UWA increases gorilla permits for East African citizens from UGX 250,000 to 300,000

The gorilla permit price for East African citizens has been increased from 250,000 Uganda shillings to 300,000 shillings effective 1st July 2024 up to 2026. So, if you plan to visit Uganda for a gorilla trek safari from 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2026, then this article is for you because it discusses the cost of the gorilla trek permit. This increase has been made for East African Citizens by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The gorilla trek permit for East African citizens has been increased from UGX 250 000 to UGX 300 000, effective 1st July 2024.

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The increase in the gorilla permit for East African citizens is to improve on the many projects set up to conserve the Mountain gorillas and ensure that tourists have a great time with better services during and after the trek exercise. Part of the money paid for the permit goes to the government towards conserving the gorillas and taking care of the national parks where gorilla trekking takes place.

To be considered an East African citizen, you must be in one of these countries: Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, or Burundi. You need to, however, be able to prove that you belong to one of these countries by providing the National ID as proof or any other identification process.

The habituation process gorilla permit in Bwindi for East African citizens has been maintained, and it is UGX 750 000 per person. The habituation permit is more expensive because it gives you 4 hours with the gorillas, unlike the one hour spent with regular trekking. Gorilla habituation is training gorillas to get used to human presence. Researchers carry out the process, which can take 2 to 3 years and the gorilla families can only be released for public trekking when they are deemed ready. 

Increased gorilla permit cost for foreign and foreign non-residents

The gorilla permit cost has also been increased for other categories of tourists, and the Uganda Wildlife Authority has also introduced a new category of tourists: African citizens. Below is the gorilla permit increase the cost for foreign residents and non-residents.

Foreign non-residents $700 to $800

Foreign residents $600 to $700

African citizens $500

The updated costs apply to both Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the two main and only national parks where gorilla trekking occurs.

Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority prints gorilla permits in Uganda. Although Uganda prints more gorilla permits as compared to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, they sell out fast, especially during the peak season from December to January and June to September.

Gorilla permits are legal documents needed for tourists to trek gorillas in Uganda. These can be bought from the Uganda Wildlife Authority using their official website, but note that the best way to book and purchase the permit is through a trusted tour operator. Get in touch with a tour operator with the trekking dates, your name, passport copy, and the number of gorilla permits you wish to buy. When we get the inquiry, we check the availability of the permits and send you the available dates.

After choosing the dates, you will receive an invoice, and you are expected to pay for the permit using the bank details. When confirmation has been confirmed, the permits will be booked and proof sent to your email. Note that the details provided for the permit purchase have to be correct, and you need to make sure that you make it for the exact dates of trekking because the permit is only valid for the day it was printed and cannot be extended.                                                

What you need to know about gorilla trekking in Bwindi

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is found in the south-western part of Uganda along the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and it is one of the two national parks where gorilla trekking takes place. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four sectors: the Nkuringo sector, Ruhija sector, Buhoma, and Rushaga sector. Each of these, has several gorilla families trekked throughout the year. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park also offers gorilla habituation, which is carried out in the Rushaga sector. Instead of one hour, four people are allowed to participate in the habituation process, and they get to spend 4 hours with the primates.

What you need to know about gorilla trekking in Mgahinga

Mgahinga National Park is a gorilla trekking destination in southwestern Uganda along the shared border of Uganda with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mgahinga has only one gorilla family, the Nyakagezi gorilla family, making it the best destination for tourists who prefer fewer crowds during the trekking exercise. There are only eight gorilla permits printed for Mgahinga National Park, and you need to be able to book the permits early enough at least six months before the trek date.

The trekking experience in Uganda

The gorilla trekking experience in both Bwindi and Mgahinga is one you shouldn't miss because you get to meet the large, calm primates face to face. Note that mountain gorillas can only be trekked in three countries, Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, in their natural habitat.

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga and Bwindi starts early morning between 6:00 am and 6:30 am. After breakfast at your lodge, you will drive to the park headquarters, where the lead guides will be waiting to take you through the morning briefing about what to expect during the trekking exercise. As you gather at the park headquarters, trackers are sent out to check out the last possible location of the gorillas so that by the time you start your trek, you are taking the right track route instead of going on a wild chase. The trackers are always in contact with the guides throughout the trek.

During the briefing, you will be reminded about the rules and regulations you need to follow when trekking gorillas, and you will also be put in groups of 8. The last step of the briefing is assigning groups of 8 to different gorilla families, and after this, all groups head to the trailhead, and the trek starts.

Depending on the location of the gorilla family you have been assigned to, the trek can take 30 minutes to 6 hours. Throughout the trek, you will be able to see different bird species and primates, enjoying all that the jungle has to offer. After finding the gorilla family you have been assigned to, you have an hour with the gorillas. After the hour is up, you trek back to the park headquarters, where a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking is awarded to each trekker. The rest of the day depends on the details of your itinerary.

The cost of gorilla trekking in Uganda

The cost of the gorilla trekking safari in Uganda is determined by a number of factors, with accommodation and transport being the main factors. Transport costs always help determine the cost of the gorilla safari because they include vehicle hire fees, fuel, and driver guide fees. There are two modes of transport used to get to Bwindi and Mgahinga: road and air transport. Driving from Kampala is about 9 to 10 hours and charter flights take 1 1/2 hours from Entebbe to Kisoro or Kihihi airstrip. The transport cost can be reduced when more than two people are sharing the vehicle because the price is then split among all those travelling together.

Accommodation also dramatically affects the cost of the gorilla trek safari in Uganda, and the type of accommodation used will determine how much the price will be. Accommodation is categorized into basic/budget, mid-range, and luxury accommodation facilities. You will be given a choice to choose what you think is best and fits your budget.

The seasons of travel that are dry and wet seasons affect the cost of the gorilla safari in a way that the dry season, also known as the peak season, is an expensive time to travel, You will end up paying more than usual due to the increased number of tourists visiting the country, and the wet/low season is a better time to travel if you are on a budget.

Uganda gorilla trekking rules and regulations

When planning a gorilla trekking experience in Uganda, you need to know that some rules and regulations need rules and regulations must be followed. These were set up by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and other partners to protect the Mountain gorillas that were almost extinct. Ever since the rules were introduced, there has been a steady rise in the Mountain gorilla population. As of 2012, there were about 1064 Mountain gorillas in the world found in three countries that are Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Below is a list of the rules and regulations that gorilla trekkers have to follow while in the forest.

• The age limit for trekking gorillas in Uganda is 12 years because adults are much easier to control than children, and they also easily follow rules and regulations.
• You have to leave at least 7 meters from the gorillas during the one hour you spend with them.
• Only groups of 8 are allowed to trek the gorillas per day, reducing the number of people trekking the gorillas and limiting the spread of diseases.
• Tourists have a maximum of one hour with the primates to protect the gorillas.
• Sick tourists are not allowed to trek the gorillas to protect the primates.
• When you want to cough and sneeze, turn away from the Mountain gorillas, cover your mouth,, and ensure the gorillas are well protected.
• No one is allowed to touch and feed the gorillas.
• Ensure you do not smoke, eat, and drink when with the gorillas.
• Keep the national parks safe by not littering, taking all the rubbish with you, digging a hole 30 cm deep to use as a toilet, and covering it up after use.
• As you take photos, make sure that the flash is off because flash photography is prohibited in both Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks.

Packing right for the gorilla safari in Uganda

The essentials that need to be packed for a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda include neutral-colored long-sleeved shirts and trousers (avoid brightly colored clothes and colors of blue, black, white, and camouflaged clothes), gardening gloves, hike boots (these should be knee length, light-weight and robust), thick socks, warm sweater, rain jacket or windbreaker, a day backpack, sunscreen, a sun hat, insect repellent, a camera, binoculars, first aid kit, snacks, foldable, refillable water bottle, valid documents like a passport and visa, travel insurance and a flashlight among others.

The best time to book the gorilla permits in 2024-2026

Gorilla trek permits need to be booked in advance, and the advisable time is 6 to 12 months before the trek date for proper planning. All you need to do is send us your details about you, like, trek dates, date of birth, passport number, full names, and the amount of permits you wish to purchase. We will be able to book and purchase the permit for you on your behalf. The permits sell pretty fast, and booking early is the best option.

Contact us for more information about the gorilla trek permits and a gorilla safari in Uganda. We have tailored gorilla trips throughout the year and have an experienced team that is passionate about what they do, and the main aim is to make sure that our clients' needs are met.