How many gorilla permits are available in Uganda on a day?

How many gorilla permits are available in Uganda on a day? Uganda is currently the best place to see mountain gorillas in the whole world. The country has two national parks hosting mountain gorillas all located in the southwestern part of the country. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park are the 2 parks hosting mountain gorillas of Uganda. More than half of the mountain gorillas of the world are found in Uganda.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has the highest number of mountain gorilla families and permits. This park currently has a total of 148 permits a day where 26 people can trek in Rushaga, 26 people in Nkuringo, 38 people in Buhoma, and 58 people in Rushaga. Mgahinga National Park has only 1 mountain gorilla family and this can be trekked by only 8 people.

Apart from mountain gorilla trekking permits, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has a gorilla family going through habituation and a maximum of 4 people can visit the group. This gorilla group is found in the Rushaga sector of the park and tourists who are interested in taking part in activities that make these gorillas get used to human presence around the members can visit it.

With 148 gorilla trekking permits, 4 gorilla habituation permits in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, and 8 gorilla trekking permits in Mgahinga National Park, Uganda as a country has 160 gorilla permits a day. These are sold at Uganda Wildlife Authority a government agency managing and controlling park activities.

What is the cost of gorilla permits in Uganda?

Uganda has the most affordable gorilla permits when it comes to countries that are safe to visit. A gorilla trekking permit both in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park costs $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, $500 Rest of Africa, and UGX300,000 citizens of East African member states.

The gorilla habituation permits are a bit costly because they come with 4 hours around the mountain gorillas and taking part in the activities that make these apes get used to human presence around them. Each gorilla habituation permit in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park costs $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 for foreign residents, and UGX750,000 citizens of East African member states.

When to purchase Uganda gorilla permits?

The time to purchase Uganda gorilla permits depends on the season one is traveling. We have the high season when thousands of travelers visit the country due to good weather and we also have the low season when a few travelers are in the country due to bad weather characterized by plenty of rainfall and little sunshine.

Tourists who are traveling in the high season are advised to purchase their gorilla permits at least 6 months before the trekking dates. This is when the permits are still available in the favorite sectors. Those traveling in the low season can book 3 to 4 months in advance because the permits don’t sell out quickly.

How to purchase Uganda gorilla permits?

To purchase the Uganda gorilla permits in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga National Park, one needs to use a licensed local tour operator especially if they are from countries that are outside East Africa. A tour operator is the only person who can help a tourist to book and buy a gorilla permit at Uganda Wildlife Authority. East Africans are allowed to purchase the permits using their identification cards in case they don’t want to use a tour operator.

For foreign non-residents, foreign residents, and Rest of Africa, the moment you get your travel dates, we kindly advise you to plan with a tour operator and when you get the trekking dates they will help you to book and purchase the gorilla permits at Uganda Wildlife Authority as long as you have given them money. After purchasing the permit, you will be sent a scanned copy to assure you that you will trek and see the mountain gorillas.

Best time to see the mountain gorillas of Bwindi

Tourists that are interested in seeing mountain gorillas of Uganda can do so at any time of the year however we have seasons that are better than others. The dry season months from June to September and December to February are the best to visit the mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. These have little rainfall and plenty of sunshine which keeps the trekking trails dry and easier to walk through with the vegetation short and scattered.

Tourists can still use the rainy season to visit the mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. These months happen in March to May and October to November a period that is characterized by too much rainfall and little sunshine. Tourists who visit the gorillas during this season might find the trekking trails muddy and slippery and the vegetation very tall with unclear views of the mountain gorillas.