Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda
Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda are legal cards or documents issued to visitors above the age of 15, allowing them to visit habituated gorilla families and spend one hour with the mountain gorillas.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in two national parks, namely Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which harbors the highest number of mountain gorillas and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The gorilla trekking permits in Uganda were increased from 2024 to 2026, and this article will highlight the updated prices.
Cost of gorilla trekking permits in Uganda
Gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park cost 800 USD per person for foreign non-residents, 700 USD per person for foreign residents and 300,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
The gorilla habituation permit was maintained and it costs 1,500 USD per person for foreign non-residents, 1,000 USD per person for foreign residents, 1,000 USD per person for Africans and 750,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
How to book gorilla trekking permits in Uganda?
Gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be booked through Achieve Global Safaris a trusted tour operator in Kampala, where you will contact us with the date, month, year and gorilla destination that you wish to visit.
After contacting us, we will check for permit availability from the Uganda Wildlife Authority and if there are permits available on your preferred dates, we will be able to purchase the permits on your behalf and send you a scanned copy of the receipt as confirmation.
About gorilla trekking in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will be subdivided into groups of 8 people, where each group will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and an experienced park guide who is conversant with gorilla trekking trails.
Trekking mountain gorillas in Uganda takes about 2 to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to view other wildlife species and once the gorillas are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural environment.
Best time to go for gorilla trekking safari in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be done all year round, though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February because during this time there is less rainfall in the park; therefore, access roads and trekking trails will be dry and passable, which makes gorilla trekking easy.
What to pack or carry for gorilla trekking safari in Uganda
There are a number of items that you should pack when going on a gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, including a waterproof rain jacket, hiking shoes, insect repellent, a long-sleeved shirt and trousers, garden gloves, energy snacks and drinking water, a warm sweater, a camera and extra batteries, a walking stick, a backpack, among others.
How to get to Bwindi impenetrable national park
Both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are located in the southwestern part of Uganda and can be accessed by air transport means, where you will book scheduled or charter domestic flights from Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips and then connect to the park headquarters by road.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can also be accessed by road transport means, where you will drive from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, Kisoro and then to the park headquarters, which takes about a 9 to 10 hour drive.
You can also access Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park from Kigali, Rwanda, where you will fly to Kigali International Airport and then connect to the park headquarters by road via the Cyanika border in Kisoro or the Katuna border in Kabale.
Where to stay during your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda
There is a wide range of accommodation facilities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park where you can stay during your gorilla trekking safari. The accommodations range from budget to midrange to luxury, including Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Buhoma Haven Lodge, Buhoma Gorilla Camp, Gorilla Bluff Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Trackers Safari Lodge, Lake Chahafi Resort, Mutanda Lake Resort, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Ichumbi Lodge, Bwindi Forest Lodge, Silverback Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Bweza Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Broadbill Forest Camp, Ruhija Gorilla Mist Camp, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Gorilla Hills Eco-lodge, Chameleon Hill Forest Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Trekkers Tavern Cottages, Mount Gahinga Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, and Bwindi Jungle View Lodge, among others.
You can reach out to us at Achieve Global Safaris for more information about gorilla trekking permits or visit our website for various gorilla trekking packages.
