actual trek. Therefore, if you find yourself with less money but want to book your permit in advance. While Encounter Africa safaris requests 100% payment for permits, we can accept 30% deposit for bookings that are in advance.

How long is gorilla habituation experience excursion?

A trek to the forest to look for mountain gorillas under habituation may take from one hour to four hours. This is because you can never know where and how these creatures will move on that particular day. Once found, you will be allowed to spend four hours with them before returning back to the park headquarters. It is therefore possible to spend few hours in the forest or a whole day.

Hire services of an expert Tour Operator

Booking an expensive gorilla habituation experience safari in Africa requires services of a well trusted tour operator who will assist you in arranging your gorilla permits. Encounter Africa safaris was the first tour operator to write extensively about gorilla habituation experience and we are among the very few companies that have the ability to assist you in organizing your permits as well as safaris to the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable National Park to spend up to four hours with mountain gorillas still under habituation. We have a dedicated team of staff in office and field read to assist you organize a lifetime safari. Encounter Africa safaris is highly reviewed on Trip advisor as well as safari bookings by clients who have utilized our services. For more information, feel free to get in touch.