Book a Bwindi gorilla permit
Book a Bwindi gorilla permit: Booking a Bwindi gorilla permit is very easy as long as you go through the right procedures. There are only two ways travelers can book a Bwindi gorilla permit and these include using a trusted local tour operator or direct from Uganda Wildlife Authority. Gorilla permits are documents issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority to allow travelers to encounter mountain gorillas in the park. The permits are sold to only people that have 15 years and above and they are sold at a certain fee. Gorilla permits allow travelers to be around mountain gorillas for 1 hour if it’s normal gorilla trekking or 4 hours if it’s gorilla habituation.
How to book a Bwindi gorilla permit
Book a gorilla permit direct through Uganda Wildlife Authority
Booking a gorilla permit can be done directly through the Uganda Wildlife Authority which is a government body in charge of tourism in Uganda. Travelers will have to contact the reservation office via email which must contain the type of the permit you want, the date of the month, and the year you want to trek the gorillas. The information will be used and in case the permits are available, they will reply to you asking for passport details and different ways you can send money. After the money has been received, they will book the gorilla permit and you will find it at their offices when you come for your safari.
Book a Bwindi gorilla permit from a trusted local tour operator
Gorilla permits for Bwindi can be booked through a trusted local tour operator such as Africa adventure vacations. When booking with Africa Adventure Vacations, you will contact us via email with the type of permit you want, the date of the month, and the year you would want to have your trekking. This information shall be used to check for the availability of the permits with Uganda Wildlife Authority. When the permits are available, we shall send you an email asking for all the necessary requirements to get the permit and these include passport details, banking details, and others. When we have received the money, we shall go ahead and book the permit which you will find with us. Booking gorilla permits with a trusted local tour operator is the best option because it saved you from visiting the UWA offices to collect the permits on arrival.
When to book a gorilla permit?
Booking a gorilla permit should be done at least 3-4 months before the final day of the safari. Travelers can still book their gorilla permits years or several months before the gorilla trekking day and just wait for the final day. Travelers are advised to book the gorilla permits for Bwindi in advance to avoid last-minute booking disappointments and being left out. The gorilla habituation permits are very few in the park compared to the number of tourists and they are sold out on a first come first serve basis.
How many gorilla permits are available in Bwindi?
Every single day, there are 152 mountain gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi park and this is because the park has 19 gorilla families in Bwindi and each of the families is trekked by 8 people. The gorilla habituation permits in Bwindi park are 8 every day and this is because only 2 gorilla families are undergoing habituation in the park and 4 tourists can trek the group.
Price of gorilla permits in Bwindi
Bwindi gorilla permits are cards that allow a traveler to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi. There are two types of permits in Bwindi which are gorilla trekking permits and gorilla habituation permits. The permits are bought at Uganda Wildlife Authority at different prices. The gorilla trekking permits cost $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX250,000 for East African citizens. The gorilla habituation permits for foreign non-residents cost $1500, $1000 for foreign residents, and UGX750,000 East African citizens.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is done in 4 sectors of the park which are Rushaga, Nkuringo, Ruhija, and Buhoma. Gorilla trekking in all the sectors starts early in the morning when trekkers gather at the briefing point to learn about the rules and regulations of the activity from the park wardens. At the briefing point, trekkers are checked if they have the right permits and they are grouped not exceeding 8 people.
Armed ranger guides lead the trekkers in the jungle taking them through the right trails till they meet the assigned gorilla family. During the search, the trekkers are able to meet different animals such as duikers, giant forest hogs, jackals, otters, buffaloes, elephants, birds, and plants. To locate the mountain gorilla family assigned can take you 2-7 hours but the moment you find the gorilla family, ranger guides give you 1 hour to be around the gorilla group, watch them members do daily activities, take photos and learn about the gorilla habits.