Extra Gorilla Trekking Permit Uganda: Step by Step Application

If you want to see the mountain gorillas in Uganda but the permits for the dates you want to go are all sold out, and you’re wondering where to look for information on how to apply for a permit, you’ve come to the right place. The Step by Step Guide on applying for an extra gorilla trekking permit in Uganda

To apply for an extra gorilla trekking permit in Uganda, you can follow these steps:

The Steps for Applying For an Extra Gorilla Trekking Permit in Uganda

Gorilla Trekking, Uganda | Wildlife Photography | Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

• Please get in touch with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA): The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is the government agency in charge of protecting Uganda’s national parks and wildlife. Inquire whether any further gorilla trekking permits are available by contacting the organization. You can reach them via their website, or by sending an email or giving them a call. (Please Note: of late Uganda Wildlife Authority doesn’t give out gorilla trekking permits to non registered companies it simply advices them to apply from a registered company like Kabira Gorilla Safaris or The Bespoke African Safari Co.
• If you’d rather not deal with the hassle of applying for this additional gorilla permit on your own, you may call a reliable local tour operator like Kabira Safaris and pay them a service fee of $60 to $150 to arrange it for you.
• Tell us more about what you need. Make sure the UWA understands your need for a second gorilla trekking permit. Tell them when you’d like to have the meeting, how many extra permits you’ll need, and anything else that would be helpful.
• The UWA will determine if the requested date has any available permits. Permits for seeing the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat are restricted to a set number each day. If the day you want permits for is available, continue on to the next section.
• Once the availability of permits has been confirmed, you must pay the applicable payments. Uganda’s gorilla trekking permits are not cheap, with different rates for international visitors, expats, and locals from East Africa. Verify that you are aware of the UWA’s current permit fees and how to pay for them.
• Identify yourself and your hiking companions by providing their names, email addresses, and other personal information. Full names, passport numbers, and nationalities are often included. Verify all information for accuracy to prevent problems in the future.
• Get confirmation: The UWA will approve your application for additional gorilla trekking permits once you’ve paid the required cost and submitted your personal details. Email or a physical document can serve as this confirmation. You’ll need to show this confirmation on the day of your hike, so keep it secure.
• With the additional gorilla trekking permits in hand, you can set about organizing the rest of your trip to Uganda, including lodging, transportation, and any other excursions you hope to participate in.

Permits to visit the mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda cost $700 per foreign non-resident, $600 per resident, and $70 per citizen of East Africa (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, and South Sudan).

Since Uganda is home to 17 habituated gorilla family groups (16 in Bwindi and 1 in Mgahinga), the country’s daily allotment of 136 Gorilla permits is sure to be quickly depleted. In addition to the standard one-hour gorilla trek, the more expensive gorilla habituation experience, only available in Bwindi forest, allows visitors to spend four hours in the company of semi-habituated mountain gorillas under the watchful eye of trackers and researchers. This experience costs $1500 per person. You can book your gorilla permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority or with a reputable Ugandan tour company, such as Kabira Safaris & Tours Africa.

Applying for an extra Gorilla Trekking Permit in Uganda

Sending an email to kabirasafaris@gmail.com with your intended travel dates will allow us to check online with the Uganda Wildlife Authority to see if gorilla habituation permits are available for your desired dates. If permits are available for your desired dates, we will then send you an invoice for the permits.

Your booking for the Gorilla Trekking Experience in Bwindi Forest National Park will be finalized once we have received money and purchased your permits, at which time we will email you a scanned copy of the permits for your records and inspection. Since only a limited number of permits are issued each day, and since they are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, it is highly recommended that you book your Gorilla permits at least two to three months in advance of your visit.