Gorilla Permit Increased by Uganda Wildlife Authority From 600$ to 700$

The gorilla permit is a card printed with traveler’s information issued by the Ugandan Wildlife Authority (UWA) and allows visitors above 15 years to trek the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park and spend 1 hour in their presence. Uganda Wildlife Authority increased the price for gorilla trekking permits from $600 to $700 per trekker. This means that with effect from 1st July 2020 and beyond, foreign non-residents will need $700 to secure a gorilla permit to trek mountain gorillas in either Bwindi National Park or in Mgahinga National Park. Foreign residents will be required to have $600 and the East African residents will still pay Ug.shs. 250,000. Gorilla habituation experience remaining $1500. The need for a price increase is due to a growing demand for gorilla tracking permits over the past two years. Ever since Rwanda increased her Gorilla permits from $750 to $1500 per person per trek, it has been an overflow of tourists looking for the permits in Uganda meaning that supply has been unable to meet demand. UWA has also increased the number of gorilla families for tracking from 15 to 17, following the successful habituation of the Katwe group in Buhoma and Christmas group in Nkuringo. Uganda wildlife Authority to increase the cost of Gorilla permit is also to protect the Gorillas and the forest from tripling in terms of carrying capacity and gaining enough funds from the Gorillas in terms of foreign exchange.

Booking a gorilla permit in Uganda

The number of visitors allow to trek is limited per day. 8 People maximum are allowed to trek one gorilla family, with 17 families to trek, there is a limited supply and high demand. For travelers to book a gorilla permits, you have to decide when you want to visit, year, month and day, then which National park you want to visit, Bwindi or Mgahinga National park. You are free to make a suggestion on a few dates just in case your first choice of date is already reserved. There is no online booking system to book a gorilla permit in Uganda; You can book your permit through a tour operator or call UWA and they book for you a gorilla permit but the challenge with UWA, on arrival in Uganda, you have to go to UWA office in Kampala in person with all your identifications to pick your gorilla permit. In peak season (June, July, August, September, December and January), gorilla permit are in high demand, you need to book your gorilla permit at least 4 months in advance while in low seasons, you can even book it there and then.

Contact us and provide the date on which you would like to trek and we check availability. Once the dates you wish to track mountain gorillas readily available, you will have to scan and then email a copy of your passport make and make a deposit. Once the payment is confirmed, we will start the process of booking your gorilla permit. You will be sent a confirmation of your reservation informs of scanned copy within a few days/weeks and upon arrival, we will give you an original gorilla permit. Your accommodation we will be booked based in which sector you will trek from to avoid long drive early morning on the trekking day. Bwindi National Park has 4 main trailheads where treks usually start from and they include Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga and there is only one habituated family in Mgahinga National Park that is readily available for tracking. Your gorilla permit covers park guide/ranger services, an hour of magical encounter, the experience itself, security. It excludes accommodation, transportation to and fro, extra activities.

Gorilla permits come with unique serial number and your personal details written on it and non-transferable. You will be required to show your passport and other form of identification once you are at the park headquarters.

Below are just a few of the changes that are critical and crosscutting

	Activity	Current rate			New rate starting July2020
		FNR($)	FR($)	EAC(ugx)	FNR($)	FR($)	EAC(ugx)
1	Gorilla trekking	600	500	250.000	700	600	250.000
2	Golden monkey trekking, including entrance fee	90	80	40.000	100	90	60.000
3	Chimpanzee trekking permit in Kibale National Park	150	100	100.000	200	150	150.000
4	Chimpanzee habituation experience	200	200	150.000	250	250	150.000
5	Rwenzori Mountains trekking managed by UWA	N/A	N/A	N/A	50	50	50.000
6	Small boat trip in Lake Mburo National Park	20	20	20.000	30	30	50.000
7	KVNP hiking newly opened lonyili summit in trail	N/A	N/A	N/A	50	40	50.000
8	Fees for accessing Sempaya Hot Springs in Semuliki National Park	15	15	10.000	Only entrance fee required
9	Commercial filming fees	603	63	630.000	All filming costs to be charged at 40% of activity
10	Gorilla filming	4.200 for a team of 5			All filming costs to be charged at 40% of activity