Uganda Gorilla Permits

Uganda Gorilla Permits

Uganda Gorilla Permits are documents required to take on a Gorilla safari in either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The two parks are home to amazing mountain gorilla families found in different sectors. 

• Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

This is yet another interesting park that allows gorillas to feel at home. Being part of the Virunga massif, this national park is blessed with a variety of features like some mountains that make up the volcanoes, thick forests, and bamboo forests that are loved by the gorillas dearly. While in this park, tourists glimpse two habituated gorilla family groups that are found on its premises, it is either the Nyakagezi or Hirwa gorilla family.

Nyakagezi was originally habituated while in this park and it offers tourists with a chance to appreciate the beauty of its ten individuals that they spend the day with. Hirwa is an explorer kind of group that migrated from the volcanoes and it’s not known when it will migrate back but while it’s in Mgahinga, tourists enjoy awe sights from the seventeen members that make up this gorilla family. The Park has just two habituated gorilla families but it should be noted that it has about 100 mountain gorilla families which typically means that the rest of the population enjoys being out in the wild.

• Bwindi impenetrable national park

The forests in Bwindi are impassable to humans but hold a special kind of heaven on earth for the gigantic mountain gorillas. Coupled with the undulating landscape in the park, the wondrous black apes cannot ask for a better place to call home. Visitors highly flock to this national park because it is world widely known for having almost half of the population of the gorillas in the world in its pristine environment. They are divided among the four sectors that beautify the amazing Bwindi National Park.

There are over 500 black beauty apes in the park but just seventeen families are available for trekking. In Bwindi, tourists can visit the Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija, and Nkuringo sectors to get an exquisite gorilla encounter that they will live to remember. When a tourist chooses to visit Ruhija, they will be blessed with views from Bitukura, Oruzogo, Kyaguriro, and Mukiza gorilla families. In Rushaga, Nshongi, Bikini, Mishaya, Kahungye, Bweza, Busingye, Kutu, Muchunguzi, and Rwigi gorilla families are always ready to please the eyes of tourists.

Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura, Katwe, and Muyambi gorilla families blossom while in the Buhoma sector of the park. Visitors shouldn’t miss out on the Nkuringo sector because it has gorilla families with unique and peculiar names that include Nkuringo, Bushaho, Posho, and Christmas. While trekking these gorillas, guides are highly familiar with the nature of these groups hence they know which families are easily trekked than others. Also, tourists are free to make choices on the gorilla group they can trek depending on their level of fitness.

Process of Booking Permits

The first step in realizing the dream of encountering the amazing mountain gorillas is getting a hold of a gorilla permit. These permits are only issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority therefore tourists can either book the permits from the authorizing body directly or book up with a reliable tour operator.

Demand for these gorilla permits is not underrated hence it is recommended that travelers book their permits at least six months prior.  Those booking for gorilla permits are availed with forms which they are to fill and transfer the funds to their accounts. As soon as the payment is received, the permit will automatically be booked in the names of tourists. When the tourists come to Uganda, they have to go in person to the office in charge with all their identification to obtain their gorilla trekking permits.

Cost of permits in Rwanda and Congo

The cost of gorilla trekking permits in Uganda is affordable compared to getting them in Rwanda and expensive if they are compared to permits sold in D.R. Congo. A gorilla permit in Uganda costs US$ 800 per person for a single day, US$ 400 in D.R. Congo, and US$ 1500 in Rwanda.

Trekking from D.R. Congo is way cheaper compared to trekking from Rwanda and Uganda. Gorilla habituation is also another interesting activity that engages tourists with the gorillas for four hours. It only ensues in Uganda for US$ 1500 per permit. Now that you know about booking Uganda gorilla permits, let us know when you are planning your Uganda Safari for proper planning.