A Gorilla Permit is a must-have item for anyone planning to trek & see mountain gorillas in the wild whether in Uganda, Rwanda, or DR Congo. However, we don’t operate gorilla tours to Congo – curious why? read our blog: Why Gorilla Trekking in DR Congo is considered unsafe. Booking gorilla permits in Nkuringo
Gorilla Permits to trek Mountain gorillas in the Nkuringo region of the greater Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park costs $700 per person for non-residents, $600 per person for foreign residents/Expatriates living & working in East Africa; Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Burundi. For East African citizens, the gorilla permit costs UGX250,000 per person – this price is valid for even East African citizens living & working in the diaspora.
How to book Nkuringo gorilla trekking Permits
There are two (02) ways to book Nkuringo gorilla Permits; you can either do it yourself by directly contacting Uganda Wildlife Authority or work with a local gorilla tour Operator like Realm Africa Safaris™ and we will help you not only book your gorilla Permit but also give your extra advice on important things like; What to do in Nkuringo besides Gorilla trekking, where to stay, how to get there and many other questions you might have about gorilla trekking in Nkuringo region or Bwindi Forest. Booking gorilla permits in Nkuringo Region
If booking your gorilla permit with Realm Africa safaris™ is the option you have taken, we will need you to email us your desired gorilla trekking dates (send us at least two sets of dates just in case the first dates are unavailable), send us a copy of your Passport and that of any other persons that you might be traveling with, and accompany all the above with full gorilla permit fees;
- $700 per person Foreign non-residents.
- $600 per person Foreign residents.
- UGX250,000 per person for East African Citizens.
Upon receipt of all the above, we should have feedback about your Nkuringo Gorilla permits in 2 – 3 working days.
Gorilla Permits are booked. What next?
After your gorilla permits have been confirmed and booked with Full Payment to UWA, the next thing would be to book your accommodation in the Nkuringo region. Guided by your travel budget, you may choose to stay at the fairly priced upmarket Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge or fork out a lot more staying at luxurious Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge or the Newly opened Gorilla Heights Lodge. Typically people visiting Nkuringo for Mainly mountain gorilla trekking stay for two (02) nights but you can advise us on how long you would like to stay.
Low Budget travelers can consider staying at the nearby Bwindi Backpackers Lodge located only a 20 -30 minutes drive to the UWA Gorilla trekking briefing point.
Accommodation is Booked! What next?
We need to get you to Nkuringo Region. You can either get to Nkuringo by Flying into Kigali International Airport, where you will meet a representative of Realm Africa Safaris™ who will greet and assist you through the arrival procedures, and thereafter you will embark on your drive to Nkuringo. The drive from Kigali to the Nkuringo region could last approximately 5-hours (including border crossing time) – this is the best way to get to the Nkuringo region by road.
If you choose to Fly into Uganda via Entebbe International Airport, be sure to plan an overnight stay in Entebbe. From Entebbe, you may either drive of Fly to get to Nkuringo Region;
- Driving to the Nkuringo region from Entebbe could take between 9 – 10 hours. This drive can be tiring especially if you have to trek gorillas the next day).
- Flying from Entebbe to the Nkuringo region will take 1hr30mins. This is the best (not the cheapest) way to get to Nkuringo. The flight will depart Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield and land at Kisoro Airport where you will be met by a representative from Realm Africa Safaris who will transfer you to your lodge in the Nkuringo region. The drive from Kisoro to Nkuringo Region typically will last about 1 hr 30mins and is very scenic so keep your camera handy.
Best time to Visit Nkuringo for Gorilla Trekking
The best time to consider booking a Gorilla trekking safari to the Nkuringo region is the dry season months of June – August, or December to February when the trails are fairly drier and less challenging to trek. However, the rainy low season months of March, April, May & November are the best time to go for Photographers who are looking at Filming or Phtographying Mountain gorillas.
Learn More about Nkuringo Gorilla Trekking Region.
