Where and how to buy gorilla permits in Uganda

Where and how to buy gorilla permits in Uganda, there are currently around 152 gorilla trekking permits available per day in Uganda. These are split between the habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for gorilla trekking in Uganda. For those interested in spending much more time with the gorillas in Uganda you can do gorilla habituation experience a 4-hour encounter with the gorillas in their natural habitat in Biwndi, for habituation there are only 4 gorilla permits available per day.

Many questions are usually asked on how to book gorilla permits for Uganda? Where and how to buy gorilla permits in Uganda, Purchasing gorilla permits? Gorilla permits booking information, how can I purchase a gorilla permit, where can I buy permits in Uganda and Rwanda, what is the best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda. In our Gorilla Permit Booking Information, we answer all these question, you will need to have your gorilla permit secured in advanced to confirm that you are booked for Gorilla Trekking Uganda in Bwindi Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Where and how to buy gorilla permits in Uganda, Gorilla Permits in Uganda are purchased from Uganda Wildlife Authority in Kampala these can be secured directly by yourself or through a local trust worthy Uganda tour operator.

How to book gorilla permits in Uganda?

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 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. It 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

Where and how to buy gorilla permits in Uganda, The Gorilla permit 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 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 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 15 years and the maximum age is 85 years depending 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.

Gorilla Permit cancellation penalties and policy in Uganda

To go for gorilla tracking you are required to have a gorilla permit, with this it is preferred that an one who books a gorilla permit should be able to utilize it for the trek on a given date, Gorilla permit cancellations penalties and policy in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo are the same when you fail to make it to the date of the trek from 0 to 8 days, to the day of tracking and with this you don’t get the refund for the permits. For the last 6 months gorilla permits cancellation policies have changed a lot due to the outbreak of Corona Virus which has forced both countries to relax the cancellation policies, in Uganda all gorilla treks that were affected by the pandemic have been given an opportunity to changed their dates of trekking twice up to 2022 December. Contact us here for details.

What is the best time for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?

Gorilla trekking in 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)

Four Hour Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda

Are you interested in spending much more time with the Mountain Gorillas, then booking Gorilla Habituation Experience is the right choice for you, this safari gives you an opportunity to visit the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable forest National park and spend more time with them while in the forest during the encounter once you find them during your trek. A Gorilla Habituation Experience Safari is one of the unique safaris for any traveler visiting Uganda for gorilla tracking given the fact you can only find this experience in Uganda among the other two countries with the remaining endangered mountain gorillas that is Rwanda and DR Congo.

Eco Adventure Safaris is ready to plan and book for you a memorable Gorilla Habituation Experience Safari, we have various Gorilla Habituation Experience safari packages available that you can choose from ranging from budget, mid-range to luxury, these can as well be customized to best match your interests and plans, send us an email and we will guide and book for you accordingly.

Our Popular Gorilla Habituation Safari packages

4 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorillas

6 Days Gorillas and Wildlife Safari

7 Days Uganda Gorillas and Wildlife Tour

20 Days Birds and Gorillas in Ugandan Forests

What is Gorilla Habituation Experience?

Gorilla Habituation Experience is a gorilla activity that involves trekking/walking and hiking through the forest to search for semi-habituated mountain gorillas which leave together in a given gorilla family group but are not used to human presence, once you find them you will participate in activities geared to making these mountain gorillas get used to human presence. Gorilla Habituation Experience gives you an opportunity to spend much time with the mountain gorillas that is four hours encounter different from the one-hour encounter during the normal gorilla tracking. This experience is unique given the fact it gives you an opportunity to learn more about mountain gorillas. It is done is a group of 4 visitors tracking a given semi-habituated gorilla group.

Where is Gorilla Habituation Experience done?

Gorilla Habituation Experience is only done in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda. It is done in the southern sectors of Bwindi that is Rushaga and Nkuringo. Bwindi has 4 major sectors for gorilla tracking which include Ruhija, Buhoma, Rushaga and Nkuringo, gorilla habituation experience is only done in two sectors that is Rushaga and Nkuringo. With 12 gorilla families habituated for normal tracking in Bwindi it is only 2 gorilla families that are open for Gorilla Habituation experience in Bwindi.

Difference between Gorilla Habituation Experience and Gorilla tracking

Gorilla Habituation Experience and Gorilla tracking are both done in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, the difference is during Gorilla Habituation Experience you spend much more time with the mountain gorillas that is 4 hours while for gorilla tracking you spend 1 hour encounter with the mountain gorillas. On Gorilla Habituation you visit the mountain gorillas in a group of 4 people and for gorilla tracking in a group of 8 people. A gorilla habituation permit costs USD1500 for foreign non residents, USD1000 for residents and 750,000 Uganda Shillings for East African Citizens while a gorilla tracking permit costs USD700 for foreign non residents, USD600 for foreign residents and 250,000 Uganda shillings per person per trek.

Steps to book a Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda

Where and how to buy gorilla permits in Uganda, You will need to have your gorilla habituation permit secured in advanced to confirm that you are booked for Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Forest National Park. Once you have your planned dates of travel confirmed we will need you to send us an email here so that 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 Habituation Experience in Bwindi Forest National Park. It is advised to book your Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda in advance atleast 2-3 months prior your visit given the fact it is only 4 people who go for gorilla habituation per group, they are two groups available making the gorilla habituation permits limited to 8 permits per day and sell out very quickly on first come first serve basis.

How much is a Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda?

The Gorilla habituation permit price shares a much more cost for any Gorilla Habituation Experience Safari in Uganda on top of other services like transport, accommodation and guiding. A gorilla habituation permit costs USD1500 for the Foreign nonresident, USD1000 for the Foreign resident and USD70 (750,000 Uganda Shilling) for the East African Citizen per person per trek, this gorilla habituation permit gives you an opportunity to spend 4 hours encounter with the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest National Park.  On top of the gorilla habituation permit you will also pay other services for a successful gorilla trekking safari which include transport, accommodation and guiding. Our 4 Days Uganda Rwanda Gorillas cost starts from USD1272 per person. Contact us here and we will book for you according.

What is the best time to book a Gorilla Habituation Experience Safari?

Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda is best done in the months of June to October and December to March during this time it is a dry season in Uganda with mild rainfall making it easy for the treks in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, as well during this time the vegetation is not fully grown and it is easy for viewing the mountain gorillas offering great sights for photographs. During the other months of April, May and November which is normally a wet season this makes the vegetation grow high making the sightings unclear however during this time the treks tend to be shorter given the fact mountain gorillas don’t move further distances looking for food, food is readily available. Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda can be done throughout the year given the fact it is a very well organized activity and you have 99% chances of seeing the mountain gorillas.

Where to stay during your Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi

Gorilla Habituation Experience is done in the southern part of Bwindi Forest National Park, with this it is recommended to stay at this part of the park. Accommodation in the southern part of Bwindi Forest National park ranges from Budget options include Rusgaha Gorilla Havens Lodge, Karungi Camp, Nshogi Camp among others these cost USD90-100 per person per night, mid-range include Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge among others these cost USD150-200 per person per night, Luxury options include Four Gorillas Lodge, Clouds Gorilla Lodge and Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge these cost USD250-700 per person per night.

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 with Eco Adventure Safaris your Gorilla Permits.

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. During your travel Post-Covid safety and health of our clients will be our major priority and we shall ensure all our service providers and workers implement the SOPs and healthy guidelines set for the safety and health of clients and services providers while on safari. Contact us here about Where and how to buy gorilla permits in Uganda