How to Book a Gorilla Permit in Uganda and Rwanda.

Book a gorilla permit in Uganda and Rwanda. Booking a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is one of the frequently asked questions by many tourists planning to experience a Uganda gorilla safari. A gorilla permit in Uganda is a card or document that allows you access to the gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda or Rwanda.

There are two gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda, namely, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Whilst there is one gorilla safari destination in Rwanda called Volcanoes National Park, also known as “Parc National Des Volcano.”

Once you purchase a gorilla permit in Uganda or Rwanda, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) permits you to spend one hour with the Mountain Gorilla Family. During this one hour, you are free to take photos with the gorillas, learn, and enjoy more about their interesting behavioral lifestyle in the jungle.

It is important to note that the gorilla trekking permit can only be obtained through a fully registered local tour company in either Uganda or Rwanda, or by getting in touch directly with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in the case of Uganda. If you want a Rwanda gorilla trekking permit, then contact the Tourism Board (RTB).

What Is The Best Way To Book a Gorilla Trekking Permit In Uganda Or Rwanda?

Book a gorilla permit in Uganda and Rwanda. It is much easier and faster to book a gorilla trekking permit through a registered local safari company or tour company since it will take you less time compared to booking with the Uganda Wildlife Authority or Rwanda Tourism Board because they tend to be busy attending to many people at their office; thus, it takes long to respond to emails and phone calls.

Another great benefit of booking with a local tour company is that they are well equipped with knowledge about gorilla safaris and the various gorilla families, plus the clear knowledge of the community around and the country, and they always know where to find good, cheaper places for both food and accommodation in all safari destinations.

Prior to this, the Local Tour Company can assist you to book your accommodation booking for your stay throughout the entire safari free of charge or at a small fee.

Local safari companies also go an extra mile as travel consultants to give wonderful recommendations in case you plan to have an extended or tailor-made Uganda safari or a combined Uganda and Rwanda safari/road trip experience. In this note, feel free to get in touch with Jeisking Tours Ltd to assist with your gorilla trekking safari or gorilla permit in Uganda or Rwanda.

However, on the other hand, in case you would love to book your gorilla trekking permit directly with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) as your better option, then proceed to send an email to the Uganda Revenue Authority’s reservation office in Kampala and first inquire about the gorilla permit availability according to your travel dates and dates you would love to trek the gorillas.

If they do not have availability matching your preferred travel dates, don’t hesitate to go ahead and ask them to update you about the nearest available dates so that you can properly plan your Uganda gorilla safari.

What Are the Best Places to Trek Gorillas in Uganda?

Book a gorilla permit in Uganda and Rwanda. As earlier mentioned, there are only two stunning gorilla safari parks in Uganda. Those are Bwindi Forest Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. But since the gorilla families in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are few and not reliable, gorilla trekking in Uganda is best done in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, and the gorilla permits sold in Uganda are for Bwindi Forest.

But at the time of booking your gorilla trekking permit, you can still be specific on which national park you would love to go gorilla trekking in as you make reservations with your tour operator.

About The Gorilla Trekking Safari Experience In Uganda

Book a gorilla permit in Uganda and Rwanda. Before you head out for your gorilla safari experience, you shall be guided on which gorilla family to trek depending on. This depends on your level of fitness. Like in the case of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is graced with about 21 habituated gorilla families, gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest has been made easy since the park is bisected into four gorilla trekking sectors, namely the Buhoma sector in the north, the Ruhija sector in the east, and the Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors in the south.

The most interesting thing about these sectors is that they are all blessed with different habituated gorilla families. And each sector has got its own accommodation lodges/camps that range from budget to midrange to luxury accommodation options.

When Is The Best Time To Book Your Gorilla Trekking Permit In Uganda Or Rwanda?

Book a gorilla permit in Uganda and Rwanda. We do advise tourists to consider booking the Uganda gorilla permits in advance at least 4 to 6 months prior to the dates of travel, though the gorilla permits in Uganda can also be purchased up to two years in advance. Many tourists prefer to go for gorilla trekking safaris in the peak season or high season.

This is also referred to as the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January, and February. On this note, there is always high demand for gorilla permits in the peak season due to many tourists flooding the country; therefore, the earlier you book, the quicker you get a chance for gorilla trekking since the gorilla permits in Uganda tend to get sold out so fast during this dry season.

So if you delay in booking, you may end up missing out on the gorilla trekking experience at that time of the year. Please take note that regardless of whether it’s low season or peak, there are no discounted permits in Uganda; these were abolished in 2017.

What Is The Cost Of a Gorilla Permit?

Book a gorilla permit in Uganda and Rwanda. In Uganda, the cost of a gorilla trekking permit is $800 per person per single trek for foreign international tourists that do not stay particularly in Uganda or in any of the countries in the East African Community.

Foreigners that stay in the partner states of the East African Community are charged $800 per person per single trek, while it is Shs250,000 for the natives that stay in the East African Community. And in Rwanda, the Rwanda Tourism Board charges $1500 per person per single trek for the gorilla trekking permits in the high season, and the country charges $1050 per person in the low season (these are the discounted gorilla permits in Rwanda).

No one can do gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda with the gorilla trekking permit. Therefore, in order to book your gorilla trekking permit, you shall provide your personal details on your passport bearing your name, nationality, passport number, and date of birth. In light of this, you must provide a copy of your passport and identification at the pre-trekking briefing location since gorilla trekking permits cannot be handled by someone else.

Whether you are booking with a local tour company/safari company or directly with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, you shall have to provide full payment for the permits plus dates for trekking, and if you find that the dates that you suggested are already booked, then request your local tour company or safari company or UWA, whoever is organizing your gorilla safari, to book you the nearest dates that suit your gorilla trekking safari.

What Happens After Booking Your Gorilla Permit in Uganda or Rwanda?

Book a gorilla permit in Uganda and Rwanda. After the local tour operator or safari company has booked and paid for your gorilla permits, in a few weeks, the gorilla permit is issued, and finally, the tour operator sends you the scanned copy of your gorilla permit, and on arrival into the country, the safari company representative provides you a hard copy on arrival in the country, and if you booked with the Uganda Wildlife Reservations Office, then you shall have to pick it up from their main offices in Kampala. Your gorilla trekking permit shall have a unique serial number plus all your personal details.

In case you would love to book your gorilla permit in Uganda or Rwanda with us, simply email us or go ahead and fill out our contact form, and we shall respond as soon as we receive your gorilla trekking permit inquiry.