Booking gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi
Booking gorilla permit in Bwindi- A gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi is a document that allows a traveler to be part of the gorilla trekking activity in Bwindi and encounter mountain gorillas. The gorilla trekking permit is a card issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to all people that are above the age of 15 years to be part of the gorilla trekking activity. Without a gorilla trekking permit, a traveler won’t be allowed to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi.
Bwindi is found in the southwestern part of Uganda protecting endangered mountain gorillas. More than a half of the mountain gorilla population left in the whole world is said to be living in the thick tropical forests of Bwindi. The mountain gorillas do live in the 4 sectors of the park which are Nkuringo, Rushaga, Ruhija, and Buhoma. To see any of the mountain gorilla families in Bwindi you need a gorilla trekking permit which you buy from the Uganda Wildlife Authority or a trusted local tour operator.
How to book gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi
Through a local tour operator
The best way to book a gorilla trekking permit for Bwindi is using a trusted local tour operator because they save you from going online to book directly from UWA which sometimes delays replying. The good thing with booking Bwindi gorilla permits with a tour operator is that they help you with trucking the best gorilla family or a family of your choice. They do save you from collecting the gorilla permits at Uganda Wildlife Authority offices because they collect them for you and give them to you on arrival.
To book with a local tour operator a gorilla permit for Bwindi, you need to first 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 Africa adventure vacations limited is one of them. To book with Africa adventure vacations, you will have to contact us via email indicating the days of the month and year you want to travel.
The information in the email shall be used to check for the availability of the trekking permits at the Uganda Wildlife Authority. When the permits are available, we shall send you an email to let you know and also banking details of how you can send money for the permit. You will choose the best banking option to send us money and thereafter send us a scanned copy or if we have received the money, we shall book the gorilla trekking permit for you and you will be able to trek Bwindi gorillas.
A female Gorilla seen carrying her baby in Bwindi Gorilla Forest Park
Direct from Uganda Wildlife Authority
Booking gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi can be done directly from the Uganda Wildlife Authority which is a government body in charge of tourism in the country. 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 of the month and year you want to trek mountain gorillas. The information shall be used to check for the availability of the trekking permits.
When the permits are available, you will be sent an email to let you know how the permits are available, banking details of how you can send money for the permit, and all your information. When you send the 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.
How much does a Bwindi gorilla permit cost?
A single gorilla trekking permit for Bwindi costs $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX250,000 citizens of East Africa. The permits are 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 and this is done to avoid inconveniences or last-minute booking disappointments.
When to trek Bwindi gorillas?
After booking gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi, you need to know the best time to trek mountain gorillas and YES, Bwindi gorillas can be trekked at any time of the year but there are certain months that are better than the rest. The dry months are good to trek the gorillas of Bwindi because they are characterized by little or no rainfall. The dry months occur from June to September and October to November. During the dry period, the trekking trails are dry, the vegetation is short and scattered with good views of the gorillas, and the roads leading to the different sectors of the park are in good conditions.
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.
