Uganda Gorilla Trekking Permits
Uganda Gorilla Trekking Permits/Gorilla permits ; Gorilla permits are identification documents that are offered by a governing body to permit tourists access to the Gorilla Safari Destination. Uganda is gifted with two gorilla national parks, which are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, both located in the southwestern Uganda region, approximately 8 to 9 hours’ drive away.
Alternatively, you can use a domestic Aero link flight from Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip—the nearest airstrip to the park—for a 1:30-hour landing. Meanwhile, the identification shows that one has been authorized to visit the national park. In Uganda, Gorilla permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
What are the requirements for a gorilla permit for a Ugandan and a non-Ugandan?
The most required item to obtain a gorilla permit is a passport with your details. A passport is one of the most essential documents required or asked for by the Uganda Wildlife Authority Offices, “UWA.” This is because passports help them to find out your nationality and age for Gorilla Trekking. Whereby, they will look at the date of birth to check for the required minimum age as noted in the passport. If they discover that the age of the trekker is underage, the permit won’t be issued.
Well, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has attendance records of visitors who have trekked and have ever trekked gorillas in Uganda. This helps the Uganda wildlife to know the country that has visited Uganda in the last few years and currently.
The Ugandan government will then formulate the promotional and marketing strategies in the tourism industry in order to attract more tourists from other world races to visit the country. This is the main reason why the Authorities ask for details of the passports required for gorilla permits for future reference.
Along your gorilla trekking safari, a trustworthy tour operator will ask for your passport details before any reservations for Gorilla permits. Due to the fact that the Authorities of the wildlife may need to know the Nationality, age, we should know if you’re in need of a porter for Gorilla trekking.
Uganda tourism industry has got an acknowledgeable English-speaking guide who knows much about the Gorilla trekking rules and regulations. However, some of the tourists do not species English and the best way is to give us the details of their passport, which helps us to know what kind of tourists are coming.
Interestingly, visitors travel from all over the world to visit the Pearl of Africa in order to enjoy this unforgettable experience. One must have a gorilla permit in order to access the natural habitat of our closest relative—mountain gorillas, who are said to have 98% DNA in common with humans, thus making it a life-changing experience.
How much does gorilla permit cost?
You should take note: before a traveler sets out for gorilla trekking, we recommend him or her to contact a tour operator who is able to give you relevant gorilla information for Uganda, DRC and Rwanda in order to plan for a perfect safari trip.
So, before you head out for gorilla trekking safaris, we advise you to always book your gorilla permit three months before your time of travel. Note the permit is acquired in time for the trekkers.
A gorilla permit refers to an identification that permits one to visit the gorillas in their natural environment within the national park. In the world, mountain gorilla trekking safaris are only done in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Above all, competition usually happens during high season, which runs through June, July, August, September, December and February. So, for that matter, it’s good to book your gorilla permit in advance before departure time.
Fact: a gorilla permit is an essential document or card issued by the “UWA,” Uganda Wildlife Authority. The permit provided allows one to view the mountain gorillas for an hour; The trekking experience can take a maximum of 30 minutes to 7 hours while viewing this unique mountain Gorilla in the forest, after which it expires.
A gorilla permit in Uganda costs USD800 per person per trek and in Rwanda USD1,500 while if one prefers a habituation process, which first takes 2 to 3 years under training before opening it up for tourism. Gorilla habituation experience is a full-day activity that involves 4 participants compared to Gorilla trekking where there are 8 people, during the activity, you’re accompanied by the researchers, park rangers, and doctors who lead you in the forest trailheads. Once you allow the gorilla family in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you’re allowed 4 hours to spend with them as you learn their behaviors and capture videos and photography.
Note: Gorilla habituation experience, which is only done in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, costs USD1,500 per person per day. Gorilla trekking permit in Uganda are obtained from Uganda Wildlife Authority: foreign nonresidents pay cost USD700, foreign residents cost USD800 per person and East African Citizen pay UGX300,000 per person per day
How to get a gorilla trekking permits in Uganda?
The best way of obtaining a gorilla permit is to contact a Tour Operator in Uganda who has a fully registered tour company and is under the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO). In Uganda there are more than 1000 Tour Operators who are readily available to help you obtain the right Gorilla permit.
The Uganda wildlife Authority charges for the gorilla permit with no extra cost. Auto members are the only body members who issue out the right permits. During the peak season, we recommend you book as early as possible because of the big range of tourists who tend to flow into the country yearly.
Always avoid costly permits and being conned by a number of fake tour agents who extract money from visitors by selling you discounted permits that do not exist. And some of the frauds will even choose to use the AUTO logo, however donot engage with such victims.
We advise you always remember to check out the history of a tour operator before you book with them
