Booking Gorilla Permits in Bwindi: This is the mandatory requirement for all travellers planning to trek mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is a document needed to participate in the gorilla trekking activity and see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The Uganda Wildlife Authority issues this permit, and the minimum age for tracking is 15 years old. Without it, travellers cannot trek to the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, located in southwestern Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to over half of the world’s mountain gorilla population, which lives in the thick forests as their natural habitat in the park’s four sectors: Nkuringo, Rushaga, Ruhija, and Buhoma. To see the gorilla families, one must purchase a permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority or a trusted tour operator like Nakra Safaris.

Things to follow when booking gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi

By using a local tour operator

The best way to book a gorilla trekking permit for Bwindi is through a reliable local tour operator. This method is quicker than booking directly from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) online. A tour operator can help you choose the best gorilla family from the four sectors of the park to track mountain gorillas and will collect the permits for you, so you don’t have to go to the UWA offices. To find a trustworthy tour operator, search online for one licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board. Nakra Safaris is one such operator. To book with them, email and specify the dates you wish to travel.

The email information will check if trekking permits are available at the Uganda Wildlife Authority. If available, we will inform you and provide banking details for payment. You can choose how to send the money, and after receiving it or using a scanned copy, we will book your gorilla trekking permit for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Direct Booking from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA)

Travellers can book gorilla trekking for Bwindi through the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the government’s tourism agency. To book, contact the reservations office via email with your desired trekking dates. They will check for permit availability and inform you via email if permits are available, along with banking details for payment. After sending the money, you can scan the receipt and email it to the Uganda Wildlife Authority, or they will confirm your booking upon receiving your payment. When it’s time for your safari, you can collect your permit at the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices.

Cost of a Bwindi gorilla trekking permit

A gorilla trekking permit for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park costs $800 for non-foreign residents, $700 for foreign residents, and UGX300,000 for East African citizens. The Uganda Wildlife Authority issues these permits, available only to people over 15 years old. Travellers should book permits 3-4 months in advance to avoid issues.

Precautions during Bwindi mountain gorilla encounters

Since these endangered mountain gorillas are vulnerable to human diseases, particularly contagious ones that can spread quickly from person to person, including to gorillas through respiratory droplets, direct contact, and other means, gorilla trekking visits are restricted to no more than an hour. You should also avoid dumping waste on park property, refrain from using flash photography, and avoid smoking, eating, and drinking while trekking.

What to pack for gorilla trekking?

Essential to consider during gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are a long pair of trousers, a long-sleeved shirt, a brimmed hat, a good camera, a pair of binoculars, a thick warm sweater, waterproof hiking shoes, a waterproof jacket, a backpack, long thick socks, garden gloves, gaiters, insect repellent, extra batteries, a drinking water bottle, a walking stick (and this is always provided at the park information offices), and many others.

Best time to trek mountain gorillas

Bwindi gorillas can be trekked year-round, but the best time is during the dry months, which are from June to September and October to November. These months have little or no rain, making the trails dry, the vegetation short, and the views of the gorillas clear. The roads to the park are also in better condition during this time. Although the rainy season runs from March to May and October to November, travellers can benefit from discounts on accommodations. In this season, there is a lot of rain, muddy trails, tall vegetation, and poor views of the endangered mountain gorillas.