What is a gorilla trekking permit?
A gorilla trekking permit is a document that enables to access the gorillas. When you obtain it, you have the permission to track the gorillas. The Bwindi gorilla permit is usually specific in terms of who to use it and where it should be used.
How to get a Bwindi gorilla permit for your Uganda trekking tour.
In Uganda, Gorilla trekking takes place in 5 sectors. These include Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo in Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park. In Bwindi, there are only 20 gorilla families available for gorilla trekking and these include: Rushegura, Mubaare, Muyambi, Katwe, Habiyanja, Bitukura, Mukiza, Oruzogo, Kyaguliro, Kahungye, Mishaya, Bweeza, Nshongi, Busingye, Kutu, Mucunguzi, Rwigi, Bikingyi, Nkuringo and Christmas.
In Mgahinga, there is currently only one gorilla group which is habituated for tourism. Therefore, more people go to Bwindi than Mgahinga. Notedly, each of the gorilla families listed above can only be trekked by eight tourists per day, a measure put in place by the Uganda Wildlife Authority for the conservation reasons. It is because of such reasons that obtaining a gorilla trekking permit is a necessity before you can have any scenic views of the gentle giants. Due to the high number of people who want to track the gorillas, you re advised to book your safari in advance.
Gorilla trekking permits can be purchased up to 2 years in advance through the Uganda Wildlife Authority or a tour operator. You are thus advised to book your safari in 6 months advance or even a year before if you are planning to do the gorilla trekking in the peak season, when the number of travelers is very high. The peak season happens during the dry months from June to September and December to February. The advantage of booking early is the fact that you will get the trekking sector of your choice easily as well as your preferred accommodation.
Last minute bookings on the actual day are also possible but there is no guarantee that there will be availability. This is possible because in some cases, not all permits are booked. Furthermore, some tour operators or lodges tend to buy gorilla permits in bulk and are not able to use all the permits. Therefore, they place them for resale. Permits on resale can actually attract negotiation when it comes to the price.
Price or cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda.
In Uganda, every gorilla trekking permit currently goes for $700 for foreign non-residents, which is an increment from $600. This new price of the gorilla trekking permit became effective on 1st July, 2020. In the past years, low seasons which include: April, May and November used to attract a subsidized cost of the gorilla trekking permit at a cost of $ 450. However, that discount or offer was evoked in 2017 and no longer exists. For foreign residents, the gorilla permit goes for $500 while for Ugandans, the permit goes for shs.250,000.
For those interested in the gorilla habituation, the permit goes for $1500 for foreign non-residents and $1000 for foreign residents. Unlike gorilla trekking, gorilla habituation is limited to just four visitors who spend 6 hours with the gorillas.
Where to buy the gorilla trekking permits from.
Gorilla trekking permits for Uganda can be bought physically from the Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters in Kampala. While here, you can purchase the permits for either Bwindi or Mgahinga. Alternatively, you can buy the permits online by contacting the Uganda Wildlife Authority through their email.
For last minute bookings that involve buying a Bwindi gorilla permit on the actual day, there is a possibility of buying the gorilla permit from ground, that is, in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You therefore would just have to visit the park headquarters in the different trekking sectors of Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga.
Mistakes to avoid when booking a gorilla trekking permit; tips when buying a gorilla permit.
As earlier explained, gorilla trekking happens in five locations. Four of these locations are found within the same National Park- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. However, this does not mean that they are so close to each other. Therefore, when booking a gorilla trekking permit, ensure that you take note of the trekking location such that you book the accommodation nearest to your gorilla trekking location. This is a very common mistake where travelers book accommodation which is very far from their trekking sector or location.
Bwindi is quite a remote area and its routes quite confusing. That’s why we strongly encourage you to book your gorilla permit with a tour operator so as to avoid such mistakes and other inappropriate occurrences. Tour operators also make the process of getting your permit simpler and faster. You simply inform them of your travel dates and they will help you find out the availability of those permits in different sectors on your preferred dates and also make temporary bookings.
Another mistake that many make is to delay on reaching the trekking sectors on their scheduled trekking day. Please note that the gorilla trekking permit is nonrefundable. Therefore, ensure that you make it to the park offices or information centre in time.
Things required when buying a Bwindi gorilla permit.
The date or dates you intend to track the gorillas.
Here, it is important you look through your plan and give the exact dates you are sure of. You can suggest dates and if you are booking through an operator, you can be advised.
Your name, passport number and nationality.
It is important to note that you cannot transfer a gorilla permit to another person. So you will need to present some proof of identity before your trekking safari.
Money.
You will have to pay the required amount of money in order to obtain a permit. Uganda Wildlife Authority usually requires a bank payment confirmation email.