How to Reserve your Gorilla Trekking Permit in Uganda
This article will help you understand how to reserve your Gorilla Trekking Permit in Uganda which is the legal issued document that allows travellers have access to trek and see mountain gorillas in their natural environment for adventure and and conservation efforts. This document is needed for travelers to participate in gorilla trekking activities and encounter mountain gorillas. These permits are instrumental in regulating tourism through protecting these endangered mountain gorillas and sustainability through funding conservation programmes and initiatives like community projects, education, research and anti-poaching programmes.
Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) grants this permit document to eligible persons who are above 15 years. Therefore, accessing and tracking mountain gorillas in their natural habitat becomes difficult for tourists and travellers without a gorilla trekking permit. Mgahinga National Park and the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, situated in the Bwindi-Mgahinga Conservation Area in southwestern Uganda, are home to the greatest number of mountain gorillas in Africa, if not the world. Ruhija, Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Buhoma are the four areas of Bwindi where more than half of the world’s mountain gorilla population resides. Visitors who want to see these endangered mountain gorillas have to purchase gorilla trekking permits as the first requirement.
How to Reserve your Gorilla Trekking Permit in Uganda
Direct from Uganda Wildlife Authority
Travelers can also book gorilla trekking permits direct from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), a government body in charge of tourism in the country. In order to book gorilla permits direct from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, you will have to contact the reservations office via an email which should contain the dates, month and year you wish to trek mountain gorillas. The information shall be used to check availability of the trekking permits.
Confirmation to availability, you will receive an email to let you know their availability and banking details of how you can send money for the permit, and all your necessary information. Upon sending your money, you can scan the receipt and send it to Uganda Wildlife Authority or when they receive your money, your permit shall be booked. When it’s time for the safari, you will collect your permit at the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices.
Using a local Tour Operator
One of the best ways to book a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is using a trusted local tour operator because they save you from online challenges such as delays to book directly from Uganda Wildlife Authority. The good thing with booking Uganda’s gorilla permits with a tour operator is that they help you track the best gorilla group or a family of your choice. They do help you save time from collecting the gorilla permits at Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) offices because they pick them for you and deliver them for you on arrival. Booking with a local tour operator, a gorilla permit for Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park, first of all, you need to go online and look for a good tour operator who won’t scam your money. In most cases the best local tour operators are licensed by Uganda Tourism Board and Caracal Explorers is one of them. To book us, you will have to contact us via our email indicating the days, month and year of travel.
The email information shall be used to seek for the availability of the trekking permits at the Uganda Wildlife Authority. When these permits are available, am email will be sent to you with all your banking details on how you can send money for the permit. It’s your choice to choose the best banking option to send us money and thereafter send us a scanned copy. On receiving money, we shall book and secure your gorilla trekking permit to enable you trek Uganda’s mountain gorillas.
What is the cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda
A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, and UGX300,000 for Citizens of East Africa. These permits are officially issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority a government body in charge of tourism in the country. Gorilla permits for Bwindi are sold to people that are above the age of 15 years old only. Travelers are advised to book gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi 3-4 months in advance to avoid inconveniences or last-minute booking disappointments.
What is the best time to do gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Uganda’s gorillas in both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park can be trekked all year round, although some months are more ideal than others. The dry months are more condusive to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla Park because they are characterized by intermittent rainfall. The dry season occur from June to September and October to November. During the dry season, the trekking trails are dry, short and scattered vegetation cover with good views of the gorillas, and the roads leading to the different sectors of the park are in good conditions.
However, travelers can still visit Bwindi in the rainy season to enjoy huge discounts on accommodation facilities. The rainy season occurs from March to May and October to November and during this period there is plenty of rainfall, the trekking trails are muddy and slippery, the vegetation is tall and thick with poor views of the mountain gorillas and the roads leading to the park are in poor conditions.
