The Best time to book Uganda Gorilla Permits

Booking Uganda Gorilla permits is a crucial step in planning your gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda and the Best time to book Uganda Gorilla Permits at least 3-6 months before your desired trekking date. The permits are in high demand, and availability can be limited, so it’s important to plan ahead. Here are some tips for finding the best time to book Uganda Gorilla permits:

1. Book in Advance:
   • Gorilla permits in Uganda should be booked well in advance, ideally at least 3-6 months before your desired trekking date.
   • High-demand months, like June to September and December to February, tend to sell out quickly. Therefore, booking early is advisable.
2. Avoid Peak Season:
   • If you have some flexibility in your travel dates, consider avoiding the peak tourist seasons, as permit availability may be limited during these times.
   • Peak seasons in Uganda generally coincide with the dry seasons, which are from June to September and December to February.
3. Consider Shoulder or Low Seasons:
   • Shoulder seasons, which are the months just before or after the peak tourist season, may offer more availability at times that are still suitable for gorilla trekking.
   • These seasons include March to May and October to November. Prices might be lower, and there may be fewer tourists.
4. Check with Tour Operators:
   • Many visitors choose to book gorilla permits through tour operators or travel agencies, as they can help secure permits as part of a larger package.
   • Tour operators often have better insights into permit availability and can advise you on the best times to book.
5. Be Flexible:
   • If your travel dates are not set in stone, be flexible with your plans. Having alternative dates or being open to last-minute opportunities can increase your chances of obtaining permits.
6. Be Prepared to Pay:
   • Gorilla permits in Uganda can be relatively expensive, and the price may vary depending on the season. Be prepared for the cost and make sure it aligns with your budget.

Remember that the demand for Uganda Gorilla permits can be high, so early planning and flexibility with your travel dates can increase your chances of securing permits for your preferred trekking date.

What is a Gorilla permit?

Gorilla Permits are identifications in the form of documents with different booking Identification numbers that are offered by a governing body to allow a tourist to access gorilla National Parks and be able to visit gorillas. This identification number shows that one has been authorized to visit a given national park for gorilla trekking. In Uganda, gorilla permits are offered by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, in Rwanda by the Rwanda Development Board and Congo by Virunga National Park.

The Best time to book Uganda Gorilla Permits. Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda should be booked 3 to 6 months in advance before the trekking date because they are competitive and get sold out quickly especially during the dry season also known as the peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. There are 194 gorilla permits available per day in Uganda each family is visited by 8 people.

How & Where To Buy Gorilla Permits in Uganda?

Buying Uganda gorilla permits, once you have your planned dates of travel confirmed we will need you to send us an email at info@ecoadventuresafaris.com so that we check for the 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.

Where is Gorilla Trekking Done in Africa?

Gorilla Trekking is done in Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo which host the four national parks that are home the only remaining mountain gorillas. These include Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in Congo. In Congo you as well have an opportunity to see the Lowland gorillas which are found in Kahuzi Beiga National Park. In order to trek at any of the mentioned national park a gorilla permit is required for you to be allowed to go for gorilla trekking. With this once you have you planned dates of gorilla trekking we recommend you start booking your gorilla trip immediately given the fact services and permits sell out very quickly especially if you plan to do the trek in the peak season of June to September, it is always better to book atleast 5 months in advance prior travelling. Gorilla Trekking at the mentioned parks can be booked directly or through a trusted Tour Operator Eco Adventure Safaris.

Cost and Getting Gorilla permits in Uganda

The Gorilla permit in Uganda Costs $800 Per person per trek for the Foreign nonresidents, $700 Per person for residents and $82 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. 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 encounter 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 the Uganda Wildlife Authority or through a trusted tour operator in Uganda like Eco Adventure Safaris Limited.

What is the age limit for Gorilla 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 Trekking in Uganda?

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is done throughout the year and the best time to do a gorilla trekking in Africa 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 Trekking in Uganda?

During gorilla 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 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

Booking your Uganda gorilla permits 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 Best time to book Uganda Gorilla Permits