The cost of gorilla permits in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park depends on what one is purchasing. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is known for having the highest number of mountain gorillas in the whole world. Among these are fully habituated mountain gorillas which call for trekking permits and the semi-habituation gorillas which call for habituation permits.
Gorilla trekking is a one-hour activity around mountain gorillas while gorilla habituation is a four-hour activity with mountain gorillas and this is why their prices differ. Normal gorilla trekking is very affordable to all kinds of tourists who wish to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitats while gorilla habituation is somehow expensive.
Mountain gorilla habituation permits are affordable to luxury travelers who have a lot of money to spend on a safari. A single permit goes for $1500 however tourists should know this is still fair for a 4-hour activity with mountain gorillas and being part of the activities that make them get used to human presence around them. The same amount is the cost of a normal gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda.
The cost of gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi
Gorilla trekking permits
Gorilla trekking permits are documents that allow tourists to search for mountain gorilla families in the jungles of Bwindi and be around the members for a maximum of one hour. The gorilla permit allows trekkers to be around the mountain gorillas at a distance as they watch them carry out daily activities.
Gorilla trekking permits cost $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, $500 Rest of Africa and UGX300,000 citizens of East African member states. These permits allow tourists to be around the mountain gorillas for a maximum of 1 hour which comes with an opportunity of taking photos and recording videos.
Gorilla habituation permits
Gorilla habituation permits in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park are documents that allow trekkers to be with mountain gorillas for a maximum of 4 hours. The activity comes with an opportunity for trekkers to be part of the activities that make mountain gorillas get used to human beings around them.
Gorilla habituation permits cost $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 for foreign residents, and UGX750,000 citizens of East African member states. Only 4 mountain gorilla habituation permits are available for purchase in Bwindi every day. This calls for advance bookings to avoid last minute booking disappointments.
How to purchase gorilla permits in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park?
By yourself
There are tourists who can purchase gorilla permits different from Uganda Wildlife Authority a government body in charge of tourists in the country. Ugandans and citizens of East African member states are the two categories that can purchase directly from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. To qualify, one must have a national identity card or a passport to confirm where he is coming from.
Through a local tour operator
Licensed local tour operators of Uganda are all allowed to purchase gorilla permits for tourists interested in visiting Bwindi and see gorillas in their natural habitats. Tourists who book their safaris through safari companies don’t have to worry about how they will get their gorilla permits because most of the companies are licensed and allowed to purchase.
Tourists for example those doing self drive can contact any local tour company that is licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board for gorilla permits. Companies do help in purchasing these gorilla permits at a small fee. So many tour operators in Uganda therefore travelers have a wide range of options to choose who to work with.
At Africa Adventure Vacations, we help tourists get gorilla permits. We buy gorilla permits for those who book safaris directly with us and we also help self drive tourists in booking gorilla permits at the Uganda Wildlife Authority. What tourists have to do is get the travel dates and we shall be ready to book them a gorilla permit to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
When to purchase a gorilla permit for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is the most famous park when it comes to mountain gorillas. This is because it has the highest number of these apes compared to other gorilla parks. Over 21 mountain gorilla families are found here and only 1 is open for habituation activities.
The number of mountain gorilla families is high in Bwindi but tourists should know that the park receives the highest number of tourists a day because the permits are affordable. This calls for the early advance booking of 3 to 4 months or even more to avoid last minute bookings.
Tourists who are interested in gorilla habituation which is a four hour activity with the mountain gorillas need to know that only 4 habituation permits are available on a day in the park. This calls for early bookings of about 6 months in advance a period when these permits might still be available.