How to buy Bwindi gorilla permits in installments
How to buy Bwindi gorilla permits in installments: Gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park are very competitive activities which nowadays attract several travelers from different parts of the world. Bwindi impenetrable forest national park attracts the highest number of travelers because it is home to the highest number of mountain gorilla families. Other mountain gorillas can be seen in Mgahinga, volcanoes, and Virunga national park
Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has 19 mountain gorilla families fully habituated which means 152 gorilla trekking permits and 2 semi-habituated mountain gorilla families which means 8 gorilla habituation permits and this is on a daily basis. The number of gorilla permits may seem to be enough but you will be surprised they sell out quickly especially in the high season. The high season occurs from June to September and December to February and since its characterized by little and sometimes no rainfall, most travelers visit the country especially those coming from countries that are experiencing winter.
With mountain gorilla permits selling out quickly, travelers can buy Bwindi gorilla permits in installments from the Uganda Wildlife Authority and a trusted local tour operator. Travelers can book the gorilla permits by paying 30% of the total permit price and thereafter pay 70% later and this should be 3 months before the gorilla trekking date.
Buying Bwindi gorilla permits in installments
To be sure of gorilla trekking in Bwindi, you need to book a gorilla permit in advance. Travelers who don’t have the money to purchase a gorilla permit can now pay it in installments with a help of a trusted local tour operator or Uganda wildlife authority. The first installment can be 30% of the total price and then the 70% can be paid at a later stage which must be 3 months before the gorilla trekking activity.
If you want to pay in installments, you will look for a good tour operator to help you book the permits. What you have to do is contact them via email informing them that you are interested in trekking but you want to pay in installments. The email should also contain the dates of the month and year you want to trek and these shall be used to check for the availability of the gorilla trekking permits with the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
When the permits are available, you will be sent an email containing the different banking details which you will use to send 30% of the total money. When you receive the email you will go and pay that money and this is what will be used to book for you the permit. The other 70% will be expected 3 months before the trekking date.
How much is 30% of the gorilla permit price
A single gorilla trekking permit is $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX250,000 for citizens of East Africa. 30% of this money would be $210 for foreign non-residents, $180 for foreign residents, and UGX75000 East African citizens.
Gorilla habituation permits go for $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 foreign residents, and UGX750,000 citizens of East Africa. The 30% of this money would be $500 for foreign non-residents, $300 for foreign residents while East African citizens its UGX22500.
What happens if you fail to pay 70% of the gorilla permit price
After paying the 30% gorilla permit price, you are expected to pay 70% three months before the gorilla trekking date. In case you fail to pay the 70% balance in time, you will automatically lose your money and nothing shall be refunded. Travelers who fail to get the 70% balance can however contact their local tour operator to help them extend the date of trekking as they are looking for the money. The local tour operator shall contact Uganda Wildlife Authority and tell them to extend your dates. You are only allowed to reschedule the dates once if you have reasons as to why.
Encountering mountain gorillas in Bwindi
Gorilla habituation and gorilla trekking are the main activities available in Bwindi impenetrable forests national park. Gorilla trekking is done in all the sectors of Bwindi while gorilla habituation is done in Nkuringo and Rushaga regions. Gorilla trekking is done by 8 people that are accompanied by 2 armed ranger guides while gorilla habituation is done by 4 trekkers accompanied by rangers, conservationists, and researchers.
Both gorilla activities start early in the morning when trekkers gather at the sector offices. Here they are checked if they have valid gorilla trekking permits if they are not sick and then they are grouped and given armed ranger guides to lead them in the jungle. The activity takes 2-7 hours of meeting different park animals, birds, and vegetation. Once the mountain gorillas are spotted, armed ranger guides give trekkers 1 hour to be around these apes and this enables them to learn about the gorilla habits, watch the members do daily activities, take photos, and record videos. Those visiting a semi-habituated mountain gorilla family are given 4 hours to be around the members making them get used to human presence.
