Uganda Wildlife Authority Gives Availability Of Gorilla Permits To Uganda Tour Operators 2025
Calling availability Uganda Wildlife Authority now grants gorilla trekking licenses to Uganda tour operators 2025, making it possible for travelers to confirm their participation in this adventure.
This process was tedious and frustrating at times due to the long queue of international calls, including those seeking park services. Tour operators on the ground sometimes found this congestion unpleasant. Some Uganda tour companies would walk and sit at the reservation office all day to get gorilla permits faster from the counter. This was expensive, especially for outskirt office owners.
For this reason, the Uganda Wildlife Authority decided to publicize Uganda gorilla licenses, but local travel operators objected. If you use an on-site firm, this applies to registered Uganda Tour Operators.
The Gorilla Permit Availability Resolution From Uganda Wildlife Authority
Uganda Wildlife Authority provided tour operators with availability like the Rwanda Development Board. Rwanda Development Board sends a spreadsheet to all registered tour companies each morning listing all gorilla permits for the day. This allows tour companies to provide gorilla permits to overseas agents and tourists.
Uganda Wildlife Authority distributed the first gorilla permit spreadsheet to registered tour operators through the Association of Uganda Tour Operators on August 5, 2014. UWA followed up on August 10, indicating its willingness to cooperate with AUTO’s new board to simplify gorilla permit availability.
All tour companies must phone the Uganda Wildlife Authority reservations office to check gorilla and chimp permit availability, which takes time because the department is understaffed and staff respond slowly. This can cause delays and loss of business. This new development allows us to provide availability quickly.
This was decided after the new AUTO board examined how to improve service and connection with UWA. The connection soured when UWA proposed putting gorilla permits online for everyone to examine and book. AUTO opposed this since a gorilla permit is bait to sell other Ugandan attractions, putting tour operators out of business.
After a select committee recommendation, gorilla permits were published online but only registered Uganda tour operators could view and book them. As the Uganda Wildlife Authority plans to put gorilla permits online, they have followed Rwanda by sending a spreadsheet to tour companies to show available permits.
Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari: Why?
Most Gorilla Families
Uganda has the most tourist-accessible mountain gorilla families. About 19 gorilla trekking families live in Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks. These inhabit gorilla trekking regions with permits. Ugandan gorilla families include Mubale, Habiyanja, Oruzogo, Nkuringo, Bweza, Nshonji, Chrismas, Nyakagezi, and others.
Experience Gorilla Trekking Safely
No active volcano has been found in Uganda, where gorilla trekking is possible. Make sure to travel the mountain gorillas’ final minute to avoid being bounced off the ground by an exploding volcano like Nyirangogo in Virunga National Park.
Park rangers and wardens work with other Ugandan security agencies to keep trekkers safe. Every gorilla expedition has two one-armed rangers. The one with a machete chops trail undergrowth as the other with a riffle watches for dangerous animals.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park gorilla trekking is easier than others. Expect not to trek steep slopes that can tire you out, especially if you are not fit.
Start with personal safety to avoid missing gorillas trekking. Avoid eating from undesignated sites to avoid food sickness and losing the gorilla expedition. Follow our gorilla trekking gear list. Protection from forest roughness. Avoid getting lost in the wild by staying with the group when gorilla trekking.
Book Other Uganda Safari Activities After Gorilla Trekking |Uganda Tour Operators 2025
Gorilla trekking makes linking to other African safari activities faster and more varied.
Uganda Safari offers chimpanzee trekking, game safaris, launch trips, fishing, birding, Nile source visits, bungee jumping, white water rafting, and more.
A well-tailored Africa Safari itinerary will satisfy your demands without backtracking.
Uganda offers a variety of transportation options to reach Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park for gorilla trekking. Fly-in gorilla trekking is an option if you do not like driving. The 530-km travel from Entebbe Airport or Kampala takes 8–9 hours on uneven, sandy roads. The daily domestic flight from Entebbe or Kajjansi to Kihihi Airstrip takes 1 hour and 45 minutes, followed by a 2-hour transport to the lodge. You decide how to get there based on your budget.
Uganda Gorilla Trekking Permit Cost
Uganda has a lower gorilla hiking permit than Rwanda. The permission costs $800 per person per trek for foreign non-residents, $700 for residents, and 300,000 shs for East Africans. Foreign non-residents in Rwanda pay $1500 for gorilla permits. The remaining funds can be used for safari necessities like lodging, meals, and bed and breakfast.
Booking Uganda Gorilla Trekking Permits
Gorilla trekking requires a confirmed or tentative date and year. This is because permits are booked daily over time. Our safari consultant responds after confirming gorilla permissions.
Gorilla permit status may change if availability is found. You must buy your gorilla permit quickly because people from all over the world book them. No one may keep a permit for free.
Because permits are reserved first come, first served, tour providers cannot reserve them. You must reserve a gorilla trekking permit to confirm your gorilla safari interest.
Later, you must submit your full passport name, date of birth, nationality, passport expiration date, and more.
Which Ugandan gorilla trekking area is best?
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the only one that reserves gorilla permits by area. Because of its vastness, it is hard to get around.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park contains four gorilla trekking areas: Ruhijah, Buhoma, Nkuringo, and Rushaga. After the briefing, trekkers are assigned gorilla families by location. This allowed all gorilla families to be visited often or return to their wild nature. Gorilla habituation is costly and time-consuming.
The best gorilla trekking area depends on your safari goals. Similar to humans, gorilla families with infants behave differently from those with numerous members and those with playful youngsters.
Walking with mountain gorillas is an unforgettable experience no matter where you go.
Ugandan Gorilla Trekking Age Limit
Uganda allows gorilla trekking only for 15-year-olds. The time of mountain gorilla sighting is unknown, making it challenging for children under this age.
To reach the mountain gorillas, one must ascend ridges and other highlands due to the volcanic topography. These conditions may be too much for a younger child. It is difficult to return if they tire before reaching the mountain gorillas.
Mountain gorillas are intimidating at first sight, making it hard for children under this age to contain. Any yell may alarm the mountain gorillas and make them hide, denying tourists the chance to admire them.
Gorillas sometimes stroke visitors’ hair to tease them. A child under this age may go on a forest rampage due to this inciting deed.
Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari Booking Through Rwanda | Uganda tour operators 2025
You can trek mountain gorillas in Uganda from Rwanda because they share the Virunga area. Kigali Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a 6- to 7-hour journey.
Because the Uganda Wildlife Authority does not sell gorilla permits on-site, book ahead. Due to global demand, permits are few and sell quickly. Because of the potential of no-shows, waiting for a gorilla permit in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is risky.
Apply for an East African visa to cross both countries fast and skip visa lines at the border. Katuna and Cyanika borders allow Rwandans to enter Uganda and vice versa.
We do not suggest self-driving for first-timers. Due to the roads in this area, Google Maps is not yet coordinated to show the exact paths.
Uganda Gorilla Trekking: What Else?
Ugandan chimpanzee trekking is not as distant as gorilla trekking. Kibale National Park, Africa’s primate sanctuary, Kyambura Gorge, Kaniyo Pabidi, and others are options. Based on their DNA, chimpanzees are near relatives of humans.
Ugandan game drives can include gorilla trekking. Uganda has many wildlife parks with wild animals. Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo, Murchison Falls, and Kidepo Valley are game parks. Lions, leopards, zebras, hyenas, elephant herds, buffaloes, water bucks, bush bucks, Uganda Kobs, cheetahs, Jackals, and more may be seen here.
White water rafting on the Nile is thrilling and fun. Without experience, you can enjoy this. Instructors will give you a brief training before you board the tube boat.
Uganda has various rivers, lakes, and other freshwaters for fishing safaris. Book ahead and bring your fishing gear. You can capture Nile Perch, Tilapia, Catfish, Lung Fish, and others.
Primate trekking in Uganda may reveal black and white colobus, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s, grey-cheeked mangabeys, olive baboons, blue monkeys, and more.
Uganda has several bird habitats, making it one of Africa’s greatest birding destinations. Birdwatchers can schedule birding in advance or during gorilla trekking in Ruhijaf, where most Ugandan birds live.
Katland Safaris books gorilla and chimpanzee permits for free when you buy an all-inclusive tour. Please tell us about your travel plans and we will advise you.
After the Uganda Wildlife Authority grants gorilla permits to Uganda tour operators 2025, please contact us to confirm availability and check our trip adviser for client reviews.
