How to acquire a Gorilla permit: Everything You Need to Know About Booking Gorilla Permits

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that offers a unique opportunity to encounter the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. However, before embarking on this adventure, it’s essential to understand the process of booking gorilla permits, which are required for access to these magnificent creatures. In this guide, we’ll provide you with all the crucial information you need to know about booking gorilla permits.

What Are Gorilla Permits?

Gorilla perare official documents issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) that allow visitors to participate in gorilla trekking activities within designated national parks. These permits are vital for ensuring the conservation of mountain gorillas, as they limit the number of visitors and generate revenue to support ongoing conservation efforts. Without a permit, you cannot legally join a gorilla trekking expedition.

Where to Book Gorilla Permits

Booking gorilla permits can be done in several ways, each with its own set of advantages. The most direct method is through the Uganda Wildlife Authority. You can contact them via email or phone to check the availability of permits and make a reservation. Additionally, permits can be booked through registered tour operators, which is often the most convenient option for international travelers. These operators can bundle your permit with a complete trekking package, including accommodation, transportation, and guided tours.

How Much Do Gorilla Permits Cost?

The cost of booking gorilla permits varies. During the high season, which runs from June to September and December to February, permits are more expensive due to higher demand. As of 2024, the price for foreign non-residents is USD 800 per person, per trek. However, during the low season (March to May and October to November), discounts may be available, and the price could drop to USD 700. Ugandan citizens and East African residents benefit from lower rates, making gorilla trekking more accessible to locals.

When to Book Your Gorilla Permit

Given the popularity of gorilla trekking in Uganda, it is highly advisable to book your gorilla permit well in advance. Ideally, you should aim to secure your permit at least six months before your intended travel date, especially if you’re planning to trek during the high season. This advanced booking ensures that you secure a spot on your desired trekking date and avoid disappointment, as permits are limited and can sell out quickly.

What Information Is Required When Booking Gorilla Permits?

When booking gorilla permits, you’ll need to provide specific information to the issuing authority or your tour operator. This includes your full name, nationality, passport number, and the preferred date of your trek. It’s also important to have a flexible schedule, as the availability of permits may require you to adjust your travel dates slightly. Once the permit is booked, you will receive a confirmation with details of your trek, including the allocated gorilla family you will visit.

Rules and Regulations for Gorilla Trekking

When booking gorilla permits, it’s essential to be aware of the rules and regulations governing gorilla trekking. These guidelines are in place to protect both the gorillas and the visitors. For instance, only eight people are allowed to visit a single gorilla family per day. This limitation minimizes the impact on the gorillas and ensures a more intimate and less intrusive experience for trekkers. Additionally, visitors must maintain a distance of at least 7 meters from the gorillas to prevent the transmission of diseases.

What Happens If You Need to Cancel or Reschedule?

Life is unpredictable and sometimes plans change. If you need to cancel or reschedule your gorilla trek, it’s crucial to understand the policies regarding permit refunds or transfers. Booking gorilla permits is generally non-refundable, but under certain circumstances, such as medical emergencies, partial refunds, or date changes may be allowed. It’s advisable to discuss these options with the Uganda Wildlife Authority or your tour operator at the time of booking to avoid any surprises.

Conclusion

Booking gorilla permits is a critical step in planning your unforgettable gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda. By securing your permit early, understanding the costs, and familiarizing yourself with the rules, you ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-time visitor, the magic of encountering mountain gorillas in the wild is an experience that will stay with you forever.

By carefully planning and following the tips outlined above, you can make the process of booking gorilla permits straightforward and stress-free, paving the way for an extraordinary adventure in the heart of Africa.

2024-2025 gorilla permit booking information.

Gorilla permit booking; For those interested in trekking the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda, Katland Safaris provides accurate information on how to book gorilla permits for 2024-2025. To reserve a viewing area for the gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda, one must first get a gorilla permit.

For Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, the Uganda Wildlife Authority is responsible for giving licenses for gorilla tracking. In contrast, permits to visit Volcanoes National Park to see gorillas are handed out by the Rwanda Development Board.

Rates for gorilla permits in 2024 and 2025

To keep you informed about the cost of gorilla permits for the years 2024 and 2025, we have compiled the following booking information. Permits to hike with mountain gorillas cost $1500 USD in Rwanda and $800 USD in Uganda.

In 2024, Rwanda opted to raise the price of gorilla permits, while Uganda has chosen not to do the same. The aforementioned alterations are likely to increase tourism to Uganda from Rwanda as a result of the former’s lower prices.

A gorilla permit for either Volcanoes National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park includes an hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family, the services of a qualified ranger or guide from the Uganda Wildlife Authority who will accompany you into the forest to search for or trek mountain gorillas, security throughout your time in the forest, and park fees for either park.

The fees for gorilla permits in Rwanda and Uganda do not include transportation to and from Bwindi, Mgahinga, or Volcanoes National Parks, lodging, or any other extra activities. For information on the inclusions and exclusions of a gorilla permit, please get in touch with Katland Safaris.

When can I schedule my gorilla permit for 2024 and 2025?

Among the most anticipated tourist pursuits globally is gorilla trekking. In 2024 and 2025, many are considering vacations in Rwanda and Uganda to go gorilla trekking. A gorilla permit should ideally be booked three months in advance.

This is due to the fact that gorilla permits are reserved for certain days. If you want to be sure that your preferred dates are available and that you can get your gorilla permit for your all-inclusive safari with Katland Safaris, then get in touch with us well in advance.

How to Order Gorilla Permits for the Years 2024–2025

Anyone may reserve a permit to see gorillas. To reserve a gorilla permit for the 2019–2020 season in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, you must get in touch with the respective wildlife authorities.

Send them an email or give them a phone and provide the dates (month, year) that you would like to go gorilla trekking; they will then verify availability and guide how to proceed. Because of the red tape associated with interacting with African government institutions, this procedure may be frustrating at times.

For this reason, a lot of visitors would rather work with tour companies who can arrange for their gorilla permits on their own. In 2024 and 2025, when you book an all-inclusive gorilla safari with us, we will handle the gorilla permit for you.

Contact Katland Safaris by email for more information on how to book a gorilla permit for the years 2024 and 2025.

trek gorillas twice and save USD300

Discounted gorilla permits offer to be scrapped off.

After almost three years of operation, the Uganda Wildlife Authority is planning to end the sale of low season gorilla permits. Once the tariffs are in place, the discounted gorilla permits that have been offered during the off-season months of April, May, and November will likely come to an end.

So, we’ll have to hold off until these tariffs are lifted. At a consultation meeting between the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Association of Uganda Tour Operators, a representative from the latter organization disclosed this.

Sale on gorilla permits to be canceled for many reasons

Because to Rwanda’s decision to raise the price of gorilla permits from USD750.00 to USD1500 per permit per person, each trek, Uganda will become a more affordable choice in the area by keeping the price of gorilla permits at USD800, which is one of the reasons why discounted gorilla permits will be eliminated.

Discounted gorilla permits were discussed at the UWA and AUTO consultative conference. The idea was not to treat gorilla trekking in Uganda as a cheap activity. The tourist industry’s decision-makers have not yet reviewed this and decided on a course of action.

In 2014, in celebration of Uganda’s 50th independence day, a program was launched to provide discounted or low season gorilla permits as an incentive for all visitors visiting the country. After then, it was expanded to include all of the off-season months of the year, with rates adjusted annually.

As a result of this promotion, more visitors are visiting Uganda in April, May, and November than in previous years. We will keep you informed of any promotional campaigns, and Katland Safaris is one of the numerous businesses that has profited from this one.

There are two primary options for gorilla trekking in Uganda: the more traditional route via Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or the more adventurous prolonged gorilla habituation trip in the park’s southern region. We also take guests on mountain gorilla treks in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, as part of our Katland safaris.