Updated gorilla prices for 2024 to 2026

Uganda Wildlife Authority is in charge of all the national parks in the country, and in January, it updated the Uganda gorilla prices after consultation with the stakeholders, and these will work from 2024 to 2026. The revised prices affect all the tourist categories in both Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: $700 to $800 for foreign non-residents, $600 to $700 for foreign residents, and UGX 250 000 to UGX 300,000 for East African citizens. The adjusted cost has also led to the introduction of a new category: African citizens (the rest of Africa excluding EAC citizens). Contact us to know more about permit purchases.

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With the new changes, UWA has not offered any discounts to tourists like in the previous years, where permit discounts were offered during the low season of October to November and March to May. The updated costs are effective from 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2026.

On the other hand, the gorilla habituation permit still needs to be updated, and it has been maintained at $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 for foreign residents, and UGX 750,000 for East African citizens. African citizens will pay $1000 for the gorilla habituation permit, which gives you 4 hours instead of one with the Mountain gorillas.

Gorilla permits in Uganda.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority prints all gorilla permits in Uganda. Although Uganda has more gorilla families, the permits sell out fast, especially during the dry season, also known as the peak season. The gorilla permits can be purchased through UWA directly or through a trusted tour operator, and one of the ways to spot a genuine tour operator is by checking to see if they are registered with the Association of Uganda Tour Operators.

You can purchase a gorilla permit by contacting us with your desired trek dates, and we will check for the availability of the permits on the said dates. Once we confirm they are available, we ask for your details, including names, passport copies, and the number of permits you purchase. We then send an invoice, and after confirmation of payment has been made, we proceed to make the purchases, and a copy is sent as proof of purchase. Get in touch with our team of experts to help you purchase your gorilla permit today.

Note that Uganda currently prints 194 Mountain gorilla permits, and 8 of these are for Mgahinga National Park. When purchasing the permits, note that there are inclusions, including an English-speaking guide, park entry fees, an hour with the gorillas for regular gorilla trekking, and 4 hours during the habituation process. The exclusions are transport, air tickets, insurance, tips, meals, accommodation, and personal expenses, among others.

The gorilla cancellation policy and refund guidelines in Uganda

The gorilla cancellation policy and refund guidelines we are going to discuss apply to UWA and not safari operators. Tour operators usually have their terms and conditions not only because they help with booking and purchasing the gorilla permit but also because they help with booking other services, including transport and accommodation. In case of any cancellation, tour operators also retain a certain percentage, which cannot be refunded, and these vary depending on the operator you have used.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority offers the following refunds according to the following guidelines.

• The Uganda Wildlife Authority will not refund anything if you cancel 0 to 8 days before the trekking date.
• 25% will be refunded if you cancel 9 to 45 days before the trek date.
• 50% will be refunded if you cancel 46 to 90 days before the trek date
• 75% will be refunded if you cancel 91 days and above before the trekking date.

Where is gorilla trekking carried out in Uganda?

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda along the border of Congo and is one of the two national parks where you can trek and spot mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Bwindi is home to more than half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world, making it the perfect destination for tracking and spotting them. Bwindi National Park is divided into four sections that you can follow: the Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Rushaga sectors. Bwindi also offers the gorilla habituation process, and this is provided in the Rushaga sector. The current cost of the gorilla habituation permit in Uganda is $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 for foreign residents and African citizens, and UGX 750,000 for East African citizens.

Mgahinga National Park is located in southwestern Uganda close to Bwindi and the border of Uganda with Congo and Rwanda. This is the only other gorilla trekking destination in Uganda and is home to the Nyakagezi gorilla family (the only habituated gorilla family in Mgahinga).

Gorilla trekking in both Bwindi and Mgahinga starts early morning at around 7:00 am with a briefing from the guides about the dos and don'ts of gorilla trekking while tracking through the forest and when with the gorillas. As you attend the briefing, trackers are sent out to check the last seen spot for the gorillas and communicate with the guides so that you take the proper trek routes when trekking gorillas.

After the briefing, you are separated into groups of 8 and assigned gorilla families and the trek begins. The trekking exercise can take 30 minutes to 6 hours, depending on where the gorilla family is located. After finding them, you have an hour with the primates before trekking back to the headquarters, where you will receive a certificate for participating in the conservation of the gorillas through trekking.

The cost of gorilla trekking in Uganda

The cost of gorilla trekking in Uganda depends on several factors, and you need to know how much you will spend on your safari. The factors that affect the cost of a gorilla safari include accommodation, cost of the gorilla permit, time of travel, transport, food, insurance, packing list, personal purchases, tips, and visas, among others. Note that the cost also depends on the tour operator that you are using. Some of the factors that affect the price of the gorilla safari in Uganda include the following:

Transport: When you are through with purchasing the gorilla permit, the next step is to plan your transport to Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks for gorilla trekking. Air tickets can range from $600 to $2500 depending on the airline you are using, and you need to make sure that the flights to and from Uganda are booked in advance. If you plan on using air transport to get to the national parks, book chartered domestic flights at least three days before the trek date to avoid inconveniences. The flights can be booked from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip, and from here, drive to the accommodation facilities or the park headquarters.

You can also drive from Kampala to Bwindi or Mgahinga, and this will take about 8 to 9 hours with an English-speaking driver guide who has experience. Tourists can also drive from Kigali through Kyaninga or Gatuna borders, and it will take about 4 to 5 hours to get to the national parks. 4x4 safari vehicles are used when getting to the national parks because they are comfortable and are best on Ugandan roads. Gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda are found in remote areas, and tour operators can help arrange and book transport throughout your stay.

Accommodation: One of the most important things that you need to consider and that affects the cost of the safari is the type of accommodation facility you choose. The accommodation is categorized into three categories: basic/budget, mid-range, and luxury facilities, and they can cost from $150 to $1000 and above, depending on your choice. The accommodation must be booked in advance, especially during the dry/peak season, to get the best deals. A tour operator will provide the different options that are available according to your budget, and if you are tracking gorillas in Bwindi, make sure that the lodges chosen are either near or within the sector you have been assigned. Contact our team to help you get the best accommodation during your safari.

Season of travel: There are two seasons of travel, which are the dry and wet seasons, and you can choose whether to make your safari cost-friendly or luxurious. The dry season is also a peak season. During this period, costs of the different services like accommodation are increased due to the influx of tourists visiting the country from June to September and December to February. The wet season is also known as the low season, and discounts are offered especially for accommodation. 

The tracking items to be purchased: To get the best experience when trekking, you need to have the right trekking gear, and although you might have some, some will need to be purchased. Some items needed include a gorilla permit, trekking boots, neutral-colored clothes, insect repellent, binoculars, a camera, a day backpack, a rain jacket, socks, snacks, and a sweater. These hidden fees are rarely considered, yet they are very important and must be considered.

Personal purchases and tips: Personal purchases and tips are some of the hidden fees that affect the cost of the gorilla trek safari in Uganda. There are a lot of things that you can purchase, and you will need cash to do all this. Tips are also necessary and are a sign of appreciation to all those who have rendered exemplary services throughout the safari, for example, guides, porters, and driver guides, among others.

Trekking rules and regulations in Uganda

As you plan for a gorilla safari to Uganda, there are rules and regulations that you have to follow as these help conserve the mountain gorillas. The different rules and regulations for gorilla tracking include:

• The minimum age for trekking in Uganda is 15 years, and there is no maximum age limit for as long as you are physically fit.
• Sick tourists are not allowed to trek gorillas
• The maximum number of people allowed to trek gorillas per session is 8.
• You have an hour with the gorillas after locating them.
• You all have to keep a distance of 7 meters between you and the gorillas.
• Never litter the national park. Keep all the rubbish with you and make sure that you take it with you as you leave the park.
• Dig a hole of 30 cm when you want to use the toilet and cover it up a week after to protect the gorillas from infections.
• Always turn away from the gorillas and cover your mouth and nose when you want to sneeze and cough.
• You are not allowed to feed the Mountain gorillas.
• Smoking when with the gorillas is prohibited.
• Eating and drinking in the presence of the Mountain gorillas is prohibited.
• You are not allowed to take photos of the Mountain gorillas with the camera flash on.

What to pack for a gorilla safari

Below is a list of the things that you can bring for your gorilla safari, and we consider them to be essential.

• Strong hike boots should be waterproof, comfortable, and ankle-length.
• Neutral-colored lightweight pants and long-sleeved shirts
• Insect repellent 
• Waterproof rain jacket and warm sweater
• A camera and extra batteries
• Binoculars
• Sunscreen
• A wide-brimmed hat
• A day backpack to carry all your equipment for the trek day
• Garden gloves
• A water bottle and snacks
• Thick socks and adjustable gaiters. 

The updated gorilla prices for 2024 to 2026 are effective from 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2026. In case of any other changes made, official announcements are made by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and shared among the stakeholders. For more information about the updated prices, contact us through our official website, and our staff will provide the answers to all your queries and advise where necessary when planning a gorilla trek safari to Uganda.