New Uganda Wildlife Authority Tariffs for 2024 to 2026   

The Uganda Wildlife Authority is an agency of the government in charge of protecting the wildlife in Uganda. UWA is in charge of changing tariffs and oversees 12 wildlife reserves, 10 national parks, 13 sanctuaries, and 5 community wildlife Management Areas.

Most Popular Safaris

4 Days Gorillas and Golden Monkey Safari

2 Day Bwindi Gorilla Safari through Kigali

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

5 Day Gorilla Trekking Rwanda

5 Day off season Gorilla and Chimp Safari

5 Day Gorilla and Chimp Tracking Safari

16 Days Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tracking Safari

5 Day Gorilla & Chimp Tracking Safari

Uganda has introduced new tariffs and the Uganda Wildlife Authority is set to implement the new set of tariffs starting 1st July 2024 and this is to make sure that tourists and other stakeholders get used to the changes in the pricing structure of the different tourist destinations and activities in the country. The deliberation of changing the tariffs started on 17th January 2024 with the main aim of conserving wildlife and sustaining the tourism sector in the country.

The tariff changes were discussed with careful consideration from different tourist groups, stakeholders, local communities, tour operators, and conservationists. 

Reasons for the tariffs

Improve the tourism sector: The additional funds that come with an increase in the tariffs are meant to improve the infrastructure of the facilities and the tourist destinations in the country. The fees will be able to help conserve the wildlife as well especially the protected areas hence creating a conducive environment for both the wildlife and tourists.

The increased fees for park entrance fees and permit fees will go towards helping the conservation of the national parks. There are several conservation initiatives that have been put in place like the community-based projects and these need funding for them to be successful. Other conservation projects include habitat restoration and conservation, anti-encroaching, and anti-poaching projects.

Important things to note

Before you travel to Uganda, there are some important things that you need to note, and these include the following:

• Children are persons from the age of 5 to 15 years.
• All tourists are required to present valid identification, residents need to show proof of their residency, foreign non-residents a valid passport, and East African citizens a valid national ID.
• All persons who are 5 years and below are exempt from the fees
• Any extra time that is spent in the park after the 24 hours is an extra day
• The entrance fees are independent of activities like bird watching, gorilla tracking, mountain climbing, chimpanzee tracking, and many others
• Fees are quoted in either United States dollars=US$ and Uganda shillings=UGX.
• All tourists have to show a negative COVID test.
• A tour company driver is an individual who works for a recognized tour company that drives tourists to their destination and around the national park.
• A safari guide is an individual who guides tourists through the parks as they carry out different activities including horseback riding, canoeing, nature walks, and other activities.

Park rules and regulations

All the parks in Uganda have the same rules and regulations and these were set up by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and all tourists have to follow these guidelines that include the following:

• You are not allowed to make any campfires apart from when you are in designated areas.
• Ensure that you keep all the receipts for inspection
• Avoid littering the national parks
• No one is allowed to drive off the designated tracks
• No firearms and ammunition are allowed inside the national parks
• Driving between 7:00 pm and 7:00 am is prohibited
• Do not destroy any vegetation found within the national park
• No dogs are allowed inside the national park
• The speed limit for driving within the national parks is 40km per hour, and tourists should not exceed this limit.
• Do not hoot at the animals or make unnecessary noise
• No drones will be allowed in the National parks, and all will be confiscated if you are found with one.

Chimpanzee tracking rules and regulations

For the safety of both the chimpanzees and tourists, you need to follow all the rules and regulations set for chimpanzee tracking in Uganda.

• The minimum age for tracking chimpanzees is 12 years
• You must not track chimpanzees if you are sick because chimpanzees can easily catch diseases that can affect the whole pack.
• You need to keep at least 8 meters from the chimpanzees when you locate them.
• Make sure that you do not leave any litter in the national park
• Eating near the chimpanzees is not allowed
• Do not at any one point try to vocalize like the chimpanzees because you might not know what you might be communicating.
• If you need to use the toilet for a short or long call, go off the trail, dig a hole 30cm deep, and bury it with all the type of tissue you might have.
• Ensure that you keep quiet as much as possible because this is when you will see more.
• Avoid using flash photography when taking photographs.

Gorilla tracking rules and regulations

The different rules and regulations for gorilla tracking that UWA set include the following, and these have to be followed by all tourists participating in gorilla tracking. Below are some of the rules and regulations to follow when gorilla tracking in Uganda.

• Make sure that you maintain a distance of 7 meters from the gorillas
• Carry all the receipts for proof of payment and permits
• The maximum number of people to trek gorilla families in the country is 8
• Never trek the gorillas when you have a cold or any other infections because any fatal disease is risky to the gorillas.
• All human waste should be buried 30cm deep off the trek trail
• When sneezing or coughing, cover your mouth and nose and turn away from the gorillas.
• Never use flash photography when taking photos of the gorillas
• You only get to spend an hour with the gorillas after locating the family that you have been assigned to.
• The tracking minimum age for tracking gorillas in Uganda is 15 years.
• Eating, drinking and smoking are not permitted when tracking gorillas.

The Revised Conservation Tariffs 

Below are the changes that have been made to the tariffs on the different safari activities.

Chimpanzee trekking:

Destination Foreign non-residents foreign residents EAC citizens

Kibale National Park US$250 US$150 UGX 150, 000

Kyambura Gorge US$50 US$40 UGX 30, 000

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Foreign non-residents, foreign residents, EAC citizens

Gorilla trekking      $800, $700, UGX 300, 000

Gorilla habituation  $1500, $1000, UGX 750, 000

Batwa trail experience $40, $40 ,UGX 40, 000

Nature walks $30, $15, UGX 10, 000

Guided walks $50, $40, UGX 50, 000

Buhoma-Nkuringo walk $50, $40, UGX 50, 000

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Foreign non-residents, foreign residents, EAC citizens

Park entrance fees US$40, US$30, UGX 20, 000

Game drives (per day) US$30 US$25 UGX 30, 000

Chimp tracking   US$100, US$80, UGX 50, 000

Nature walks   US$15, US$10, UGX 10, 000

Launch trip      US$30, US$25, UGX 30, 000

Mongoose        US$30, US$25, UGX 30, 000

Hippo census    US$100, US$80, UGX 100, 000

Lion tracking     US$100, US$80 UGX 100, 000

Mgahinga National Park

 Foreign non-residents, foreign residents, EAC citizens

Gorilla tracking $800, $700, UGX 300, 000

Volcano climbing  US$80, US$70, UGX 50, 000

Golden monkey trekking US$60, US$50, UGX 40, 000

Golden monkey habituation US$100, $80, UGX 100, 000

Children’s activities US$5, US$ 5, UGX 10, 000

Murchison Falls National Park

• Foreign non-residents           
• foreign residents                
• EAC citizens

Park entrance fees are US$45, US$35, UGX 25, 000

Game drives US$30, US$25, UGX 30,000

Night game drives US$40, US$35, UGX 40, 000

White water rafting US$50, US$50, UGX 50, 000

Bird watching US$30, US$25, UGX 20, 000

Sport fishing US$50, US$50                                   

Hiking for the falls US$15, US$10, UGX 10, 000

Kidepo Valley National Park               

Foreign non-residents, foreign residents, EAC citizens

Park entrance fees $40, $30, UGX 20, 000

Game drives $20, $15, UGX 20,000

Night game drives $30, $20 UGX, 50, 000

Summit hike $50, $40, UGX 50, 000

Bird watching $30, $25, UGX 20, 000

Kibale National Park

Foreign non-residents, foreign residents, EAC citizens

Park entrance fees US$40 US$30 UGX 20, 000

Chimpanzee tracking US$250 US$200 UGX 180, 000

Chimp habituation US$300 US$250 UGX 250, 000

Guided short walks US$5, US$5, UGX 10, 000

Artwork and paint US$10, US$10, UGX 20, 000

Scout adventures SS$10, US$10, UGX 20, 000

Lake Mburo National Park

Foreign non-residents, foreign residents, EAC Citizens

Park entrance fees US$40, US$30, UGX 20, 000

Game drives US$20, US$15, UGX 20, 000

Night game drives US$30, US$15, UGX 50, 000

Guided nature walks US$15, US$10, UGX 10, 000

Cycling US$30, US$25, UGX 30, 000

Boat rides US$30, US$25, UGX 30, 000

Semuliki National Park

Foreign non-residents, foreign residents, EAC citizens

Park entrance fees US$35, US$25, UGX 15, 000

Batwa Experience US$10, US$10, UGX 10, 000

Guided nature walk US$30, US$15, UGX 10, 000

Shoebill view by boat US$100, US$80, UGX 100, 000

Ntoroko boat hire US$100, US$80, UGX 100, 000

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Foreign non-residents, foreign residents, EAC citizens

Park entrance fees US$20, US$20, UGX 10, 000

Rhino tracking US$30, US$20, UGX 20, 000

Bird watching US$20, US$20, UGX 20, 000

Nature walks US$20, US$20, UGX 20, 000

Shoebill US$25, US$20, UGX 20, 000

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Foreign non-residents, foreign residents, EAC citizens

Park entrance fees US$35, US$25, UGX 15, 000

Rwenzori Mount hike US$50, US$40, UGX 50, 000

Kinyampanika chimp trail US$50, US$40, UGX 50, 000

Bukurungu Trail US$50, US$40, UGX 50, 000

Sebwe falls US$50, US$40, UGX 50, 000

Kazingo trail US$50, US$40, UGX 50, 000

Mountain Elgon National Park

Foreign non-residents, foreign residents, EAC citizens

Park entrance fees US$35, US$25, UGX 15, 000

MT Elgon hike US$50, US$40, UGX 50, 000

MT Elgon rock climb US$65, US$60, UGX 55, 000

MT Elgon biking US$100, US$80, UGX 50, 000

Bushiyi Trail Excursion US$150, US$120, UGX 150, 000

Annual Park Entrance Passes

The annual park fees apply to all East African and Uganda residents and foreign residents and it does not include vehicle fees as these are paid for separately. Note that the annual park fees are not valid for package activities like Mountain climbing, chimp and gorilla trekking, and hiking among others.

Foreign residents are required to have a valid work permit of at least one year to be able to apply for the annual pass.

Category : Foreign residents, EAC citizens

Safari guide                                                                                                       

UGX 200 000

Individuals                                                 

US$ 350 UGX 350, 000

Couples                                                      

US$ 600 UGX 500, 000

Family (with a max of 4 children) US$ 800 UGX 600, 000

Annual Corporate pass (max of 10) US$ 1500 UGX 2,500,000

Tour company driver                                                                                       

Free

Taxi driver                                                                                                         

UGX 150, 0000

Vehicle, Boat, and Aircraft: Entry and Landing fees

Type of vehicle: foreign registered, Ugandan registered

Saloon cars                       US$40 UGX 20, 000

Omnibus and Minibuses    US$50, UGX 30, 000

Pickups                        US$50, UGX 30, 000

Over landers              US$150, UGX 100, 000

Tour company vehicles & 4-wheel drive       US$150, UGX 30, 000

Buses & Lorries                                                  US$200, UGX 200, 000

School buses                                                      UGX 50, 000

Construction Equipment                                 US$350, UGX 500, 000

Launches of over 15 seater                            US$200, UGX 350, 000

Boats of up to 15 seats                                   US$100, UGX 250, 000

Delivery vehicle (per vehicle)                       UGX 20, 000

MFIT boats (15 seater)                                   US$50, UGX 50, 000

MFIT boats (over 15 seater)                          US$100, UGX 150, 000

Several changes have been made to the different safari activities and the park entrance fees and these are not a short term fix as they will remain in effect till 30th June 2026. During this period, there will be a few changes, evaluations, and adjustments. All tourists who have booked for the safari before 1st July 2024 will not be affected in any way and can still use the old tariff charges. For all tourists who book after 30th June 2024 or make reschedules, the new tariffs will apply to them.                                                      

The Uganda Wildlife Authority together with other stakeholders came up with the adjustment of the conservation tariffs and this is a step towards improving and ensuring the sustainability of the tourism sector and the wildlife. By embracing the new tariffs that are effective 1st July 2024, you are not only conserving the wildlife but also ensuring that you have a good time when you visit the different safari destinations in the country.

Contact us for more information.