Who Sells Gorilla Trekking Permits in Uganda?

Who Sells Gorilla Trekking Permits in Uganda? Gorilla permits in Uganda are sold by the (UWA) Uganda Wildlife Authority only. UWA is a government body that controls and manages national parks in the country. Uganda gorilla permits are for Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga national park, which harbour mountain gorillas in Uganda. Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has the highest population of mountain gorillas and over 168 gorilla permits, while Mgahinga national park has only 8 gorilla permits. Uganda wildlife sells 168 gorilla permits every day, of which 160 are gorilla trekking permits and 8 are gorilla habituation permits The role of gorilla permits is to enable trekkers to encounter mountain gorillas for 1 hour or 4 hours in their natural habitats.

Considering the sale of gorilla trekking permits in Uganda, travellers who wish to spend one hour with completely habituated mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can obtain a standard gorilla trekking permit; those who like to spend four hours with semi-habituated mountain gorillas can obtain a gorilla habituation permit.

Travellers need to get gorilla permits in order to see mountain gorillas. The cost of these gorilla permits varies depending on the type of traveller. East African nationals, foreign residents, and foreign non-residents must pay varying amounts to the Uganda Wildlife Authority in order to see mountain gorillas. Although the Uganda Wildlife Authority is the sole government agency that distributes gorilla permits for Uganda, tourists can obtain permits on their behalf by working with reputable local tour operators like Journeys Uganda.

How to buy gorilla permits in Uganda from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Travellers must confirm if gorilla permits are available before purchasing one from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Before making a reservation, travellers should acquire the dates of the month and year they wish to visit and send them to the Uganda Wildlife Authority reservation office. They will check your dates to see if permits are still available, and if they are, they will send you an email informing you of the availability. The email will also include the permit fee and various banking details.

You will go to any bank that is okay for you and send the money for the gorilla permit, and after you will email the reservations office a scanned copy of the receipt of payments for confirmation. Your permit will be booked for you, and when you arrive in the country, you will find it at the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices.

However much it’s only the Uganda Wildlife Authority that sells gorilla permits, local tour operators can help by booking them for you at the same fee. Journeys Uganda is one of the local tour companies licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board to book gorilla permits for clients. To book with us, you must contact us via email with the dates of the month and year you want to travel. We shall use this information to check for the availability of gorilla permits with the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

We will send you an email with the various banking information and permit costs as soon as the mountain gorilla permits become available. After sending us the money from the bank, you will email us a scanned copy so we have proof that you made the payment. We will reserve the gorilla permits for you, and you will find them with us when you get to the country.

Does Uganda Wildlife Authority sell permits in installments?

The plan to sell gorilla permits in installments so that people who are unable to pay all at once might do so gradually was approved by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Gorilla payments can now be made by travellers in 30%, 50%, and 70% installments. Travellers who pay in installments will forfeit all of their money if they do not finish the remaining balance three months prior to the gorilla trekking day. Travellers must ask for an extension of the trekking dates if they realise they will not be able to pay the remaining amount three months before the gorilla trekking day.

How much does the Uganda Wildlife Authority sell gorilla permits?

Besides the sale of gorilla trekking permits in Uganda, there are two types of gorilla permits at the Uganda Wildlife Authority: gorilla trekking permits and gorilla habituation permits. Each gorilla trekking permit is sold at $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, and UGX300,000 for citizens of East Africa. The gorilla trekking permits allow trekkers to be around semi-habituated mountain gorillas for 1 hour. Uganda Wildlife Authority sells gorilla habituation permits at a fee of $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 for foreign residents, and UGX750,000 for citizens of East Africa. The gorilla habituation permits enable travellers to be around semi-habituated mountain gorillas for 4 hours while making them get used to human presence around them.

What is the ideal time to buy gorilla permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authority?

Since gorilla permits in Uganda sell out rapidly, reservations should be made three to four months prior to the gorilla trekking date, especially for travellers who are visiting Uganda during the dry season. Additionally, there is little or no rainfall during the dry seasons of June through July and December through February; many tourists desire to visit the parks in that area, which is why gorilla permits sell out so quickly during these periods.