What is Included in a Gorilla Trekking Permit in Uganda?

What is Included in a Gorilla Trekking Permit in Uganda? : A gorilla permit is must have for a gorilla adventure in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park as well as Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, these two beautiful gorilla destinations are part of the only four destinations where gorilla trekking can be done in the whole world.

A gorilla permit is a legal document that allows one to go trekking in search for mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, in Uganda gorilla permits are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority and they can only be acquired through a registered tour operator.

Gorilla permits allows visitors to stay for 1 hour in the presence of a habituated gorilla family and 4 hours for a gorilla habituation permit with a semi- habituated gorilla family with researchers and scientists.

Inclusions in a gorilla permit

The cost of a gorilla permit in Uganda for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park includes the following

• One hour in the presence of a habituated gorilla family though the trekking itself, takes about 2 to 7 hours in the jungle depending on the movement of mountain gorillas and where they stayed the previous night.
• Gorilla permits include park entrance fees for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park depending on the gorilla park of your choice.
• Security – while in the jungle, you are offered rangers and guides for your protected, these rangers are part of Uganda Wildlife Authority and they are well trained.
• Service of the guides or park ranger who will escort during the hike in the forests of Bwindi and Mgahinga
• Gorilla trackers, the gorilla permits include gorilla trackers who wake up early and move into the jungle to search for mountain gorillas so as to communicate to the guide where to take the visitors when trekking.

Note: a fraction if the cost of gorilla trekking permits carters for the fees of veterinary doctors who looks after the well – being of the gorillas.

Cost and Getting Gorilla Permits in Uganda

Gorilla permit in Uganda costs $ 700 per person per trek for Foreign non-residents, $ 600 per person for residents and $ 70 for East African Citizens (citizens of Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi and South Sudan).bw

A gorilla permit gives you an opportunity to spend one hour with one of the habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

For visitors interested in spending more hours with mountain gorillas, you can book a gorilla habituation permit at a cost of $ 1,500 giving you a chance to spend 4 hours in the presence of a semi-habituated mountain gorilla family.

Though gorilla permits in Uganda are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority, you can only acquire one through a registered and authorized tour operator like ………………………

What is the age limit for gorilla trekking in Uganda

The minimum age limit for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 15 years and the maximum age is 85 years depending on the fitness levels. Gorilla trekking for the elderly is now possible in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park thanks to the provision of sedan chair carriers. These chairs are carried by potters to and from the forest during your trek, hiring the sedan chair can be done in advance or at the day of the trek. Its cost range is from 400 – 500 dollars.

What is the best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda

Gorilla trekking in Uganda can be done any time of the year, however the best time to do gorilla trekking in the forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park as well as Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is during the drier months of January, February, June to early September.

The dry season makes hiking through the jungle much easier as the trails are less slippery, also offers clear view of the gorillas as the vegetation cover is not too much high grown.

What to pack for gorilla trekking in Uganda

On Uganda gorilla trekking adventure, you will need the right items to have a great experience, remember conditions in the gorilla destinations are generally very muddy and it can rain any time of the day. Also, the uphill sections may be quite steep and strenuous.

The following items must not miss in your packing list for Uganda gorilla trekking safari.

• Long sleeve cotton shirts
• Comfortable hiking shoes
• Insect repellents
• Wet wipes
• Camera and lens
• Gardening gloves
• Hat and sunscreen
• Rain jacket
• Swimwear
• Binoculars