What are the implications of being found tracking gorillas without a permit in Uganda?

Having no gorilla permit but sneaking in to do a gorilla safari in Uganda is punishable as this may end in paying a hefty cost or going to prison. The number of gorilla permits for Uganda was regulated to a maximum of 8 to reduce the effects of mass tourists on the fragile environment where mountain gorillas feed and live. An extra person allowed to join the gorilla trekkers is a burden to the environment and overwhelms the mountain gorillas, too.

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Note that all Uganda gorilla safari permits are sold and regulated by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and they have all the powers to allow you to track the mountain gorilla stop you even though you have a permit. 

If the park wardens know that you were sneaked in to do gorilla trekking or habituation experience without a gorilla permit, then you have to face the penalty slapped on you. Having no gorilla permit but tracking the mountain gorillas means you may not be verified at the ranger station, which is quite dangerous to the mountain gorillas, too, because your intentions are not known as to why you wish to hide your identity.

The journey of mountain gorilla conservation has taken a lot of investments, both monetary and physical, which deserves to be applauded, and so many wildlife conservation bodies, both international and international, celebrate this success. The mountain gorillas were on the verge of extinction by the 1980s as the population then was about 250 mountain gorillas, but now more than 1000 mountain gorillas are living in the world.

Which gorilla permits Can I Book in Uganda?

You can book the gorilla trekking permit or gorilla habituation permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority directly or use the assistance of a tour operator. At Encounter Africa Safaris, we reserve our clients' gorilla permits and other related logistics.

A gorilla trekking permit allows you to spend one hour with fully habituated mountain gorillas. This time was limited to one hour for conservation reasons, as the presence of humans disrupts the day-to-day life of the mountain gorillas. Currently, Uganda has about 194 gorilla trekking permits open to public booking.

The Gorilla Habituation experience permits you to accompany a team of researchers to spend four hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family. These mountain gorillas still possess odd behavior, so you must follow the rules researchers give. Currently, 16 gorilla habituation permits are open for public booking in Uganda.

Why Book A Uganda Gorilla Permit?

Booking the gorilla permit in Uganda is the only confirmation that you are to do gorilla trekking or habituation. Nobody without a gorilla permit can attend the gorilla safari because, on the trekking day, you hand in the gorilla permit and other documents to be verified. Doing gorilla safaris in Uganda is a once-in-a-lifetime African safari adventure. You get the opportunity to be just a few meters from the only living mountain gorillas in the world,

The cost of the gorilla permit covers items like mountain gorilla conservation, ranger guide fees, park entrance fees, and much more. Some of the funds collected from the sale of gorilla permits are used to support the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

The local community needs to get on board in the journey to sustainable mountain gorilla conservation. Through the purchase of Uganda gorilla permits, a portion of the annual proceeds accrued from the sale of gorilla permits is given back to the local community to support their projects. Sometimes, the mountain gorillas stray into the community and feast on people's crops, so harmony needs to be created.

How Much Is A Uganda Gorilla Permit?

Uganda Gorilla trekking cost

Until 30th June 2024, the Uganda gorilla trekking permit costs $700 for international nonresidents, $600 for international residents, and 250000shs for East Africans. 

As per Uganda Wildlife Authority notice, the cost of Uganda gorilla trekking permits from 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2026 will be $800 for foreign nonresidents, $700 for international residents, African residents $500, and 300000shs for East Africans.

The cost of a Uganda gorilla trekking permit covers park entrance fees, ranger guides, one hour with the mountain gorillas, security, certificate, mountain gorilla conservation, community support, government tax, and others.

Exclusions in the cost of Uganda gorilla permit: porter hire, accommodation, transport, and other personal expenses.

Gorilla Habituation Permit cost

A Uganda gorilla habituation permit costs $1500 per person per trek for foreign nonresidents, $1000 for foreign residents, $1000 for other African residents, and 750,000 for East Africans.

The gorilla habituation permit cost covers the researcher fee, four hours with the mountain gorillas, park entrance fees, certificate, security, mountain gorilla conservation, local community support, government tax, and others.

Is the cost of the Uganda gorilla permit worth the safari?

The cost of a Uganda gorilla permit is worth the money because it is the only opportunity to be just a few meters from the mountain gorillas, some of the survivors of the arid conditions that hit Africa. 

Mountain gorillas live only in the Virunga area of Uganda, Rwanda, and D.R. Congo and nowhere else. They can only survive in this area. 

When you purchase the gorilla permit, you contribute to the funds supporting mountain gorilla conservation. The journey of mountain gorilla conservation roots back to the 1980s when about 250 mountain gorillas were recorded as living in the entire world. However, thanks to conservation, the number of mountain gorillas worldwide is about 1000. 

During gorilla safari, you may hire a porter to carry your gorilla tour gear, which is one of the direct ways to give back to the local people. Most of the porters are reformed poachers who have resorted to helping tourists. This is one of the ways to sensitize the community about the relevancy of mountain gorillas and their habitat in their midst. 

Can I Pay for A Uganda Gorilla Permit in Instalment?

Uganda Wildlife Authority accepts installment gorilla permit purchases of 30% and 70%, but only if you purchase the gorilla permit 90 days before the trekking date and top-up 90 days before the trekking day. If you fail to honor the update, your gorilla permit will be re-opened to the public without you being notified.

To avoid forgetting to top up your gorilla permit, it is best to purchase the permit in full.

Can I Reschedule The Uganda Gorilla Permit?

You can reschedule your Uganda gorilla permit if you follow the procedure given by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. If you notice that you might not make it on the pre-booked date for your gorilla tour but hope to travel in the future, the chance of rescheduling it is available.

Write to the Uganda Wildlife Authority reservation office requesting to move your gorilla permit to a future date. State the date and attach evidence to support your request if you have any. The date you reschedule your gorilla permit must be within the same year for which it was booked.

Upon approving your gorilla permit rescheduled date, it is moved as per the prevailing status of gorilla permit availability.

What is the age limit for booking Gorilla Permits in Uganda?

Fifteen years and over is the age limit for booking gorilla permits in Uganda. The age is 15 years and over, but they must be in the company of a guardian or parent.

The nature of the topography of Bwindi and Mgahinga forests is rugged, resulting from the effects of volcanic action in this area, so children aged 15 and over may be capable of completing this trek. Mountain gorillas, at a glance, look scary, which may be hard to contain for children below 15 years. 

In case you have children on the gorilla tour, you need to brief them about what to expect when they come face to face with the mountain gorillas so that they know this upfront. Take them through the rules of gorilla safari so as not to get shocked on the actual day.

What Is The Duration Of The Gorilla Safaris In Uganda?

The duration of the Uganda gorilla safaris varies with what is happening in the wilderness. Some tourists have traced the mountain gorillas in two hours, while others have spent more than three-quarters of the day. No matter the time you get to see the mountain gorillas, being just meters from the mountain gorillas brings a cold down your spine.

The mountain gorillas are mesmerizing and may look like those relatives living in the jungle. Mountain gorillas have about 96% human DNA. Their lives are similar to what humans do daily. It is straightforward to see a resemblance in them to what you do daily. Many tourists want to stay after locating the mountain gorillas because every activity they do is exciting. After all, it is organic and not choreographed.

 Searching for mountain gorillas may be prolonged or shortened by factors happening in the wilderness, like weather conditions of the day, the death of a family member, hierarchy fights, the pace of other trekkers, and much more.

When you locate the mountain gorillas, only one hour is allowed with them so they can be left alone to carry on with their daily life. Human presence disrupts the running of the mountain gorillas' everyday life, yet they have to feed enough to support them through the day and night.

Are mountain gorillas dangerous?

Mountain gorillas are not aggressive, though physically; they look intimidating. On the outside, mountain gorillas have dark-furred bodies, dark brown sunken eyes, huge body sizes, and use knuckle locomotion. This may scare onlookers at a glance, but you have to hold it so as not to appear suspicious before these mountain gorillas.

Mountain gorillas are serene and calm. In the history of gorilla safaris, they have never attacked anybody; however, they can also charge when provoked.

When agitated, mountain gorillas thump their chests, hoot, retreat into the deeper ends of the park, and much more. Upon witnessing such odd behavior, do not panic because you will escalate the situation. Wait for the range guide to establish the root cause of the matter and find a solution. 

Sometimes, the mountain gorillas are just having fun or teasing you, have family issues, have been attacked by gorillas from another family, and much more. Instead of causing more harm, follow the instructions given by the ranger guides.

What Are The Rules Of Gorilla Safaris In Uganda?

• Only one hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas during gorilla trekking and four during gorilla habituation experience.
• Wear a clean facemask when you find the mountain gorillas, and sanitize your safari boots before entering the Volcanoes National Park. This was adopted after the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent any chances of spreading these germs to the mountain gorillas.
• Never surround the mountain gorillas when you locate them. Remain in a tight group so that they do not feel ambushed by your presence.
• Keep a distance of about 8 meters from the mountain gorillas when you locate them. This is another preventive measure to avoid spreading any infection to these primates.
• Using flash photography is forbidden as it may scare the mountain gorillas. 
• Never smoke or eat 200 meters from the mountain gorillas because they may grab it, and yet they are wild animals that must search for their food and not depend on human provision.
• Burry all human fecal materials in a hole of about 30 centimeters. Burry beyond recognition because the forest dwellers may exhume it.
• Spitting on vegetation contaminates it, so keep the food safe for the mountain gorillas by not spitting on it.
• Children aged 15 and over are allowed to do gorilla tours in Uganda.

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