Starting on first July 2024, Uganda Wildlife Authority has established a new fee for Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee licenses. UWA claims that licenses for Uganda gorillas and chimpanzees would rise to USD 800 and USD300 respectively. This implies that every gorilla permit has gained USD 100 and every chimpanzee permit USD 50.00. Two years will pass before this change in gorilla permit fee is evaluated.

For foreign non-residents, Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee licenses have been retailing for USD700 per person; for foreign residents with work permits for East African nations of Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya and Southern Sudan, USD500. Beginning 1st July 2024, the new pricing for Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee licenses has become USD 100 and USD 50 respectively.

East African nationals living in nations such Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Southern Sudan, still pay Ugx 300,000. Regarding chimpanzees, just one Kibale National Park chimpanzee permit impacted has been mentioned. While the fee has been raised from USD250 to USD300, those for chimpanzee habituation experience have also been raised from USD300 to USD300. Please get more information by calling Katland safaris.

Implications of a new pricing for chimpanzee and Uganda gorilla licenses

The increased pricing for Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee licenses has certain consequences because an escalation of USD 100 on each gorilla permit and USD 50 on each chimpanzee gorilla makes it somewhat pricey when compared to Democratic Republic of Congo where gorilla permits are still below USD 500.

Rising demand for Uganda gorilla permits has driven up the price; thus, Uganda is currently regarded as among the top gorilla trekking locations in Africa. A price hike guarantees that Uganda and other nations with mountain gorillas will get more money to help to preserve the unique mountain gorillas.

For all those who will be climbing mountain gorillas in Uganda, the new pricing for Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee permits also offers additional advantages. Any gorilla permit ordered and bought for USD 800 will let one to enter either Semiliki National Park or Rwenzori National Park.

Though seldom seen, these two national parks offer special appeal. Roads leading to these national parks have been developed; Uganda Wildlife Authority has placed them under promotion and whomever purchases a gorilla permit and has some money free to visit any one of them.

Does Uganda become pricey with the increased pricing for gorilla and chimpanzee permits?

Examining the revised pricing for Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee permits might lead one to believe that treks there are now costly. It is untrue as Uganda is still ranked second among all the reasonably priced gorilla trekking destinations in Africa.

For gorilla trekking in Africa, Uganda is still a less expensive and safer choice than Rwanda. Apart from the minor increase paid on Uganda gorilla permits, USD1500 Rwanda gorilla licenses are the most costly in the world.

New rules for topping Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee licenses

Uganda Wildlife Authority has released new rules for permit top-up with the revised fee for Uganda gorilla and chimpanzee licenses. In this most recent change, tour companies pay 30% of the whole fee for gorilla and chimpanzee licenses, then pay the remaining three months. Stated otherwise, one is granted 150 days to top up gorilla and chimpanzee licenses; else, they would be placed back into the market to be purchased by other tour operators.

Uganda Wildlife Authority first loosened the deadline for topping up gorilla and chimpanzee licenses, however this has led to businesses just retaining permits to be used at last-minute losing others. Many tour operators have embraced this concept as they believe that additional permits will follow from non-top-up permits not being topped back into the system.

Additionally, the new system lets registered tour operators reserve gorilla permits for up to seven days and thereafter, should not be charged for releasing. This helps tour companies to secure and reserve gorilla and chimpanzee permits so that possible customers may pay in the specified seven days.

Experience of gorilla habituation allows stay unmodified.

While the Uganda Wildlife Authority decides fresh rates for gorilla and chimpanzee licenses. The new product based on gorilla habituation experience had little effect either. Four hours with wild mountain gorillas still under habituation provide mountain gorilla habituation experience licenses valued USD1500 per person.

This lets visitors spend four hours with specialists and researchers helping wild mountain gorillas become acclimated to humans. Limited to four persons daily, this four-hour gorilla walk takes place in the southern section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Two gorilla families are now set aside for this and scheduling gorilla habituation experience is handled at Uganda Wildlife Authority main headquarters in Kampala. See Katland safaris for more information about gorilla habituation experience safaris and tours.

New booking rules for Uganda’s gorillas and chimpanzees

Apart from raising the cost of gorilla and chimpanzee permits, Uganda Wildlife Authority in collaboration with Uganda tourist board is ensuring that only licensed tour operators may book and pay for gorilla permits from UWA head Quarters. Initially, both registered and non-registered travel firms as well as individuals have been allowed to book and pay for gorilla permits at Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Many Rwanda registered tour businesses have been vying with Uganda tour operators for gorilla permits ever since Rwanda raised the price of hers from USD750 to USD1500. This is so because there is no control preventing foreign-based travel operators from booking these licenses. It has therefore been proposed that everyone, including international businesses, book their gorilla permits via Uganda authorized travel operators.

About Gorilla Trekking in Uganda National Parks

Uganda is still the only nation worldwide with the largest mountain gorilla numbers. The present mountain gorillas claim that Bwindi impenetrable National Park by alone boasts more than half the total population of mountain gorillas worldwide.

Gorilla permits for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park may now be booked for treking gorillas in Ruhija, Rushaga, Nkuringo or Buhoma sectors of the park. You may also arrange gorilla permits to see mountain gorillas at Mgahinga National Park, which runs alongside Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.