How many Bwindi gorilla permits will be available in 2025? There are currently 152 Gorilla Permits available in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. These gorilla permits are spread across four (04) designated gorilla trekking locations or sectors;
- Buhoma Sector has 32 gorilla permits on a daily.
- Ruhija has 32 gorilla permits on a daily.
- Rushaga has 64 gorilla permits on a daily. (08 of these are allocated for Gorilla Habituation)
- Nkuringo has only 32 permits on a daily.
Good to Know: Only a maximum of 08 tourists are allowed to track a specific gorilla family.
What is the price of a Gorilla permit in Bwindi?
The price of Bwindi gorilla Permits in 2025 – 2026 is;
- $800 per permit for foreign Non-Residents.
- $700 per permit/person For Foreign Residents.
- UGX300,000 per permit/person for East African Citizens.
- $500 per permit/person for Africans from the Rest of Africa.
Gorilla Habituation Permits in Bwindi in 2025 – 2026 will cost;
- $1,500 per permit for foreign Non-Residents.
- $1,000 per permit/person For Foreign Residents.
- UGX750,000 per permit/person for East African Citizens.
How to book a gorilla Permit in Bwindi
This is the best way to book a gorilla trekking permit for Bwindi is to simply contact your preferred tour operator with a choice of date(s) on which you would prefer to go gorilla trekking. Assuming Realm Africa Safaris is your company of choice, send us the dates on which you would like to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi, for instance 15th – December 2025. Also, send a copy of your passport (bios page).
Learn More about Why your passport details are important in booking a gorilla Permit in 2024 – 2025.
We will then check for the availability of gorilla permits In all four sectors of Bwindi for the date(s) you intend to trek gorillas. Depending on what we find, we will then get back to you with a response on whether or not there are permits available. Assuming they are available, the tour operator will then advise on how you should pay for your gorilla Permit. This depends on whether you are purchasing an all-inclusive Gorilla Trekking Holiday or only want the tour operator to buy the Gorilla permit and you arrange the rest of your tour – ask for my opinion, and I will say buy the all-inclusive tour as it saves you the hassle of having to figure things out, and reduces your chances of getting things completely wrong.
The DIY process might seem cheaper at the start, but can turn out to be alot more costly if you get one or two things wrong….you’ll be surely screwed.
Mountain Gorilla Permits in Uganda cost $800 per person/permit. If you want the operator to only assist you to buy the Gorilla Permit, then they will and an extra service fee charge of between $100 – $200 per permit. Otherwise, if you are buying an all-inclusive Gorilla Tour, then they will not charge extra on the purchase of the permit – it will be one cost for organizing your entire trip. For instance, Realm Africa Safaris™ will charge you $1,280 per person sharing for a 3-day all-inclusive road trip to Bwindi which includes a gorilla permit ($800pp), accommodation, meals, transport in a 4×4 Toyota Landcruiser driven by an experienced local Safari guide. However, if you contacted us to arrange just the gorilla Permit(s), we would ask you to pay $800 per person for Uganda or $1,500 per permit for Rwanda Plus an extra service fee of $100 per permit.
Once your tour Operator receives your payment for the permit(s), they will make the payment and have your Gorilla Permit printed out and sent to you.
What are the requirements for booking Bwindi Gorilla Permits in 2025 – 2026
- Decide on which date(s) you would like to trek gorillas: The first step is to decide on the date(s) you would Like to trek gorillas, and then we will check for availability. They will then reply advising on whether those dates are available or Not. Assuming the date(s) you want are available, you will then proceed to the next step. If the dates are not available, then you will have to think of alternative date(s).
- Pay for your Gorilla Permit: Considering that we have received confirmation regarding the availability of gorilla permits, then we will advise you to proceed with payment (s) for your gorilla permit via Visa, Credit card, or EFT to our bank account (To be provided on request) How much is a gorilla permit? Currently, the Gorilla permits in Uganda cost $800 per person for foreign non-residents, $700 per person for Foreign residents, $ 500 for Africans from the Rest of Africa, and UGX300,000 (approximately $95) per person for East African citizens.
- Send a scanned copy of your passport (bios page). You will be required to scan and send via email a copy of your Passport. The page that matters most in your Passport is with your passport details ie Names, Date Of Birth, Passport Number, etc – we call it the Bios page. We then proceed to book your permit.
Did you Know? Important things worth knowing about Booking Gorilla permits in 2025 – 2026.
- The actual copy of your Gorilla Permit(s) will be issued three (03) weeks from the date of trekking. If travelling with a tour operator, they will hand it over to your local driver guide who will hold onto it until the trekking date. They will need this permit to do all the ground documentation with UWA before you go gorilla trekking.
- If you organising your travel, you’ll need to arrange to physically pick up your printed copy of the Gorilla permit from the UWA offices in Kampala. Otherwise if booked On an organised tour with a Local tour operator, they will mind to ensure all the permits and any other relevant paperwork is organised before the start of the tour.
- Gorilla permits in Uganda can be pre-booked for up to two (02) years in advance.
When is the best time to go gorilla trekking In Bwindi?
The best time to trek gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is during the dry seasons, which are: December to February and June to August.
During these months, the forests are drier, making the trails less slippery and easier to hike. Gorillas also move more freely in their groups during dry days, making it easier for visitors to see them.
Learn more about Gorilla trekking in Bwindi.
