Uganda Gorilla Permit Prices 2020
Book 2020 Gorilla Permit now and lock-in the gorillla trekking price and accommodation before the price changes by US$100 in July 2020. Here’s what’s happening from UWA, the governing authority.
- At Present 2019 Gorilla permit price is US$600 until June 30, 2020
- 2020 Gorilla Permit Price will increase by $100 to US$700 starting July 1, 2020
The Uganda Wildlife Authority has decided to increase the permit price by $100 starting July 1, 2020. If I was you, I would rush and book my scheduled gorilla trekking safari (usually inclusive of gorilla permit) like now now.
Seriously, gorilla permits have become a scarce commodity in the Uganda travel world. Probably December 2019 & January 2020 must be booked out and low season gorilla permits were put on an indefinite halt in 2019 and we’re not sure if they’ll be brought back. You want to trek gorillas, you have to let go that hefty dollar fee. The other alternative is the Gorilla Habituation Experience—of course it being an alternative, it’s also becoming really scarce.
Why the increase?
Well, gorillas are jealously protected like the King’s jewels. In 2008, mountain gorillas were listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and were dependent on conservation efforts to survive and multiply. Since then, millions of dollars have been poured into the research and protection of these mighty giants to see their numbers increase to a little above 1000 from the recent 2018 survey.
All that effort needs money to finance and keep running. And because the world has re-focused their interest in these creatures, everyone is heading to Uganda and Rwanda to have a moment with the mountain giants.
Rwanda in 2018 hiked up their gorilla permit to $1500 to control the crowds and provide luxury services to gorilla trekkers. I think Uganda is following suite to keep up with the over-flowing crowds that abandoned Rwanda for the cheaper gorilla trekking permit in Uganda.
Uganda’s still a great option for gorilla trekking because even with the $100 increase, the permit is still not even half of Rwanda’s gorilla permit.
What You Should Know.
Gorilla permits are only sold by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. No one else has the selling right. All operators buy from UWA and are licensed to buy on behalf of their travellers.
One gorilla permit allows one person entry into the jungle to trek mountain gorillas escorted by game rangers and trackers paid by the authority.
A gorilla permit cannot be transferred to another person. Make sure you have the correct names that also appear on your passport when purchasing your 2020 gorilla permit.
A gorilla permit is issued for a selected trail-head or section of the national park. There are four trail-heads or sections in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and each section is where you’ll find sane accommodation. Make sure you get the right permit for the selected trail-head otherwise you may end up paying too much to transport you to the right section.
Only eight people are allowed to track each gorilla family. Your gorilla permit does not determine which gorilla family you’ll be allowed to track. The gorilla family is chosen at random after your gorilla trekking briefing at the trail-head.
For more information or booking your early gorilla permit, send us an email at bookings@mylerafricasafaris.com or use our contact forms. We make it a habit to include gorilla permits in all our custom gorilla safaris plus accommodation and meals, so that you don’t have to go through the struggle of organising your gorilla safari.