Can you fail to get Bwindi gorilla permits?
Can you fail to get Bwindi gorilla permits?: With the scarcity of gorilla permits as a result of high demand from travelers across the world, you can fail to get Bwindi gorilla permits. There are a lot of travelers from different parts of the world that are interested in visiting Bwindi impenetrable forest national park to trek the mountain gorillas. mountain gorillas are said to be closest relatives to human beings sharing 98% DNA and for this reason, travelers would want to visit these apes and see if they behave like them.
Can you fail to get Bwindi gorilla permits?
Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi and other gorilla parks such as Mgahinga, Virunga, and Volcanoes can only be done by travelers that possess gorilla permits. A gorilla permit is a document or card issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority to allow a traveler to encounter mountain gorillas in the jungle for 1 hour or 4 hours. Mountain gorilla permits are issued to travelers that are above 15 years of age and this is proved by checking the passport or national identity card.
There are 152 gorilla trekking permits and 8 gorilla habituation permits in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park every day. A traveler can fail to get a gorilla permit in Bwindi based on the time of booking and the season they are to trek. When you book gorilla permits early, there are many chances of getting the permits but those who fail are those that book a few days or months to trekking.
A traveler coming for trekking in the dry season is likely to fail to get a Bwindi gorilla permit 1-2 months before the trekking date. This is because a lot of travelers especially those coming from countries located in the northern hemisphere are coming to visit the park because they are on holiday or escaping the winter seasons. Another reason as to why a traveler is likely to fail to get the gorilla permit is they are sold on a first come first basis, the more you delay buying the higher the chances of failing to get it.
Travelers that are to visit Bwindi impenetrable forest national park in the rainy season have fewer chances of failing to get Bwindi gorilla permits even if they book a few weeks to the trekking date. This is because during the rainy season a few travelers are interested in coming to the park because of plenty of rainfall. The rainy season occurs from March to May and October to November.
You need to book a gorilla permit in advance
For you not to fail to get Bwindi gorilla permits, you need to book them in advance of 3-4 months before the actual trekking date. Booking the gorilla permit in advance of 3-4 months saves you from last-minute booking disappointments. Advance booking of gorilla permits should be done by travelers that are planning to visit Bwindi in the dry season of June to September and December to February. During these months, there are a lot of travelers that are willing to visit the park, and the fact that the permits are sold on a first come first serve basis it’s advised to you do advance booking. It will save you from failing to get the permits.
What to do if you fail to get Bwindi gorilla permits?
There are days you will contact the Uganda Wildlife Authority of a local tour operator and they tell you that the permits on the dates you want to trek are not available. This should not stop you from planning to trek mountain gorillas because you can change the dates. When the permits are sold out, Uganda Wildlife Authority or a local tour operator will tell you to choose another day or they will tell you the dates close to the ones you want to travel. If you are okay with the dates, you can go ahead and book the gorilla permits.
Why do Bwindi gorilla permits get finished quickly?
Bwindi gorilla permits get finished quickly because they are cheap compared to those of volcanoes national park Rwanda. A gorilla permit for volcanoes national park Rwanda buys 2 gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi gorilla park and a person stays with a balance of $100. Since gorilla trekking in both national parks gives out the same experience, travelers decide to buy the cheaper permits for Bwindi.
Another reason as to why Bwindi gorilla permits get finished quickly is that DR Congo is facing political instability. DR Congo has the cheapest gorilla trekking permits going for $450 but because of insecurity, a traveler decides to buy that of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park to save their lives because, in Virunga there are always rebels who sometimes attack tourists.
Bwindi has only 8 gorilla habituation permits on a daily basis and they are very few compared to the people that want to habituate these apes. There are only 2 mountain gorilla families undergoing habituation in Bwindi and each group is trekked by 4 tourists. Gorilla habituation is only done in this place and therefore the permits sell out quickly because travelers that would love to be around these apes for more than 1 hour are so many.
How much does a gorilla permit cost in Bwindi?
A single gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park costs $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX250,000 citizens of East Africa. A gorilla habituation permit costs $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 foreign residents, and UGX750,000 citizens of East Africa. The parks come with park entrance fees, ranger guide fees, community development fees, and 1 hour or 4 hours around mountain gorillas.
