Cost of Gorilla Permit Uganda 2026
Gorilla permits in Uganda | Uganda Gorilla permit availability | Gorilla trekking permit Uganda
Here’s everything you need to know about the cost of Uganda gorilla trekking permits.
Mountain gorillas are found in the Virunga Mountain Ranges which consist of Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, as well as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. Uganda alone is home to over half of the world’s population of these endangered species.
Ecotourism is one way of protecting these magnificent creatures and conserving their habitats. Revenue from gorilla tracking trips helps fund these protected areas and provides incentives for local conservation.
To see mountain gorillas in Uganda, you must first obtain a gorilla trekking permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Below, we explain everything you need to know about the gorilla permit in Uganda.
What is a gorilla permit?
A gorilla permit is a legal document or card that authorizes visitors to track mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. It is a primary requirement for anyone who intends to spend one hour with a family of habituated mountain gorillas.
What is a gorilla habituation permit?
A gorilla habituation permit is a legal document that allows visitors to spend up to four hours in the presence of a family of semi-habituated mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Rushaga sector.
Difference between a regular gorilla permit and gorilla habituation permit
While a regular gorilla trekking permit allows visitors to spend only one hour with a family of habituated mountain gorillas, a gorilla habituation permit allows visitors to spend up to four hours with a family of wild gorillas that are in the process of getting used to human presence.
Gorilla permits help the relevant conservation authorities control visitor numbers and raise the money necessary for the conservation efforts of these endangered primates through permit sales.
Each gorilla permit is granted on a per person per day basis, allowing access to one trek. The length of the trek may vary, depending on the location of the gorilla family on any given day.
Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda are issued for two parks: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the more popular and has more than 23 habituated gorilla groups while Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has only one habituated group.
How Much Does a Uganda Gorilla Permit Cost?
A regular gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs USD 800 for foreign non-residents, USD 700 for foreign residents, USD 500 for rest of Africa and UGX 300,000 for East African citizens. For the more intensive gorilla habituation experience, a permit costs USD 1,800 for foreign non-residents, USD 1,600 for foreign residents, USD 1,000 for rest of Africa, and UGX 750,000 for East African citizens.
The current USD 1,500 gorilla habituation permit (rate) is only guaranteed by the UWA until June 30, 2026, following the recent price update. Read gorilla trekking permit updates.
These fees include park entrance, guiding and tracking services (provided by the park), a certificate of trekking and a community levy. Please note that the cost does not include an optional porter to carry your day pack.
Mobility issues
If you’re a senior or having mobility challenges, you can hire a sedan chair—a specialized chair where four porters carry you through the forest. It costs between $300 – $500. While it seems costly, it ensures you never miss the opportunity to encounter a silverback face-to-face in its natural habitat.
Porters
Porters are available for hire if you need a hand to carry your backpacks. The service costs between USD 15 and USD 25 per trekker. They are usually locals or former poachers.
How many gorilla permits are sold daily in Uganda?
Gorilla permits are scarce with availability limited by the number of habituated gorilla families and the number of visitors allowed per family.
With 23 habituated gorilla families and a maximum of eight visitors (or four visitors for gorilla habituation) per group, a total of just 184 permits are available per day, distributed between Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks. Only a limited number of permits are issued per day due to strict gorilla conservation regulations.
When can You book a gorilla permit in Uganda?
Normally, we recommend travelers book gorilla permits at least six months to a year in advance if they’re travelling during peak season (June to August and December to February). This ensures greater assurance and allows for better planning as permits can sell out months in advance.
While the quieter times of the year offer a reasonable chance of last-minute availability, we highly discourage last-minute reservations to avoid disappointment. You can work hand in hand with a reliable local tour operator to help you secure one.
How can You book a gorilla permit in Uganda?
There are two ways of booking a gorilla permit in Uganda.
- You can book a gorilla permit directly with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) – the county’s tourism and wildlife conservation governing body. It is in charge of issuing gorilla trekking permits.
- Through a reliable local tour operator. This is the most convenient way of obtaining a gorilla permit in Uganda. Most tour operators include a gorilla trekking permit as part of the overall cost of a gorilla trekking safari.
Can You Cancel a Gorilla Permit?
Yes, you can cancel a gorilla permit in Uganda and receive a refund as shown below.
- 75% refund if you cancel 91 days or more prior
- 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
Refunds apply only to those who have paid their permits in full. If you have only paid a deposit, you will not receive any refund on cancellation.
Visitors who cannot trek due to illness (established on site), can receive 50% in refunds of the permit fee. This is to encourage people to be more honest about feeling unwell and prevent the gorillas from contracting human illnesses. Remember, gorillas share 95% of their DNA with humans, meaning they can easily get sick from human disease which can be fatal.
Tip: We highly recommend buying travel insurance that covers “cancel for any reason” to ensure you don’t lose the other 50%.
What if you don’t find the gorillas?
As of 2026, the success rate of seeing mountain gorillas remains over 98%, thanks to advanced trackers who head out in the jungle at 5:00 AM. It is extremely rare not to locate a family (usually due to a sudden migration or heavy storm) but if it does happen, UWA’s policy allows a 75% refund or a second trekking attempt the following day if permits are available.
For how long is a gorilla permit valid?
Gorilla permits are only valid for a single trekking trip per person. They cannot be extended to another date. However, it is acceptable and typical to purchase multiple gorilla permits for various trekking dates. Note that the gorilla permit is only valid from the date it is issued out up to the actual trekking date after which it expires.
Tracking Time Limit
Visitors are expected to assemble at the headquarters at 7:30 am for a briefing session from an assigned park ranger. The excursion starts at 8:00 am and the trekking limit is 6:30 pm when all visitors are expected back at the campground.