How many gorilla trekking permits are available in Uganda on daily basis? Yes, a total of 160 gorilla permits are available for sale in Uganda in both Bwindi and Mgahinga. Gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is purchased at $700 for foreign non – residents, $600 for foreign residents and UGX 250,000 when it comes to east African citizens per person per trek. Uganda has 2 national parks where you can meet mountain gorillas that is in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park all together hosting a half of the world’s total population of these giant apes. The parks are located in the extreme south western part of the country, at the edge of the Albertine rift, these national parks are UNESCO heritage sites.

Among the two national parks, Bwindi impenetrable forest national park hosts the largest number of mountain gorillas with 19 habituated gorilla families on a total area of 331 sq.km. The park is divided into 4 major gorilla tracking sectors that is Buhoma sector in the north, Ruhija sector in the east and those in the south are Nkuringo and Rushaga. Each sector has its own habituated gorilla families that are open for tourism every day.

Mgahinga gorilla national park is the smallest national park in Uganda. The park of the Virunga Conservation Area. This national park together with Virunga national park of DR Congo and Volcanoes national park of Rwanda make up Virunga conservation area

Because of its size, Mgahinga national park is a habitat to only one habituated gorilla family called Nyakagezi gorilla family. The gorilla family is made up of 10 members with 5 silverbacks, 2 adult gorilla and 3 juveniles. Mountain gorilla trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park remains a highly restricted venture with a maximum number of visitors being 8 per gorilla family per day.

Gorilla permits are issued out by Uganda wildlife authority to travelers on a first come first serve and without a valid gorilla permit, you cannot access any gorilla family for tracking. The Uganda wildlife authority is a government body responsible of conservation and preservation of all protected areas in Uganda. Alternatively, Africa Adventure Vacations can help you book gorilla permits on behalf of clients.

Every gorilla permit in Uganda is valid for one day of gorilla trekking. A gorilla permit allows you to trek one gorilla family and you are given a maximum of 1 hour to be with the family, take photos and record moments as you are learning their behaviors. The demand of gorilla permits in Uganda is very high therefore we advise you to book your gorilla permits in advance most especially in high seasons of June to October and December to February.

How many gorilla trekking permits are available daily basis in Uganda?

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is a home to the highest number of mountain gorilla that are about 550 individuals, more than half of the total population. The park has 19 habituated gorilla families that are open for tourism every day. With 19 habituated gorilla families, it means that 152 gorilla permits are available per day in all the 4 gorilla tracking regions of Bwindi. Mgahinga national park has only one Nyakagezi habituated gorilla family which means that there are only 8 gorilla permits available for sale everyday making it a total of 160 gorilla permits available in Uganda on a daily basis.

Cost of gorilla trekking permits in Uganda

Each gorilla permit in Uganda costs $700 per person per trek for the case of foreign non – residents, $600 for foreign residents and UGX 250,000 for citizens of East Africa. This means that Uganda gorilla permits are way cheaper than those of Rwanda because theirs cost $1500 per person per trek. Uganda has the safest and most unforgettable gorilla trekking experience of gorilla trekking in Africa.

You are allowed to reschedule gorilla permits to any future dates. However 7 days to the final day of the activities attracts a surcharge of 30% total permit cost. One is allowed to change gorilla permit details to a different date or a different gorilla trekking sector

Gorilla habituation permits

Apart from gorilla trekking, Uganda is the only carry where you can take part in gorilla habituation experience done in Rushaga sector found in the southern part of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Unlike gorilla trekking where you get a maximum of 1 hour with the gorillas in the wild, gorilla habituation experience allows you up to a maximum of 4 hours to be with these magical apes and these hours start counting when you meet the mountain gorillas. Gorilla habituation is interesting for those that need fist hand encounter with the world’s endangered apes.

During habituation, mountain gorillas are not fully used to human presence, and therefore 4 trekkers are accompanied with a group of researchers, trackers and also game rangers who go to the thick forests and look out for an unsuspecting family of mountain gorillas and stay with them for a maximum of 4 hours, observing how they feed, breast feed babies, behave, play with each other and getting to know the general lifestyle and composition of the gorilla family.

Gorilla habituation permits in Uganda cost $1500 per person per trek and the permit allows you 4 hours with the mountain gorillas in the forest.  Gorilla habituation permits can be only got from Uganda wildlife authority or they can be booked through a trusted tour operator such as Africa Adventure Vacations.