Gorilla Permits Booking Information
Book Your Chimps and Gorilla permits in Uganda
Planning a primate safari in Uganda starts with one important step: securing the right permits. Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are limited and often sell out months in advance. That is where Greenway Nature Tours Africa comes in. We specialize in gorilla trekking permits, chimpanzee tracking permits, and habituation experiences. We handle the entire process for you from start to finish. Simple. Clear. Reliable. With us, you avoid stress, delays, and uncertainty. You focus on your dream trip. We take care of the permits.
Why Book Your Permits With Us?
Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda cannot be purchased directly by travelers. They can only be reserved through a licensed tourism operator registered in Uganda. Greenway Nature Tours Africa is a fully licensed tour operator, officially registered and approved by the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB). This allows us to legally reserve and manage gorilla, chimpanzee, and golden monkey permits on your behalf.
Booking with an unlicensed agent or individual puts your trip at risk. Permits may be invalid, delayed, or not issued at all. When you book with us, your permits are secure, legal, and officially recognized.
What This Means for You
- Your permit is issued through the official Uganda Wildlife Authority system
- Your booking is protected and legitimate
- Your trekking date is guaranteed once confirmed
- You avoid scams and unreliable middlemen
- You receive accurate and up-to-date information
We follow all government regulations and tourism guidelines. This ensures a smooth and stress-free experience from booking to trekking day.
Price of a Gorilla Permit trekking
The price of a gorilla trekking permit depends on your residency status:
- Foreign non-residents pay US$ 800
- Foreign residents with a valid work permit pay US$700.
- Visitors holding other African passports pay US$500.
- East African citizens pay about UGX 300,000
Rates include, guide fee, park entrance fees for the day, community development contribution. Note that this permit only grants access for a guided trek and one hour with the gorillas. It does not include any other costs, such as accommodations, transport or meals.
Price of a gorilla habituation Permit
A gorilla habituation experience permit allows you to take part in the habituation process. This involves gradually encouraging wild gorillas to feel comfortable in the presence of humans, which is essential for tourism. The price of a gorilla habituation permit also depends on your residency status. This permit allows you to spend up to four hours with the gorillas instead of the standard one hour. It offers a deeper and more exclusive experience.
- Foreign Non-resident pay: US$1,500 per person.
- East African Citizens pay UGX 750C,000
- Foreign Resident and other African passports pay US$1,000.
Rates include, guide fee, park entrance fees for the day, community development contribution.
Chimpanzee Trekking Permit price
The costs for the four locations where you can go on a chimpanzee trekking vary. The costs is as follows:
- Kibale National Park: $250 (foreign non-resident), $200 (foreign resident), $250 (other African passport holders) UGX 180,000 (East Africa Citizens
- Kyambura Gorge: $100(foreign non-resident), $80 (foreign resident), $100 (other African passport holders) UGX 50,000 (East Africa Citizens.
- Budongo Forest: $120 in high season, $110 in low season
- Kalinzu Forest: $140
The rates include the guide fee. Park entrance fees are not included, except for Kibale Forest, Budongo Forest, and Kalinzu Forest, where entrance is covered. Chimpanzee tracking fees also include a guided nature walk on the same day as the tracking activity.
Please note that chimpanzee trekking is offered twice daily. The morning trek starts at 8:00 AM, while the afternoon trek begins at 2:00 PM. We strongly recommend the morning trek, as chimpanzees are more active earlier in the day and often rest during the afternoon hours.
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience price
The Chimpanzee Habituation Experience is mainly offered in Kibale National Park. The price also depends on your residence status.
- $300 (foreign non-resident)
- $250 (foreign resident)
- $300 (other African passport holders)
- UGX 250,000 (East Africa Citizens
Rates include guide fee, park entrance fees and 4hours with the Chimpanzees
Minimum Age For Gorilla Trekking Permits
The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years. With a signed letter from their parents, we can request an exemption for children who are at least 13 years old.
Minimum Age For Chimpanzee Trekking Permits
The minimum age for the chimpanzee trekking is 12 years old. With a signed letter from their parents, we can request an exemption for children who are at least 10 years old.
What We Need To Book Your Gorilla Permits?
To book your gorilla permits in Uganda, we need a few important details from you.
First, we need to know your nationality or residency status so we can apply the correct permit price.
We also need your preferred trekking date and at least one alternative date in case permits are not available on your first choice.
Please tell us how many people will be trekking and which tracking location you prefer.
Important information about gorilla trekking locations
Gorilla trekking in Uganda takes place in two national parks: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Bwindi is the most popular park and has four separate trekking sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. Each sector operates independently and has its own gorilla families, accommodation options, and access routes.
Buhoma is the most popular and easiest sector to access. Rushaga offers the highest number of gorilla permits and is the only sector where the gorilla habituation experience is available. Nkuringo is the most remote sector. It is very scenic, but gorilla trekking here is more challenging than in other sectors. It is also the least visited. Ruhija is known for its cooler climate and excellent birdlife.
If you are booking your own accommodation, it is very important to know which sector you will be trekking from. Lodges should ideally be booked in the same sector as your gorilla trek.
The sectors are far apart by road. Travel between Buhoma and Ruhija takes about two hours. Travel between Rushaga and Nkuringo takes about one hour. Other combinations are not practical. For example, traveling between Buhoma and Nkuringo takes about four hours by road. Long drives on the morning of your trek are uncomfortable and should be avoided.
Mgahinga is much simpler to plan. It has only one trekking headquarters and one habituated gorilla family. All gorilla treks start from the same location, making logistics easy.
What We Need To Book Your Chimp Permits?
To book your chimpanzee permits in Uganda, we need also a few important details from you.
First, we need to know your nationality or residency status so we can apply the correct permit price.
We also need your preferred trekking date and at least one alternative date in case permits are not available on your first choice.
Please tell us how many people will be trekking and which tracking location you prefer.
Permit Booking Service Fees & Reservation
When you book a full safari package with us, the cost of trekking permits is already included. If you only need us to secure permits on your behalf, we charge a small service fee for handling the reservation process with the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
For gorilla trekking permits, the service fee is USD 40 for one person and USD 30 per person when booking for more than one person.
For chimpanzee trekking permits, the service fee is USD 35 for one person and USD 20 per person when booking for more than one person.
Once you confirm your booking request, we place a tentative reservation for your permit on the Uganda Wildlife Authority portal. This reservation is held for up to 7 days while we wait for your full payment, which includes the permit cost and our service fee.
Paying For Your Permit
After we receive full payment, we immediately finalize and secure the permit with the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Within 24 hours on working days, we send you a scanned copy of the permit for your records. You receive the original permit arrival in Uganda.
We currently offer two payment options for your convenience.
The first is a bank transfer, with full banking details provided in your invoice. Please note that a processing fee of USD 6 applies for this option.
The second option is secure online payment via Pesapal. You can pay safely using this link. For Pesapal payments, a service fee of 3.5% will be added to the total permit cost.
Book Your Gorilla Permits Now!
We would love to help you plan your unforgettable wildlife adventure! Feel free to get in touch via any of the methods below:
- info@greenwaynaturetours.com
- +256 704 324 972
Permit reservation Form
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a gorilla trekking permit?
A gorilla trekking permit is required to see gorillas in the wild. It helps the conservation authorities manage the number of visitors and supports the national parks in protecting these endangered primates. Each permit grants access to one trek and includes up to one hour with the gorillas.
The duration of the trek can vary depending on the gorillas’ location on the day of your visit. In Uganda, permits are issued for two parks. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most popular and has more than 25 habituated gorilla groups. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is smaller and has only one habituated group. These numbers can change over time as gorilla groups sometimes split or, less commonly, merge.
Is it possible to book a gorilla trekking permit directly through the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) myself?
How far in advance should I book my gorilla permit?
You will need to purchase your permit well in advance. During peak season (June to September and December to February), they often sell out four months in advance. In low season, you might be lucky and find some last-minute tickets.
Can I Cancel A Gorilla Permit?
If you have only paid a deposit, you will not receive any refund on cancellation. If you have paid your permit in full, the following cancellation rules apply:
- 75% refund if you cancel your permit 91 days or more before your trek
- 50% refund if you cancel 46 to 90 days before
- 25% refund if you cancel nine to 45 days before
- No refund if you cancel zero to eight days before
If, however, you cannot trek due to illness (this will be established on site), 50% of the permit fee may be refunded. This is to encourage people to be more honest about feeling unwell (as even a common cold can be fatal for gorillas) and prevent the gorillas from becoming sick.
What To Pack For Gorilla Trekking?
- Hiking boots
- Garden gloves
- Rain jacket or poncho
- Long-sleeved shirt/blouse
- Cameras and extra batteries
- Hat/cap and sunglasses
- Flashlight (torch)
- Insect repellent
- Other items to include: zoom lens for wildlife shots and energy bars/bites
We are greenway nature Tour
A group of seasoned East Africa experts based in Kampala. We are builders. Entrepreneurs. Travelers. Adventurers. We love beautiful places. And those beautiful places become even more beautiful when we can share them with others. That’s why we organize trips here in East Africa. Want to tour Uganda and visit the gorillas, among other things? Call, text, or email us . We’re eager to arrange everything for you. From your activities and accommodation to your tour guide and permits.
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