New Uganda Guidelines for Gorillas and Chimp Permits Bookings

Are you planning to book your trip to Uganda to visit the Mountain Gorillas and chimpanzees, Uganda government through Uganda Wildlife Authority has now resolved to revert to the old guidelines as well as make some changes or introduce the New Uganda Guidelines for Gorillas and Chimp Permits bookings. Below are the key changes;

• Gorilla and Chimp permits are sold to only tour operators licensed by Uganda Tourism Board
• For booking for a permit where the tracking date is within 6 months, a full payment of 100% should be made.
• For booking for a permit where the tracking date is beyond months, a deposit of 50% of the value of the permit may be made.
• Where a deposit has been made, the balance of 50% shall be paid within 90 Days to the tracking date.
• Where the balance has not been paid within 90 Days to the tracking dates, the permit shall be automatically canceled and client shall forfeit the deposit.
• The minimum age is 12 for both gorillas and chimpanzees. (Therefore no more under-age tracking requests)
• For online reservations, payment has to be completed within 72 hours.
• Reschedule requests have to be made within 14 days to the tracking date or be subjected to 25% surcharge.
• The new tracking dates for all rescheduled permits shall be within a period of twelve months from the initial booked tracking date.
• Only one free reschedule is allowed. From 2^nd reschedule onwards, surcharge is 25% of permit value.
• Reschedule of complementary permits is not allowed.
• A downgrade of habituation to normal tracking is not allowed.
• Advance payments made for entrance and park activities shall not be eligible for rescheduling, cancellation and refund except for Gorilla and chimpanzee tracking.
• Funds paid for an activity shall not be transferred or utilized for another activity.

How to book Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee permits?

New Uganda Guidelines for Gorillas and Chimp Permits Bookings. Booking gorilla and Chimpanzee permits can be done directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority or through a Trusted Local tour operator Eco Adventure Safaris, once you have your planned dates of travel confirmed we will need you to send us an email at info@ecoadventuresafaris.com we check for availability of gorilla habituation permits online with the Uganda Wildlife Authority once we confirm permits are available for your planned dates we will let you know so that we can send you an invoice for you to make payment for the permits. Once the payment is done and we have received it on our account we will go ahead and purchase your permits immediately and send you a scanned copy of the permits for your records and perusal, this will confirm you are booked for Gorilla Trekking Experience in Bwindi Forest National Park. Booking permit for gorilla trekking is advised to book your Gorilla permits in advance at least 2-3 months prior your visit given the fact few permits are available per day and sell out very quickly on first come first serve basis.

Cost and Getting Gorilla permits in Uganda

The Uganda Wildlife Authority gorilla permits in Uganda Costs $700 Per person per trek for the Foreign nonresidents, $600 Per person for residents and $70 for East African Citizens (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi and South Sudan), this gives you an opportunity to spend one hour encounter with the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Uganda has 17 habituated gorilla family groups with 16 found in Bwindi and 1 in Mgahinga this means 136 Gorilla permits are available every day for gorilla trekking in Uganda. Gorilla trekking in Uganda also gives you an option to spend more time with the mountain gorillas through Gorilla habituation experience which is only done in Bwindi forest, gorilla habituation permits costs $1500 per person giving you an opportunity to spend 4 hours encountering with the semi habituated mountain gorillas under the guidance of trackers and researchers as opposed to one hour for the normal trekking. Getting gorilla permits in Uganda can be done directly by booking them through Uganda Wildlife Authority or through a trusted tour operator in Uganda like Eco Adventure Safaris Limited.

Cost and Getting Chimpanzee permits in Uganda

The cost of chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park depends on days to spend and places where to stay on your safari to Kibale National Park for this activity. A chimpanzee trekking permit costs $200 for a foreign non-resident, $150 for a resident and 150,000 Uganda Shilling for the East African Citizen per person per trek, this permit gives you an opportunity to spend 1 hour encounter with the habituated chimpanzees in Kibale National Park. On top of the permit you will also pay other services for a successful chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park which include transport, accommodation and guiding.

What is the age limit for Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda?

The minimum age limit for Gorilla Trekking is 12 years and the maximum age depends on fitness levels. Gorilla trekking for elders is now made possible especially in Bwindi forest through provision of sedan chair carriers, these chairs are used to carry those who feel unfit and are unable to walk into the forest at the time of their trek, you will be carried by potters to and from the forest during your trek, hiring the sedan chair can done in advance or at the day of the trek and price ranges from 400-500 dollars.

What is the best time for Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda?

Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is done throughout the year and the best time is during the drier months of January, February, June to early September, this is makes it easier to travel to the park and gives a clear view of gorillas given the vegetation cover is not too much high grown.

What to pack for Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda?

During gorilla and chimpanzee tracking you will need a comfortable, hard wearing, pair of walking shoes or boots.  Conditions are generally very muddy in the forest when it is raining. There are uphill sections which may be quite steep and strenuous.  It is also advisable to wear a long sleeve cotton shirt and lightweight long trousers to protect yourself from the undergrowth, stinging nettles and biting ants.  Suggested Items to pack for Gorilla and chimp trekking;

• Insect Repellent                      

• Torch/Flashlight – and Spare Batteries

• Wet Wipes                             

• Water Bottle                              

• Camera, lenses etc

• Comfortable walking/hiking boots & socks       

• Gardening gloves for gorilla tracking

• Sandals/strops/walking shoes    

• Hat and Sunscreen

• Rain Jacket

• Sweater/fleece

• Swimwear

• Binoculars (game/bird watching)

How to get to Bwindi Forest National Park

By Road; The southern sector of Bwindi Forest National Park can be accessed through the main safari circuit from Entebbe/Kampala which approximately 8-9 hours drive. You will need to turn off at Muko along the Kabale-Kisoro road you will see the sign post of Uganda Wildlife Authority which you will follow upto to your booked lodge for accommodation in either Rushaga or Nkuringo sector.

By Air; You can fly from Entebbe International Airport or Kampala’s Kajjansi airfield to Kisoro airstrip to access the southern sectors of Rushaga and Nkuringo. Scheduled and chartered flights are available and operated by domestic airline operators of Aero link and Fly Uganda. You will need to plan with your tour operator for a transfer from the airstrip to the Park

Why book gorilla and chimpanzee permits and tours through Eco Adventure Safaris?

At Eco Adventure Safaris we provide personalized service with the utmost dedication to the safety and enjoyment of our clients. We are committed to the well-being of our staff and guests as well as to having a positive impact on the communities and wild places that our operations reach. On all our operations and safaris, we embrace the environmental ethic “Take Nothing but Photographs, Leave Only Footprints” all our packages are eco-friendly. Contact us here about the New Uganda Guidelines for Gorillas and Chimp Permits bookings.