How to book Uganda gorilla trekking permits for 2021

Gorilla trekking is an adventurous activity that involves visitors moving on foot into the forest in search of the mountain gorillas and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Gorilla trekking is one of the major safari activities done in Uganda and it’s carried out in two destinations that is Bwindi impenetrable national park which harbors half of the mountain gorilla population and Mgahinga gorilla national park both located in southwestern Uganda.

Cost of Uganda gorilla trekking permits for 2021

Uganda gorilla trekking permits are legal documents or cards that are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority to any visitor above the age of 15 years allowing him or her to visit a habituated gorilla family in either Bwindi impenetrable national park or Mgahinga gorilla national park. A single Uganda gorilla trekking permit for 2021 costs 700 USD for foreign non residents, 600 USD for foreign residents and 250,000 UGX for East African citizens. The gorilla trekking permit allows you to spend one hour in the presence of the mountain gorillas. Visitors who want to spend four hours in the presence of the mountain gorillas can purchase a gorilla habituation permit which costs 1,500 USD per person for foreign non residents, 1,000 USD per person for foreign residents and 750,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.

How to book Uganda gorilla trekking permits for 2021

There are two options of booking Uganda gorilla trekking permits for 2021 for example booking directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) a government body that is in charge of tourism conservation. When booking through Uganda Wildlife Authority you will contact the head offices directly through email or telephone calls inquiring about permit availability depending on the date you prefer and if the permits a available you will make a deposit payment for the permit to be reserved.

Uganda gorilla trekking permits for 2021 can also be booked through a tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris. When booking through Achieve Global Safaris you will contact us with your names, date, month, year and destination that you wish to visit. We will later check for permit availability and once there are permits that match with your dates, we will send you our bank details to make a deposit for the gorilla permits and also send us your passport details. Once we receive the money we will register your names, purchase the gorilla trekking permit on your behalf and send you scanned copies of the gorilla permit as confirmation. Booking Uganda gorilla trekking permits through a tour operator is the best option because we will not only purchase a gorilla trekking permit on your behalf but also plan for your entire safari which involves accommodation, transportation, meals, other activities that you can engage in during your gorilla trekking safari among others.

Discounted Uganda gorilla trekking permits for 2021

You can also book discounted gorilla trekking permits which cost USD 400 per person for foreign non residents, USD 300 per person for foreign residents and UGX 150,000 per person for East African citizens. The discounted gorilla trekking permits are valid till 30^th June 2021.

When to book Uganda gorilla trekking permits for 2021

Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda should be booked 3 to 6 months in advance before the trekking date because the permits are competitive and usually get sold out quickly especially during the dry or peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February.

Gorilla trekking experience

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in Bwindi impenetrable national park which is located in the southern part of Uganda in Kanungu district. Bwindi impenetrable national park harbors half of the worlds mountain gorilla population and it’s a home of about 19 habituated gorilla families which are found in four sectors including Buhoma sector in the north, Rushaga sector in the south, Ruhija sector in the East and Nkuringo sector in the south. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is also done in Mgahinga gorilla national park which is located in the southern region in Kisoro district and it’s a home of one habituated gorilla family.

Gorilla trekking in both destinations starts early in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters where after you will be divided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the jungle. Trekking of gorillas in Uganda takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located and during trekking you will enjoy views of other primate species such as black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, vervet monkeys, different bird species, animals, plant and tree species among others. Once the gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their environment which gives you a chance to learn about their behaviors, lifestyle, watch gorillas carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, playing, grooming young ones, take photos and record the breathtaking moments to show people back home after the safari.

For more information about booking Uganda gorilla trekking permits for 2021, you can contact us at Achieve Global Safaris.