How to process Gorilla trekking permits credit note from UWA?

Do you know how to process gorilla trekking permits credit notes from UWA? A credit note is money held by the Uganda Wildlife Authority on behalf of Tour Operators and individuals because of cancellations because of the COVID-19 Pandemic that can buy services such as gorilla permits, chimpanzee permits, and park entrance fees. When Covid 19 hit the world, many people had booked safaris and some of them had to be cancelled or postponed. The fact that UWA could not refund the cash, they kept this money in form of Credit notes. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic affected global travel also affected gorilla trekking tours in Uganda and it also affected those who had booked gorilla trekking safari to Uganda in advance making them cannot do their treks and use the originally booked trekking permits for their dates. Because of this, it forced many travelers to cancel their gorilla trekking trips to Uganda, and many opted to request for a refund of their money paid to secure the gorilla permits in advance which the Uganda Wildlife Authority found not tenable at that moment. With this Uganda Wildlife Authority offered an option to process credit notes for those who had booked their gorilla trekking permits in advance and then once you have your credit note processed you will use it to purchase new gorilla permits up to a period of 31^st December 2022. The information below will guide you on how to process Gorilla trekking permits credit note from Uganda Wildlife Authority–UWA.

What is a Credit Note from Uganda Wildlife Authority?

A credit note is a statement issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority for the canceled gorilla permits with a refund, and you can use this statement to make new bookings in the future upon presentation of the statement.

We can use money held by UWA in the credit note arrangement for gorilla and chimp permits to purchase any product or service, including entrance fees and those products on discount during the promotional period that ends on 30th June 2021. We can also top up on other existing permits using the money on the credit note arrangement.

Gorilla Permits purchased at old rate (USD 600) that were rescheduled or converted into credit note, will remain at that rate that is USD 600. All credit note requests have to go through the UWA central registry or via email. Contact us here we will advise you accordingly.

Why is UWA allowing tour operators to process credit notes?

Uganda Wildlife Authority is allowing tour operators to process credit notes for them to easily manage the permits that were not utilized by tourists who did not manage to travel to Uganda due to covid-19 restrictions and various uncertainties. Given the fact most of the gorilla permits are purchase through tour operators not directly to UWA it is easy for them to request and follow up credit note requests.

Tour operators are required to submit details of their clients for the permits booked in advance to the UWA Reservation Office to ensure that permits for these clients cancelled from the system at least seven days before the tracking date.

What is the procedure of processing a credit note?

You will need to write a headed paper letter to Uganda Wildlife Authority, duly signed by the allowed signatory, with details of gorilla permits you need to be canceled off the Uganda Wildlife Authority system as this will involve canceling the current permits from our system and holding onto your money for future bookings. The letter should show the details of the breakdown and totals as shown in the table below. Please use the attached excel sheet, and also attach it to your email to UWA. In addition, also attach the proof of payment for the permits in question.

Can a credit note be transferred from one tour operator to another?

It is not possible to transfer a credit note from one tour operator this decision was made by the Uganda Wildlife Authority because of internal financial management policies, the tour companies with a credit note and will transfer the credit notes are therefore advised to use these statements to purchase new permits and thereafter at their own liberty transfer these permits to any other tour company but the name of the original tour company will not change in the Uganda Wildlife Authority System.  

What is the time flame allowed to process and use a credit note?

Once the UWA finance team reconciles, the gorilla permits will then be removed from their system and a credit note/statement will be issued to you for the said amount, for use at a future date, not exceeding December 31st, 2022.

What is the Covid booking and cancellation policy of gorilla permits in Uganda?

To go for gorilla tracking they required you to have a gorilla permit. With this, they prefer that one who books a gorilla permit should be able to use it for the trek on a given date. Gorilla permit cancellation penalty and policy in Uganda, when you cannot make it to the trek from 0 to 8 days, to the day of tracking and with this, you don’t get the refund for the permits. For the last 6 months gorilla permits cancellation policies have changed a lot because of the outbreak of the Corona Virus which has forced both countries to relax the cancellation policies, in Uganda all gorilla treks that were affected by the pandemic have been given an opportunity to changed their dates of trekking twice up to 2022 December. Contact us here for details.

Why book your gorilla trekking permits with Encounter Africa Safaris?

Encounter Africa Safaris will help you book your gorilla trekking permits in Uganda and help you process a credit note for your permits in case you cannot make it for the trek because of uncertainties contact us and we advise you on the booking process. We as well have different gorilla trekking safari packages ranging from budget, mid-range to luxury options that we can book for you including the gorilla permits. Check out our trip advisor reviews and read from a community of happy, satisfied clients. With us, you can rest assured of a memorable Uganda gorilla trekking tour. We are devoted to providing excellent service and customer satisfaction. Our team of excellent tour consultants is always willing to help answer all your safari questions. We guarantee you a great gorilla tour in Uganda with us.