Uganda is home to roughly half the world’s endangered mountain gorillas, with the remainder being split between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Ecotourism is one way in which these animals are protected. Revenue from gorilla trekking trips helps fund national parks and provides a financial incentive for locals to safeguard gorillas. Every guest must have a permit to visit the mountain gorillas. Here, we explain everything you need to know about the gorilla permit in Uganda.
f you want to see gorillas in the wild, you’ll need a permit. This allows the relevant conservation authorities to control the number of people visiting gorillas. It also allows the national parks to raise the money necessary to protect these endangered primates. A permit grants access to one trek including one hour with the gorillas. The length of the trek may vary, depending on where the gorillas are on any given day.
In Uganda, gorilla permits are issued for two parks. The best known of these is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which now has more than 25 habituated gorilla groups. By contrast, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has only one habituated group. These numbers are subject to change, however, as gorilla groups regularly split (and, less frequently, merge).
The price of a gorilla trekking permit depends on the country. In Uganda, the cost of a standard gorilla permit increased to US$800 for a foreign nonresident in 2024. Lower fees are charged to East African citizens (around US$80), holders of other African passports (US$500) and foreign residents (US$800).
Elsewhere, permits in Rwanda are the most expensive at US$1,500, dropping to US$200 for East African citizens, or US$500 for holders of other African passports and foreign residents. The DRC has the cheapest permits for foreign visitors at US$400.
A habituation permit allows you to take part in the habituation process. This involves gradually encouraging wild gorillas to feel comfortable in the presence of humans, which is essential for tourism. A habituation permit costs US$1,500 per person, which is more than a standard permit, but it allows you to spend up to four hours (as opposed to just one) with the gorillas.
Gorilla permits in Uganda are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), a government body that manages tourism and wildlife conservation. It is possible to book the permits directly with UWA, but the most convenient way is to use a reliable tour operator. Most tour operators include a gorilla permit as part of the overall cost of a gorilla safari. In peak seasons (June to August and December to February), you usually need to book at least six months ahead of travel to ensure availability. At quieter times of the year, there is a fair chance of last-minute availability.
A maximum of eight permits is issued daily for each habituated gorilla group. This means that more than 200 permits are available per day in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, as well as eight for Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Note that a permit only grants access for a guided trek and one hour with the gorillas. It does not include any other costs, such as accommodations, transport or meals.
If you have only paid a deposit, you will not receive any refund on cancellation. If you have paid your permit in full, the following cancellation rules apply:
If, however, you cannot trek due to illness (this will be established on site), 50% of the permit fee may be refunded. This is to encourage people to be more honest about feeling unwell (as even a common cold can be fatal for gorillas) and prevent the gorillas from becoming sick.