Uganda increases Mgahinga gorilla permit for foreign non-residents from $700 to $800

The Uganda Wildlife Authority increased the cost of the gorilla permits not only for foreign non-residents but also for other categories of tourists, and this was done after deliberations and insights from all stakeholders to improve the tourism sector in Uganda and to continue with proper conservation of the endangered Mountain gorillas. The gorilla permit in Mgahinga was increased from $700 to $800.

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Note that the increase of the gorilla trekking permit in Mgahinga National Park will change from 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2026. The cost of the gorilla permits for foreign non-residents and other categories of tourists in Mgahinga National Park is as follows:

Before 30th June 2024              after 1st July 2024 

Foreign non-residents $700     $800

Foreign residents $600              $700       

EAC citizens UGX 250, 000        UGX 300, 000

African citizens                             $500

With the increase in the gorilla permit cost, there has also been an introduction of a new category, citizens of other African countries, to ensure that more people participate in the gorilla trekking exercise. 

Gorilla trekking permit

A gorilla trekking permit is an original and official document provided by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to allow guests to participate in tracking gorillas. The authorities introduced the gorilla permit to protect gorillas in Mgahinga National Park because it reduces the number of people allowed to trek the gorillas daily.

There are only 8 gorilla permits printed per day in Mgahinga National Park, and tourists are told to book and purchase the gorilla permits in advance to participate in gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park.            

Mgahinga National Park is located within the Virunga region along the border of Uganda with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the southwestern part of Uganda. This is the smallest national park in Uganda, with one gorilla family known as the Nyakagezi gorilla family. Mgahinga National Park was founded in 1991 to protect the endangered mountain gorillas after the local poaching increased, reducing their number. Mgahinga National Park has over 80 gorillas but only one habituated gorilla family.

The main reason why Mgahinga National Park has one habituated gorilla family is because of its location near Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park, and this caused many of the gorillas to keep on migrating between the three countries until only the Nyakagezi gorilla family remained.

How to get gorilla permits in Mgahinga National Park

Gorilla permits in Mgahinga National Park can be purchased through a trusted tour operator or the Uganda Wildlife Authority for tourists planning a solo gorilla safari trip to Mgahinga. The gorilla permits in Mgahinga are only 8, and tourists are advised to purchase the gorilla permits in advance (6 months to one year) or even more because permits sell out fast in the dry season. 

The first step in purchasing a gorilla trek permit is to contact a local tour operator, like encounter safaris. Once we receive your request, we will ask for a copy of the passport, the dates you wish to trek, how many permits you are willing to purchase, names, dates of birth, and the number of days you are ready to spend on the gorilla safari.

After getting these details, we check for the availability of the permits on your desired dates. When we confirm that the permits are available, you will be asked to make payments for the permits on the company bank account. When the permit is paid, the booking and purchase will be made, and a copy will be sent to you.

The gorilla permit cost includes park ranger fees, an hour with the primates, and armed ranger fees. If you want us to help you plan your entire gorilla safari in Mgahinga, you need to do this immediately after purchasing the permit because the cost does not include accommodation, meals, transport, and any other personal purchases.

Gorilla trek rules in Mgahinga National Park

The gorilla trek rules apply to all tourists who wish to trek gorillas in Mgahinga National Park because they protect the gorillas and the trekkers. Some of the trek rules in Mgahinga include the following:

• The gorilla age limit in Mgahinga National Park is 15 years, and anyone younger than this will not be allowed to trek gorillas in Mgahinga. For anyone who is above 15, you have to be physically fit because there is no maximum age limit.
• You have to keep a distance of 10 meters from the gorillas after locating them, and this is to reduce the risks of transmitting diseases to the gorillas.
• Do not drink or eat when with the gorillas.
• Smoking has been prohibited because it greatly affects the lives of the Mountain gorillas.
• Avoid touching the Mountain gorillas because even though they are habituated, they are still wild animals, and you need to keep your distance.
• When the gorillas charge at you (although this is a rare occurrence), do not run but walk backward slowly, get down on your knees in a submissive form, and follow all the instructions given to you by the guides until the gorilla goes back to the family members.
• Avoid putting on brightly colored clothes because they attract a lot of attention from the Mountain gorillas and other wild animals.
• Avoid putting on sunglasses during the trek and with the gorillas because they show the gorilla's reflections, and they might think that another gorilla is attacking the group.
• Never use flash photography when taking photos of the Mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas are not used to the flash, so it is not to be used by all tourists.
• All tourists who are sick are not allowed to trek gorillas to avoid transmission of diseases to the Mountain gorillas.
• Only groups of 8 will be allowed to trek the gorillas daily to avoid overwhelming the Mountain gorillas.

The chances of spotting Mountain gorillas in Mgahinga National Park are high throughout the year. In cases where you fail to see the gorillas, you will be given a chance to trek them the next day. However, this is rare because the Nyakagezi gorilla family is always available for year-round trekking.

What to bring on your gorilla safari in Mgahinga National Park

Gorilla trekking is a much better experience if you pack right and we have listed some of the things that we believe are essential for the gorilla safari, and these include neutral-colored clothes, long-sleeved shirts, light-weight trousers, garden gloves, adjustable gaiters, waterproof day backpack, rain jacket, warm sweater, a camera, binoculars, first aid kit, snacks, a sunhat, sunscreen, insect repellent, refillable water bottle, and strong hike boots among others.

What to do after gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park

There are a lot of activities that can be carried out in Mgahinga National Park after gorilla trekking, and these include the following:

Golden monkey trekking: Mgahinga National Park is the only park in the country offering golden monkey trekking. Golden monkey trekking and habituation involve walking through the forest, searching for the playful golden monkeys. These are also endangered species, and the trekking exercise can take about 30 minutes to 3 hours, depending on their location. The best way to track them is by following the bamboo shoots left on the ground by the golden monkeys. Trekking golden monkeys is not as hard as gorillas, and after locating them, you can take photos and videos and watch them as they groom the young ones.

Bird watching: The National Park is home to over 115 bird species. The national park is filled with bamboo and mountainous forests, and bird watching is done throughout the forest using the gorge trail and other parts of the national park. Some of the bird species that can be seen in Mgahinga include the handsome francolin, dusk turtle dove, Regal sunbird, Olive thrush, Crowned hornbill, Red-faced woodland, Montane double-collared sunbird, Alpine chat, bronze sunbird, Rwenzori Batis and brown crowned Tchagra among others.

Mountain climbing: Mgahinga National Park has 3 dormant volcanoes, and these are Mount Gahinga, Mount Sabinyo, and Mount Muhavura. These three mountains can be hiked throughout the year, although the best time is during the dry season. During the hike, you will see different physical features like Lake Edward, the Rwenzori ranges, other primates, various mammals like forest elephants, bush duikers, and many more.

Exploring the caves: During your gorilla safari trek in Mgahinga, you can also get to explore the Garama and Muhavura caves, where you will be able to learn more about the culture of the Batwa people from the time that they lived in the caves and the forest. 

The Batwa trail experience:  Taking on the Batwa trail is the best way to learn more about the Batwa culture and people. The Batwa are pygmies that used to live in the national park before it was gazetted off and now lead tourists on the Batwa trail, teaching them how to hunt, gather fruits, make bamboo cups, and harvest honey, among other skills. The trail always ends in joyous celebrations with songs, dances, and storytelling from the locals.

Accommodation around Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park is the smallest park in Uganda, which is why there are no accommodation facilities inside the national park. The only facilities you can use can be found in the nearby Kisoro district and the surrounding areas. Some of the facilities you can use while on a gorilla trek safari in Mgahinga include Chameleon hill lodge, Mucha Hotel Kisoro, Mount Gahinga Lodge, Mount Gahinga Rest camp, Mucha Hotel Kisoro and the Traveler's Nest Hotel, Mutanda Lake Resort, Virunga hotel, Amajambere Iwacu community camp, Bwindi Jungle Lodge, and Community campground among others.

When to go for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park is an all-year-round safari destination. Still, it is best visited during the dry season, experienced in June to September and December to February. The Mountain gorillas are best seen during the dry season because the thinning of the vegetation makes it easy to track and spot the gorillas; the trek routes are also easy to use since they are not slippery and muddy, making it easy to trek through the forests, of Mgahinga National Park.

The wet season is also an excellent time to go for gorilla trekking in Bwindi because of the fewer crowds, and some accommodation facilities reduce prices to attract more tourists during the low season. The wet season is harder to trek gorillas because of the wet, muddy, and slippery routes. The heavy rains also might prevent you from tracking gorillas when it is heavy. Note that the weather in Uganda changes drastically, and you should be ready for rain even during the dry season.

How to get to Mgahinga for gorilla trekking

Mgahinga National Park can be reached by either using road or air transport. You can drive from Kampala to Mgahinga National Park, and this takes about 9 to 10 hours driving with a few stopovers for lunch and stretching legs. Driving is also possible from Kigali through the Gatuna or Cyanika border's land borders, which takes about 3 to 4 hours.

For tourists who wish to fly, charter flights have to be arranged before the trek day using domestic flights like Aerolink Uganda. The flights from Entebbe to Kisoro Airstrip take 1 to one and a half hours, and after getting to the airstrip, you will drive the rest of the way to the park headquarters for the trek.

Contact us for more information and let us help you plan your safari today.