Purchasing Uganda gorilla permits via AUTO

October 27, 2015

Purchasing Uganda gorilla permits via AUTO

Purchasing Uganda gorilla permits via AUTO is not available because Uganda gorilla trekking permits are only purchased from Uganda wildlife Authority and no other place or organization. This is to regulate the number of permits that maybe overbooked yet the mountain gorilla families are limited to currently 19 Uganda gorilla trekking families. A maximum of 8 gorilla permits per family are released to the public.

This is for conservation reasons because with the limited number human congestion in the forest is regulated which would lead to trampling on the vegetation where the gorillas feed.

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The Association Of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) is the umbrella body for Uganda tour operators and not the gorilla permit selling body. Some times in case members want to resale or buy gorilla permits or other safari requirements from those who have in excess or reselling, they use it as a platform.

When you are a member of Association of Uganda Tour Operators, you have the advantage of getting messages about the status of the gorilla permits you are searching for and other destination updates.

How to Purchase Uganda Wildlife Association Gorilla Permits

Identify the date when you hope to do gorilla trekking in Uganda and the number people you hope to travel with so that availability can be checked according to the number of permits you wish to purchase.

Our safari consultant checks availability from the Uganda Wildlife Authority checklist. She or he gets back to you as soon as possible with the prevailing status

In case its positive feedback, we request you to purchase your gorilla permits in advance because they get over very fast as demand is high worldwide. The status of gorilla permits is according to first come first served basis.

When availability is negative, it is best to alter the dates to cover those with availability in case you do not have a particular reason for booking it like birthday surprise, anniversary celebration and much more.

Once you purchase your gorilla permit, we request you to provide some personal details like your full names as indicated on the passport, passport expiry date, nationality and other personal details. These are added to your profile on the black strip at the back of the gorilla permit card.

Some of these details are given to added to your certificate of accomplishment after gorilla trekking.

Where To Find Gorilla Trekking Destinations

In Uganda Bwindi Impenetrable National park is the largest gorilla trekking destination with about 18 gorilla families open for tourist viewing. These are residents of four gorilla trekking areas including Ruhijah, Rushaga, Nkuringo area and Buhoma area.

Some of the gorilla trekking families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include Rushegura family, Oruzogo family, Bweza family, Nkuringo family, Muhozi family, Mubale family and others

Two gorilla families have been separated for gorilla habituation in southern part of Bwindi impenetrable National Park. Only 4 gorilla permits per day are released for tourists to book. Gorilla habituation is the act of following semi habituated mountain gorillas in the wild to get then used to human presence without altering there nature. They still have wild behavior so expect the gorilla to go into hiding and will re-appear later. This is why Uganda mountain gorilla habituation is restricted to four hours.

Birding In Uganda is felt complete with a visit to Bwindi forest especially the Mubwindi Swamp in Ruhijah area. You may have chance to spot birds like African Green Broadbill, Shelley’s Crimmsonwing, Mountain Masked and Chestnut throated Apalises, Red-faced Woodland Warbler and others

Mgahinga National Park is another of the renowned Uganda mountain gorilla destinations. Although the park is less visited, it has authentic vegetation that still has natural setting because it is less visited. Only one gorilla family so far has been opened for tourist viewing that is Nyakagezi family.

This gorilla family was known to meander into Rwanda so its permits were then sold upon availability of the mountain gorillas. Of late, the Nyakagezi gorilla family has settled in Mgahinga National Park and permits are available for prepurchase at Uganda wildlife Authority.

This biosphere reserve is host to over 115 bird species including Albertine like Rwenzori Turaco, Lagden’s Bush Shrike, Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird and others.

When Is The best Time To Purchase Uganda Gorilla Trekking Permits

Purchasing your gorilla permit in advance is the best alternative in case you wish to go for gorilla trekking safari. The gorilla trekking permit is the entry ticket for one to join this primate African safari.

Reserving your gorilla trekking permit at least 6 months in advance prevents you from last minute panic to acquire one midst searching for accommodation availability in the area where the permit is booked.

The latest time for purchasing Uganda gorilla permits is 90 days to the dates of travel. This allows you chance to put together other components of the Uganda gorilla trekking safari like vehicle hire, driver guide hire and others. These are on high demand during peak season and prices per day are high.

Note That Uganda gorilla permits for Bwindi Impenetrable National park are reserved according to areas that is either Buhoma area, Ruhijah area, Rushaga area and Nkuringo area and others.

These areas are separated by distance and travelling from one area to another may be quite challenging early morning. The roads connecting them are remote slippery at times, logs may block them, area is misty at times and much more. In case you miss briefing because of such factors, you may be disqualified from gorilla trekking.

How Much Is The cost of Gorilla Trekking Permits In Uganda

The Uganda gorilla trekking permit costs $700 for foreign nonresidents per person per trek, $600 for foreign residents per person, 250000 shs per person per trek.

This gorilla permit cost includes

Park entry fee which is paid per Uganda National Park. This fee is contributed to the Uganda wildlife conservation fund. The wildlife sanctuaries need maintenance and other.

Gorilla medical care when the mountain gorillas are over injured by snares, hunters and other hazards and others. Although mountain gorillas are wild animals that must seek own medication form the wild, at times that are over hurt and need help from humans. The gorilla doctors need medical treatment to administer to the mountain gorillas.

Park maintenance especially the trails and other tracks with in the thick forested park. Overtime, upgrades are made on the park to make it suitable for clients to visit.

Ranger guide fee because they lead all the gorilla trekking adventures in the forest. They offer in-depth explanation about the gorilla family being trekked, names of every member of the family, life style of the family and other characteristics. They deserve to be paid salary for the work they do and encourage them to keep doing it without hurting the mountain gorillas and other forest dwellers.

Mountain Gorilla Research Fund where more information about the life of mountain gorillas is being collected over time because they are dynamic just like humans. Mountain gorillas have about 96% human DNA. They live a life similar to humans at times portraying different characteristics over time.

Local Community support for their projects like road upgrades, hospital care, water source improvement and others. About 20% of the money accrued from the sale of gorilla trekking permits every year is given to the local community to encourage them participate in the conservation of the mountain gorillas.

When Is The Best time To Do Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari

All year around gorilla trekking in Uganda is open but the most interesting is the dry season that is June to September and December to January. Although this area receives untimely rains, under normal weather conditions, this season has fewer rains received. The trails are passable and less irregular rains fall. Even sunray penetration to the ground is received deeper to the ground in the forest.

The demand for other park services is higher than normal so expect prices for gorilla trekking packages to be high too.

The low gorilla trekking seasons that is March to May and November are comfortable for those travelling to do exclusive gorilla trekking experience. You have high chances of closing off the gorilla families for you to do with only those you travel with or just solo you.

For those interested in filming or professional photographing of mountain gorillas, the low seasons have this chance to grab. There is no one obstructing you or making noise to give bad feedback in your filming content. You capture unique content at your own pace and no one to make step on your gadgets.

Low seasons may come with discounted prices on gorilla trekking services like accommodation, driver guide hire and others. You may have chance of using facilities of high-end facilities with a limited budget during the low season.

How Difficult Is Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Gorilla trekking area in Uganda is filled with highlands like ridges, plateaus and others where mountain gorillas spend there days. The mountain gorilla movements are not restricted but dependent on factors like food proximity, in case of a fight with another gorilla family, death of a family member and others.

Depending on the above factors, gorilla trekking may be strenuous at times so you need to wear good gears like tracking boots, trekking gears, insect repellants and others.

Some level of fitness is required because you do not know where the mountain gorillas are living at that moment. When they hike to the slopes, you have to follow them there and the way may be slippery and soggy at times.

The gorilla trekking vegetation is filled with very old tangled vegetation that drapes over the huge tree branches. The ranger guide may at times have to use a machete to create way. You may be required to walk undercut creepers and others.

How Safe Is Gorilla Trekking In Uganda

Rangers and Uganda security bodies monitor the security of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National park in Uganda.

These are responsible for keeping law and order in this are for both tourists and the locals. Personal security is most important because there are many people that have holidays in this park

Carry limited cash on you and count it away from the public to avoid attracting the wrong people.
Do not eat from places that are not designated to avoid food poisoning.
Bringing precious items like jewels with you may case insecurity for you while on gorilla trekking safari. In case you have them, declare to the lodge manager and offer them to be kept in the lodge safe. Do not forget to collect them when leaving.
A void provoking the mountain gorillas in the wild so as not to cause them to rage. They have mood swings too although they would fight you. There noise may cause a stamped in the forest even amongst other gorilla families.
Stay close to the group you are trekking gorillas with so that you are not lost in the wilderness. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a thick forest with no internet connection of other communication signals. Locating you may be hard at times.
Never enter the gorilla trekking destinations without an escorting ranger guide because you do not know which forest dwellers you may meet. The mountain gorillas have there own characteristics which you may not understand alone.
Wear the right gorilla trekking gears like tracking boots that can go through soggy grounds, long sleeved shirt, apply insect repellants and so much more. These protect your body from harmful surfaces in the wilderness and you emerge successful.

Which Accommodation To Book For Gorilla Trekking In Uganda

Gorilla trekking accommodations in Uganda are packaged according to luxury, Mid-range and Budget.

Bwindi gorilla trekking accommodation booking must be based on the area where the gorilla permit is booked.

Some of the accommodation for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include Gorilla safari Lodge, Gorilla forest Camp, Engage lodge, Silverback lodge, Bwindi View Bandas, Nkuringo Safari Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Trekker’s Tarven and others.

Mgahinga National park accommodations include Gahinga Lodge and others in Kisoro town