The Price for Uganda Gorilla Permits for 2022; Foreign non-residents – $700per person, Residents – $600 per person, and East African Citizens – UGX250,000 per person. Uganda remains the safest Place to trek mountain Gorillas in Africa.
Mountain gorilla permits in Uganda for 2022 will cost;
- $700 per person – for foreign non-residents.
- $600 per person – for foreign Residents (proof of residence is required at booking)
- UGX250,000 per person – f
- or East African residents.
Why are Gorilla Permits so Expensive?
Gorilla Trekking is perhaps the most sought adventure experience that is only done in Rwanda, Uganda, and DR. Congo. For Safety reasons, Realm Africa Safaris™ only operates Gorilla Trekking tours in Uganda and Rwanda – DR. Congo is politically unstable with ongoing civil unrest. No Matter the destination, Gorilla permits still don’t come cheap, and this is why; Uganda Gorilla Permits for 2022
- Research, monitoring, and safety
Because Gorillas are considered critically endangered, they require constant research studies and monitoring to ensure they are conserved. Both Gorilla research and monitoring require a lot of money which is financed through the sale of Gorilla Permits.
In each gorilla country, bodies responsible i.e. Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in Uganda and Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in Rwanda hire personnel to monitor the where about the gorillas like; their movements, feeding, and ongoing health status. Every morning, an advanced group of trackers hikes into the forest to check on the gorillas. Similarly, tourism police and other armed rangers are hired to accompany tourists during their trek to see the gorillas. This is to ensure the client’s safety from any possible external attacks by either poachers or rebel groups from DR. Congo who in the past used the gorilla habitat as their hiding place.
- Limit human interference
Mountain Gorillas are considered an endangered species with hardly 1,000 still surviving on earth. These can only be seen in three places; Uganda, Rwanda, and DR. Congo.
Rwanda & Uganda remain the safest places to see gorillas – click & read our blog; Why gorilla trekking in Congo is considered unsafe.
On a typical gorilla trekking day, only 08 persons are allowed to trek and visit a particular gorilla family. It is at this point that the high price of gorillas helps limit crowds. Not Many can afford it, meaning that there will be fewer people visiting. This, in turn, helps to minimize human interference and possible disease transmission from us, humans, onto the gorillas – remember they are endangered species and if we are not careful we could lose them completely.
- The livelihood of the communities living beside the gorillas
Gorilla tourism has become an indirect source of livelihood for the communities besides the gorilla Parks. All governments have a standing revenue-sharing policy with the local communities in a bid to promote sustainable gorilla conservation. For example, In Uganda, the locals are entitled to 20% of the total revenue earned from the sale of gorilla permits. Revenue sharing with local people has created a positive attitude of local people towards gorilla tourism and conservation hence creating a conflict-free harmonious living between the locals and the management of respective national parks.
In a bid to continue conserving these endangered species, all governments have put up clear Gorilla Trekking rules and regulations for tourists to follow. We kindly request that you adhere to these regulations as they protect both you and the gorillas.
Requirements when booking your Uganda gorilla trekking permit for 2022;
- You must have decided the date(s) when you wish to trek for us to check for availability first.
- Confirm you are at least 15 years of age. Curious why? Read our blog: Why is the minimum age for gorilla trekking set at 15 years?
- A scanned copy of your passport (bios page).
Once we have all the above requirements, we will most definitely require you to transfer the gorilla permit fees as per your status; Foreign Non-resident, resident, or East African Citizen – $700, $600, or UGX250,000. We will then proceed to reserve your gorilla permit. A scanned copy of your fully paid and reserved gorilla permit will be sent to you via email.
From this point on are happy to assist with finding the right accommodation and also making arrangements on how to get you to your gorilla trekking location.
Best time to go on a Uganda Gorilla Safari
Gorilla trekking is an all-year-round activity, however, knowing the best time might be helpful In since the seasons are different, and each does come with its upside (advantage) and downside (disadvantage).
The best time for gorilla trekking revolves around the dry and wet seasons – often referred to as the low & peak season. Both Rwanda & Uganda share an almost similar dry & wet season pattern. These both experience two wet seasons; short & long wet seasons. The short wet season is in the months of October into November. The long wet season starts mid-march and stretches into May. The remaining months a dry.
Learn more about When to go gorilla trekking – Compare the Wet & Dry Season experiences.
