How Do I Get a Gorilla Trekking Permit in Uganda

How Do I Get a Gorilla Trekking Permit: Uganda gorilla trekking permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

Price:a standard permit costs US$800 for foreign non-residents, and US$600 in the low-season months of April, May and November.
Where:it gives you one trek and one hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
How to book:directly with UWA, or through a licensed tour operator. You’ll need passport details, and the permit must be paid in full to be secured.

Trekking in Rwanda instead? See our Rwanda gorilla permit cost guide.

Uganda Gorilla Permit Prices

Permit	Foreign non-resident	Foreign resident	Rest of Africa	East African citizens
Gorilla trekking (1 hour)	US$800	US$700	US$500	UGX 300,000
Low-season gorilla trekking (April, May, November)	US$600	US$500	n/a	n/a
Gorilla habituation (up to 4 hours, Rushaga)	US$1,500	Ask us	Ask us	Ask us

Uganda permit fees change from 1 January 2027. Operators report different new rates, so we confirm the exact UWA fee in your written quote before you pay. Low-season permits cannot be rescheduled.

Where You Can Trek Gorillas in Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi is home to almost half of the world’s mountain gorillas. It has four trekking sectors, and your permit is for one specific sector, so stay at a lodge in the same sector:

Sector	Location	Good for
Buhoma	North	Easiest access from Queen Elizabeth NP; the oldest trekking sector
Ruhija	East	High altitude, fewer visitors, good birding
Rushaga	South	The most gorilla families; the only place for habituation; closest to Rwanda
Nkuringo	South-west	Steep, scenic trails; for fit trekkers

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga is in Uganda’s corner of the Virunga volcanoes. It has one habituated family (Nyakagezi), so permits are limited, but the park is quiet and scenic. You can add golden monkey trekking here too.

How to Book a Gorilla Permit in Uganda: Step by Step

Option A: Book directly with UWA

Contact UWA reservations(head office in Kampala) by email or phone to check availability for your date and sector.
Send detailsfor each trekker: full name as in passport, passport number, nationality, date of birth, trek date and sector.
Pay in full,by bank transfer or card, as UWA instructs.
Send proof of paymentand receive your permit confirmation.

Good for: travellers who live in Uganda, or independent travellers with flexible dates. Booking from abroad can be slow.

Option B: Book through a licensed tour operator (recommended)

Send us your dates,group size and preferred sector (or ask us to choose one).
We check availabilitywith UWA and match the sector to your lodge and route.
You send passport detailsand pay for the permit.
We book the permitand send your written confirmation.
We arrange the rest:transport, lodge and driver-guide. That’s especially useful in Bwindi, where the wrong sector can mean a 3–4 hour drive on trek morning.

Coming from Rwanda? Southern Bwindi (Rushaga and Nkuringo) is about 4–5 hours from Kigali via the Cyanika or Katuna border. Many travellers fly into Kigali and trek in Uganda. See our Rwanda vs Uganda comparison.

The Gorilla Habituation Experience (Uganda Only)

What it is:up to four hours with a gorilla family that is still getting used to people, alongside researchers and trackers. It is much longer than the standard one hour.
Where:Bwindi’s Rushaga sector only.
Group size:4 visitors a day per family.
Price:US$1,500 (foreign non-resident), subject to UWA’s 2027 tariff.
Book early:with so few places, book well ahead.

Uganda Gorilla Permit Refunds and Rescheduling

These are UWA’s usual cancellation rules for permits paid in full. Always confirm the current terms, because UWA can change them.

When you cancel	Usual UWA refund
91 days or more before the trek	75%
46–90 days before	50%
9–45 days before	25%
0–8 days before	No refund

Other rules:

Illness:if a ranger stops you from trekking because you’re ill, a partial refund may be possible on the warden’s recommendation.
Rescheduling:possible in some cases, and UWA can charge a rescheduling fee close to the trek date.
Low-season permitscannot be rescheduled.
Transfers:permits are issued to named people and can’t be transferred.

When to Book a Uganda Gorilla Permit

Peak season(June to September and December to February): book 3–6 months ahead, especially for Rushaga and Buhoma.
Low season(March to May and October to November): book 1–2 months ahead. April, May and November also have the cheaper low-season permits.
Habituation permits:book as early as possible, all year.

Uganda Gorilla Trekking Rules

The minimum age is 15.
Keep 7 metresfrom the gorillas, don’t use flash, and wear a mask if asked.
Don’t trek if you have a cold, flu or other infection.
Treks last 1–8 hours over steep, muddy forest trails. Porters are available.
Bring your passporton the trek day. It is checked against your permit.

FAQs: Gorilla Trekking Permits in Uganda

How much is a gorilla permit in Uganda? A standard permit costs US$800 for foreign non-residents, or US$600 in April, May and November. Fees change from 1 January 2027, so confirm the current rate when you book.

Where do I get a gorilla permit in Uganda? From the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), either directly or through a licensed tour operator.

Which Bwindi sector is best for gorilla trekking? Rushaga has the most gorilla families and is the only place for habituation. Buhoma has the easiest access, Ruhija is quieter, and Nkuringo is the most scenic but steepest.

Can I get a refund on a Uganda gorilla permit? Partly, depending on how early you cancel. UWA usually refunds 75% at 91+ days, 50% at 46–90 days and 25% at 9–45 days, with no refund in the last 8 days. Low-season permits can’t be rescheduled.

Is a Uganda gorilla permit cheaper than Rwanda’s? Yes. US$800 (or US$600 in low season) compared with US$1,500 in Rwanda.

Can I trek gorillas in Uganda if I fly into Kigali? Yes. Southern Bwindi is about 4–5 hours by road from Kigali, which makes it a popular option.

Book Your Uganda Gorilla Permit

Trek Rwanda Gorillas (Maranatha Tours & Travel) is licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB/RTT/TT/2024/101151) and RDB (RDB/TL/2019/07/TO/10116). Our main office is at 194 Mobutu Road, Kampala.

WhatsApp +256 701 800 149 · in**@****************as.com · Contact us

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