Gorilla Permit Uganda | Uganda Gorilla Trekking Permit For Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

A Uganda gorilla permit is a ticket that allows one to go gorilla trekking in Uganda‘s gorilla safari destinations of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

When gorilla trekking was introduced to Uganda in 1993, it was limited to a single habituated group at Buhoma. Today, by contrast, 19 fully habituated gorilla families/groups in Bwindi National Park can be tracked from four different sites in Bwindi (4 from Buhoma, 4 from Ruhija, 8 from Rushaga, and 3 from Ruhija).

Eight (8) gorilla trekking permits are issued per gorilla group daily (currently 6 during this COVID-19 period).

This means that 152 gorilla permits in Uganda are available daily (and only 114 during this coronavirus period).

How Much Are Gorilla Permits in Uganda?

Uganda gorilla trekking permit fees are as follows:

Rates include a guide fee, park entrance fees for the day and community development contributions. It doesn’t include accommodation, ground transport or meals.

How do I get a gorilla permit in Uganda?

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), a government agency in charge of managing tourism and wildlife conservation, issues gorilla permits in Uganda.

If you are in Uganda, the most straightforward option is to visit the UWA headquarters (Kira Road, Kampala) in person and book a permit there.

If booking from abroad, you could contact UWA through email or do an online booking. However, this can be a hit-and-miss process.

The more efficient approach is to get a reliable, locally based tour operator to book a permit on your behalf. Most tour operators include a gorilla permit as part of the overall cost of a gorilla safari.

If you are booking the permit yourself, don’t leave Kampala or Entebbe unless you have paid the permit in full and seen a confirmation of booking.

When should I book a Uganda gorilla permit?

Book at least six months ahead of time to ensure availability. If you are in Uganda and you want to track gorillas, it may be possible to obtain unsold permits for trailheads other than Buhoma in the shoulder season (March, June, October) and often quite easy in  the low season (April, May, November).