Checking gorilla permits availability in Uganda

Checking gorilla permits availability in Uganda is very important if you are planning to have a gorilla safari. A permit is a document that allows you to be part of the gorilla trekking activity. You can get this gorilla permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority or a trusted tour operator at the same price. Uganda has two kinds of permits, the first one is the gorilla trekking permit which allows travelers to be around mountain gorillas for 1 hour and the second one is the gorilla habituation permit which allows travelers to be around mountain gorillas for 4 hours.

Checking gorilla permits availability in Uganda

A traveler can check for the availability of the gorilla permit 3-4 months early in advance using a local tour operator or directly with the Uganda Wildlife Authority which is a government body that issues out these permits. To check for the availability of the gorilla permits with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, you will contact the reservations office via email with the dates of the month and year you want to travel. They will check if there are permits available and let you know via email. In case you are unlucky and the gorilla permits aren’t available, you will be given the near dates to choose or you will get your own other dates.
Travelers can still use local tour operators to check for the availability of gorilla permits. The local tour operators will ask you the dates of the month and year you want to travel and they will forward them to Uganda Wildlife Authority to see if the permits are available. If the permits are available, they will ask you to continue with the booking and purchasing, and in case they are not available, they will ask you to search for other dates. To avoid the hustle of booking with the Uganda Wildlife Authority because they are always busy, you are advised to always check for availability and book gorilla permits with a trusted local tour operator.

Checking gorilla permits availability based on season

The high season

The high season occurs from June to September and December to February and the fact that it’s characterized by little or no rainfall that keeps the trekking trails dry and the vegetation short for good views of the mountain gorillas attracts a lot of travelers. Travelers that are out there intending to visit Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga national park should check for the availability of the gorilla permits 3-4 months early in advance.

Low season

The low season is the rainy season of March to May and October to November and it attracts a few travelers because it is characterized by too much rainfall that makes the trekking trails muddy and slippery, the vegetation is tall and thick with unclear views of the park animals. There is less competition for gorilla permits during the low season, travelers don’t even have to hurry to check for the availability because even a few weeks to the trekking date the permits will be available.
Booking gorilla permits for Uganda

Directly with the Uganda Wildlife Authority

Travelers especially those that want to organize safaris themselves can book gorilla permits directly with the Uganda Wildlife Authority. A traveler will have to contact the reservations office via email with the dates of the month and year they want to travel. The information shall be used to check for the availability of the gorilla permits and then if the permits are available, an email will be sent to you containing the invoice of payment and the price of the permit. If you are done sending the money, you will send a scanned copy of the receipt of payment and the passport details for your permit to be booked. On arrival in the country, you will collect your passport from the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices in Kampala.

Using a local tour operator

The best way to book a gorilla permit in Uganda is using a local tour operator because they are faster compared to Uganda Wildlife Authority. To book with a local tour operator, you must first search for the licensed one who won’t scam your money. Africa Adventure Vacations is one of the local tour operators that books gorilla permits for travelers. To book with us, you are only required to send us an email containing the dates of the month and year you want to travel and we shall use this information to check for the availability of the permits first. If we find the permits available, we shall send you our invoice of payment and when you send the money, you will also send a scanned copy of the receipt of payment. You will send your passport details which shall be used when booking the permit and once you arrive in the country, you will find the permit with us.

How many gorilla permits are available in Uganda every day?

As you are Checking gorilla permits availability in Uganda  you need to know that Gorilla trekking is done in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park where the highest number of mountain gorillas is found and then Mgahinga national park both in southwestern Uganda. There are 19 gorilla families available for trekking and 2 gorilla families available for habituation in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. 1 gorilla family is found in Mgahinga national park. Each mountain gorilla family is trekked by a maximum of 8 people which means 160 gorilla trekking permits are available in Uganda. A semi-habituated mountain gorilla family is trekked by 4 people which means there are 8 gorilla habituation permits in Uganda. In conclusion, there are 168 gorilla permits in Uganda every day.

How much are gorilla permits in Uganda?

For any traveler to encounter mountain gorillas, they must be a certain amount of money which is used to pay the armed ranger guides, veterinary doctors, trackers, community people, and used to buy medicine for mountain gorillas. Each of the gorilla trekking permits costs $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX250,000 for citizens of East Africa. Gorilla habituation permits cost $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 for foreign residents, and UGX750,000 for citizens of East Africa.

Best time to visit Uganda for gorilla trekking

Gorilla trekking in Uganda’s gorilla parks can be done at any time of the year however there are months that are better than the rest. The dry months are the best to trek mountain gorillas in Uganda and they happen from June to September and December to February. They are characterized by little or no rainfall which keeps the trekking trails dry, the vegetation is short and thin with good views of the mountain gorillas and the roads leading to the park are in good condition.
Travelers can as well visit Uganda for gorilla trekking in the rainy season of March to May and October to November and this favors budget travelers because all lodges are at a discount. Travelers should, however, note that in the rainy season, too much rainfall makes the trekking trails muddy and slippery, the vegetation is tall and thick with unclear views of the park animals and the roads leading to the park are in bad condition.