How to Book Your Gorilla Safari to Bwindi
How to Book Your Gorilla Safari to Bwindi: Booking gorilla safaris to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the best ways to secure your gorilla trekking permit, an essential requirement that permits travellers to have access to mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. Bwindi is one of the best destinations that offer life changing gorilla trekking adventures, with the highest concentration of mountain gorillas contributing half of the world’s surviving mountain gorillas. Globally, there four protected areas in Africa that offer mountain gorilla safaris. These include Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga National Park.
Considering Bwindi’s gorilla permits that are reasonably priced and its strong security measures, the park draws tourists from different parts of the world especially those planning for gorilla safaris. More still, Bwindi is a top visited gorilla park due to its gorilla population densities. Bwindi alone is home to over 459 mountain gorillas, which is half of the world’s mountain gorilla population of 1000 individuals. With over 150 gorilla permits per day, the park is home to over 21 gorilla families which are distributed in the four sectors that make up Bwindi Gorilla National Park. These sectors include Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkurigo and Rushaga, all offering excellent gorilla trekking experiences.
How do book gorilla safaris to Bwindi
Travellers who are planning for gorilla safaris in Uganda, should either book direct with Uganda Wildlife Authority or a licensed tour operator. Most travellers have always asked about the channels to use when paying for their gorilla safaris. This guide will highlight about the various payment options travellers may use when paying tour operators once their gorilla safari trips are confirmed. Travellers should get to know that the price of a gorilla safari in Uganda’s Bwindi involves several expenses ranging from gorilla permit, accommodation, transportation, meal plans and taxes among others.
Payment methods
Bank Transfers
The most convenient and effective way to pay for gorilla safaris in Uganda’s gorilla parks including Bwindi is to transfer money straight to the business account. This is mandatory to all tour operators to have official accounts in their company names where visitors can deposit funds, once the booking is made. The bank transfer method (electronic fund transfer) takes two working days to get on to the tour operator’s account. However, travellers are advised to avail a scanned copy as their proof of payment receipt for verification. The main purpose of using a bank transfer is to eliminate scammers, since it avails the tour company’s name on the bank account than one’s personal account. This means, you can be certain of the recipient. However, transferring money using electronic money transfers come at a cost (bank charges)
Payments with credit cards
Use of a Pesapal Sabi card terminal, many tour operators take credit cards such as Visa card, Master card, and American Express card among others. With clear and accurate information, tour operators are capable of billing your credit card directly. This means that from any location of your country, you may swiftly pay for your gorilla safari using a credit card directly. However, since majority of the tour operators are used to bank-to-bank money transfers, some of them have no machines. Therefore, the tour operator must have opened a pesapal account in order to accept credit card transaction payments.
Pesapal -How to Book Your Gorilla Safari to Bwindi
Pesapal is a new online payment gateway system in East Africa that enables business personnel to carry out safe online money transfers throughout Africa. Visitors are capable of making payment transactions by either using cards, mobile banking or mobile money. since Pesapal charges 3.5% of the total amount you transfer, it is by far the least expensive method to send money world. Additionally, Pesapal allows clients to pay online using a Master Card or Visa Card, and this system is currently becoming more popular. If the client uses Pesapal to transfer funds, once payments are sent, the tour operator will receive a notification email to their bank account. The tour operator will be notified via email that funds have been sent to their bank account. The tour operator will then receipt your payment and send a scanned copy.
The gorilla permit payments
According to Uganda Wildlife Authority, gorilla permits are issued out to clients on first come-first serve basis. This means that gorilla permits must be paid in advance using the prior mentioned options to avoid disappointment and missing out. After payment is done, your gorilla permit will be reserved until you date of arrival. You can make payments through Uganda Wildlife Authority or a tour operator’s account, and after the proof of payment is made, a scanned copy of the receipt will then be availed to you via your email for documentation. However, if so, other items can be paid in cash upon arrival.
Things to avoid- How to Book Your Gorilla Safari to Bwindi
Visitors are advised to keep away from using alternative payment transfer methods such as cryptocurrency, western union, Payza, money gram, and others. More still, by all means, avoid sending money to a tour operator’s personal account. This may justify that the tour company is un registered or else you are dealing with a fraudster.
To enjoy the best experience during your gorilla safaris in Bwindi, travellers are advised to pay heed of the aforementioned highlights / tips and also always to book your gorilla permits in advance to avoid disappointments at the last hour. Expect unforgettable adventure with the magical mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where wilderness still reigns supreme!
