Is a gorilla permit refundable?
Is a gorilla permit refundable? Mountain gorillas form an important tourist attraction on the African continent. These endangered species reside in high altitude ranges of Virungas bestriding Uganda, Republic of Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. As the traveler, you travel and trek these mountain gorillas in their untamed habitat. Visitors trekking gorillas especially in Bwindi and Mgahinga National parks are assigned only one hour to spend with gorillas as they explore more about them.
However, you can extend your time to stay with gorilla by deciding to participate in gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. This experience will require to with trackers as you learn they train these great apes to get used to people such that can be opened for normal trekking. By taking gorilla habituation tourists, you will spend 4 hours with gorillas hence giving you more time to know more about them.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda parks of Bwindi and Mgahinga is a famous tourist and life-changing activity that every adventure interested in adventure wouldn’t dare to miss. Uganda hosts about 500 gorilla species which is more than half of the gorilla population in the whole world. This has made Uganda be a popular destination for gorilla trekking tours in the whole of Africa if not in the whole world.
In order to access Uganda for gorilla trekking safaris, you will need to book in advance a gorilla permit that will act as an entry pass for you to gorilla parks of Bwindi and Mgahinga National parks. A gorilla permit is a simple card that is dispensed by the Uganda wildlife authority, and that is responsible for the protection of wildlife in the national parks and game reserves. You will need to be 15 years and above to get this gorilla and incase of nay illness even when you have slept in Uganda you may fail to enjoy this amazing experience of mountain gorilla trekking.
Some travelers have frequently whether a gorilla permit can be refundable or not?: To our esteemed clients and those who would wish to know whether once you have paid and booked a gorilla permit to trek gorillas in Uganda, here is a simple explanation of what happens regarding the Ugandan policy about gorilla permit refund and cancellation.
As earlier said the Uganda wildlife authority is responsible for issuing of gorilla permits to our trekkers for gorilla trekking expeditions in Bwindi impenetrable forest national and Mgahinga National park. Originally, the cost of a gorilla trekking permit was at 600 united states dollars abut it has been increased to 700 United States dollars effective July 2020. While the cost of gorilla habituation is at 1500 united states dollars.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Gorilla Park
The process of gorilla permit refunding might be a bit longer or without getting any refund especially when booked through the tour operators. This is because tour operators will have to sell your permit at lower rates and refund you half amount after reselling your permits
Additionally, in case you book your ticket and come and trek in Ugandan parks and fail to see the gorillas, the Uganda wildlife authority will automatically refund part of your money which is equivalent to 75%. Meaning that this refund applied to only those who have trekked but have not seen the gorillas.
Similarly, in case you fall sick and fail to trek the mountain gorillas when you are already in Uganda for gorilla trekking, the Uganda Wildlife Authority recommended that it will refund you 50% of the gorilla trekking fees. However, this will be confirmed and recommend by the warden of the gorilla parks visited either Mgahinga or Bwindi national park. To benefit from this clause you need to have had trekked already at the above-mentioned parks. This means that only travelers who have ever trekked this park will get this refund.
There are instances where the cancellation is related to you the travelers because of different factors or issues and when such happens then the cancellation policy according to the Uganda wildlife authority will be as follows ;
- From 0 – 8 days to the tracking date you will not be refunded anything single coin (gorilla permit is non refundable)
- From 9 to 45 days to the tracking date only 75% (25% refund to client) will affect
- Then form 46 to 90 days to the gorilla tracking date the refund will be 50% and
- 91 days and above to tracking date – 25% (75% refund to client)
It is important to note that any permit refund to be effected on the 30% deposit shall be based on the permit value, permits must be not sold at a face value and those selling them at higher prices are penalized. The sale of primary permits by individuals or tour companies outside the Uganda Wildlife Authority is Illegal. All permits must be sold by Uganda wildlife Authority only.
