How to book a gorilla permit
Gorilla tracking and viewing is an incredible experience that should not be missed. To make sure you are able to participate in this activity, it is important to book a gorilla permit ahead of time. In this article, we will discuss the process of booking a gorilla permit, including what is required and how to go about it. First, you will need to decide what park and country you want to visit.
Summary
Gorilla Permits can be obtained in 2 ways:
In person through The Uganda wildlife Authority or The Rwanda Development board
Through a trusted Tour operator or travel Agent
What is a gorilla permit?
Gorilla trekking permits are legal documentation provided to tourists above the age of 15 by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, a government entity in charge of tourism in Uganda, and the Rwanda Development Board, permitting them to visit a habituated gorilla family in either Uganda or Rwanda. Gorilla trekking is an exciting and popular activity that involves people hiking through the tropical rainforest in search of habituated mountain gorillas and spending one hour with them in their natural surroundings. In Rwanda, gorilla trekking takes place in Volcanoes National Park, while in Uganda, it takes place in two locations: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla national Park.
How to book a Gorilla Permit In Uganda And Rwanda
In Person:
Gorilla permits in Uganda and Rwanda can be booked directly through the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), a government body responsible for tourism in Uganda, or the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), a government body responsible for tourism in Rwanda, by contacting the head offices via email or phone calls to check for permit availability for your desired dates. If there are no available permits on your preferred dates, you will be requested to select another day with permission availability and pay for your gorilla permit straight to Uganda Wildlife Authority accounts. You will email a scanned proof of payment to UWA after you have completed your payments. When UWA receives your payment, they will begin processing your gorilla trekking permit and email you a scanned copy as confirmation.
Through a Tour operator or Travel Agent
Laba Africa, a reputable tour company, can also book your gorilla permits in Uganda and Rwanda. When booking with Laba Africa you will provide us with the dates, months, year, and gorilla destination that you desire to visit by email or phone call. After you contact us, we will check for permit availability, and if there are permits available for your dates, you will be requested to submit a deposit. We will acquire the permits on your behalf and give you a scanned copy of the receipt as proof as we receive the funds. At Laba Africa, we do the groundwork so that you enjoy a seamless safari experience. Apart from booking the gorilla permits, we offer full safari packages with accommodation, meals and safari activities.
When is the best time to book a gorilla permit in Uganda and Rwanda
Gorilla permits in Uganda and Rwanda should be booked 3 to 6 months before the trekking date since they are competitive and sell out rapidly, especially during the dry season, also known as the peak season. This runs from June to September, December to January, and February. Tourists are urged to book their 2023 gorilla trekking permits in advance to prevent last-minute problems.
Cost of gorilla permits in Uganda and Rwanda in 2023
A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park costs 700 USD for non-residents, 600 USD for foreign residents, and 250,000 UGX for East African citizens. For all nations, a gorilla trekking permit in Volcanoes National Park costs $1,500 USD per person. Checkout the cost of an African cost
The Gorilla Habituation Permits
Gorilla habituation permits (Gorilla HAB ) are more like the gorilla trekking permits but these guests to be part of the gorilla habitation process. Gorilla habituation is part of making gorillas in the wild to feel used to human presence for tourism and conservation purposes which is essential for tourism. During gorilla habituation, you will be accompanied by a team of researchers and doctors to meet gorillas in the wild that are not used to humans at all.
What is the cancellation Policy on a gorilla permit?
Guests that have paid 30% of their gorilla trekking permit will not get a refund on cancellation. If a guest has paid a full amount, the following rules will apply:
50% of the total gorilla trekking fees will be given to you if you feel unwell or have a flu on the final trekking date. This is because any sort of transmission of flu to gorillas can be deadly.
You also have an option of trekking gorillas in the future at no extra cost if you have a flu on the final trekking date.
How Many Gorilla permits are in Uganda per day?
There are 160 Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda per day in all sectors of the 2 National parks that are home to mountain gorillas.
Only a maximum of 9 people are allowed to see a given gorilla family per day in Mgahinga gorilla National park and Bwindi forest National park
The Gorilla Trekking Experience.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Volcanoes National Park begins at the park headquarters very early in the morning with a briefing on the rules and regulations. Following the briefing, you will be separated into groups of eight individuals, with each group assigned a habituated gorilla family to hike and a park guide who is familiar with several gorilla trekking tracks. Gorilla trekking takes between 30 minutes and 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are situated since they prefer to wander from one location to another in quest of food. During your walk, you will be able to see other primate species, animals, several bird species, and flora, among other things.
