Gorilla Permits.
A governing body issues gorilla permits, which are identification cards or credentials that let visitors to enter gorilla national parks and see gorillas. This document certifies that a person has been granted permission to enter the national park. The Uganda Wildlife Authority is responsible for issuing gorilla permits in Uganda.
WHAT DO UGANDANS AND NON-UGANDANS NEED TO HAVE FOR A GORILLA PERMIT?
You must carry your passport with you at all times. It is among the prerequisites that the Uganda Wildlife Authority has requested. Additionally, the passport lets them determine whether you are of legal age to go gorilla trekking. To determine the minimum age required by the passport, they will examine the date of birth. The permission will not be granted if it is found that the hiker is underage.
Visitors who have hiked and have ever trekked gorillas in Uganda are listed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. This aids Uganda wildlife in identifying the nation that has visited Uganda and consistently receives more visits than the others.
Following that, Uganda will develop marketing and promotion plans for the tourism sector to get more visitors from nations with low visitor numbers. For future reference, it is the primary reason why the authorities want information on the passports needed for gorilla permits.
Since wildlife authorities may need to verify a person’s nationality and age, all legitimate tour operators will always ask for passport information before making any arrangements for a gorilla permit. However, we should also know if a porter or special guide is required for gorilla trekking.
Some tourists do not understand English, so providing us with your passport details will help us determine the type of visitor you are expecting. All guides in Uganda speak English as a means of communication and are completely knowledgeable about the norms and regulations of gorilla trekking.
Since the Uganda Wildlife Authority is in charge of granting permits, they will have complete information about the trekkers in the event of an emergency.
To take in the thrilling experience, people are traveling from all over the world to visit the pearl of Africa.
To enter the habitat and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience, one needs a gorilla permit.
WHAT IS THE COST OF GORILLA PERMITS?
In order to better plan your safari vacation, you should get in touch with a tour operator before departing for gorilla trekking. They will provide you with pertinent information about gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
To ensure that the permission is obtained in time for the walk, book a gorilla permit three months prior to your trip.
In order to visit the gorillas in the national park, one must have a gorilla trekking permit. Gorilla permits in Rwanda and Uganda are highly competitive, particularly during the busiest months of June, July, August, September, December, and February. Permits for gorilla trekking are always sold out three months before travel.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority issues a gorilla permit card or document.
The duration of a permit to watch mountain gorillas in the forest is one hour; it can be used for a maximum of 30 minutes to seven hours before expiring.
The cost of a permit is USD 800 in Uganda and USD 1500 in Rwanda; if one would rather go through the habituation process, the fee is USD 1500. For trekking gorillas in Uganda’s two national parks—Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park—a gorilla permit may only be used once in a single day.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority secures and sells gorilla licenses for 800 USD per person, 700 USD for foreign non-residents, and 300,000 UGX for foreign residents who are East African citizens.
UGANDA GORILLA TREKKING PERMIT APPLICATIONS
Getting in touch with a Ugandan tour operator who is a member of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) is the best way to secure a gorilla permit. In Uganda, there are more than 1000 tour operators who are ready to assist you in obtaining the appropriate gorilla permit.
There will be no additional fees for obtaining the permits; they will bill based on the cost. The only tour operators that have a chance of getting the appropriate permits are AUTO members. Since there is a large influx of tourists in Uganda at the busiest time of year, we advise making reservations in advance.
Steer clear of expensive permits and falling for a lot of scammers who try to swindle tourists by selling them discounted permits that don’t exist.
Sending money to personal accounts, money grams, Western Union, or Express Money is not recommended. Have a credit card payment system and use business bank accounts.
Some scammers will even decide to use the AUTO logo, but avoid falling for this.
Additionally, before making a reservation with a tour operator, always remember to research their background.