How to book a gorilla permit in Uganda| Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park

How to book a gorilla permit in Uganda, Whenever the thought of a gorilla encounter comes to mind, one of the first things to consider is what do you need to make this trip happen. While there can be several necessities for a successful gorilla trekking safari ranging from logistics, accommodation, among others, the most important is possession of a gorilla trekking permit since it’s the ultimate requirement for taking part in gorilla trekking. The question then would be how do you get the gorilla permit in Uganda!

In 2024, booking a Uganda gorilla trekking permit became something that one cannot do by themselves through the government website. The government of Uganda requires all foreign travelers to book gorilla permits through a licensed Ugandan tour operator, and since then UWA no longer allows permits to be sold directly to travelers.

What Exactly Is a Uganda Gorilla Permit?

A gorilla permit is a legal document issued exclusively by the Uganda Wildlife Authority that grants one person the right to spend up to one hour with one of the habituated mountain gorilla families in either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park on a specific date. It is not a general park entry ticket but rather each permit is allocated to one individual, a specific date, and trekking sector. The Uganda Wildlife Authority issues a strictly limited number of permits per day allowing only up to a group of 8 individuals to visit one gorilla family a day. This is a conservation measure taken to protect these endangered species from behavioral stress, habitat damage, and disease transmission.

How Much Does a Gorilla Permit Cost in Uganda?

As of 2026, a gorilla permit in Uganda costs USD 800 per permit for foreign non-residents, USD 700 per permit for foreign residents of East Africa, USD 500 per permit for African citizens, and UGX 300,000 per permit for East African citizens.

During the designated low season that is, from March to May and November, the Uganda Wildlife Authority offers a discount on the gorilla permits thus selling them at USD 600 per permit for foreign non-residents and USD 500 per permit for foreign residents. It is however important to note that these discounted gorilla permits are date locked therefore cannot be rescheduled to a new trekking date unlike the standard price permits.

What is included in the price of the gorilla permit

The gorilla permit cost includes park entrance fees for the day, a ranger guide, and team of trackers, a gorilla briefing at the park headquarters, and one hour spend with the assigned gorilla family. It does not include transportation to the park, accommodation, porters, and tips for the ranger guides and trackers. Porters can be hired at the park headquarters at a fee between USD 15 to USD 20 and honestly it would be one of the best spent few dollars on this trip as this is a direct way of supporting the local communities.

How Do You Book a Gorilla Permit in Uganda?

To book a gorilla permit in Uganda, contact a licensed trusted Uganda tour operator with your preferred trekking dates, the park you want to visit that is, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and your passport details. Your tour operator will then check availability of the gorilla permits for those particular dates with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, confirm a spot on that date in a specific sector, and request full payment upfront to secure the gorilla permit. Once the gorilla permit is purchased, you can request the tour operator to share with you a copy of the permit.

How Far in Advance Should You Book Your Gorilla Permit?

If you plan to go gorilla trekking during the peak season, that is June through to October and December through to February. It is advisable that you book your gorilla permit 6 to 10 months in advance, since these are driest and the busiest gorilla trekking months in Uganda. For low season travel in April, May, or November, 3 to 6 months in advance is usually enough. However, if you are traveling with a group of six or more or instead of spending only one hour with mountain gorillas, would like the four-hour gorilla habituation experience, then you may need to book further in advance.