Where can I buy Mountain Gorilla tracking permits for Uganda and Rwanda? Do I need to book permits in advance? When are the peak seasons?
Gorilla tracking permits need to be purchased in advance, that is six months or even a year in advance if you’re travelling during peak season or if you are in a large group. The earlier you book, the more choice you have on where you track and where you stay. Last minute bookings may be possible during low season or where there are just one or two people tracking, but availability of gorilla tracking permits is not guaranteed. This applies to Uganda in particular where there is high competition for the permits (owing to the lower fee than in Rwanda).
The busy peak seasons are June through to October and Christmas and the New Year.
Each gorilla family can only be visited one hour per day. There is a minimum age requirement of 15 years to track the gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC.
Gorilla tracking permits can be purchased up to two years in advance through the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) or the Rwanda Tourism Board (RTB) or via a registered tour company. DRC gorilla permits can be bought on the VisitVirunga web site.
The advantages of booking with a tour operator or Safari company is that they have intimate local knowledge of the accommodation options and proximity of gorilla families. They know these remote areas well and their drivers are experts at negotiating slippery, steep dirt roads. If you plan to extend your trip (and most people do) the company can make travel recommendations and arrange all the activity and accommodation bookings for you.
To book your gorilla tracking permit, you will need to provide:
- The date(s) you would like to track the gorillas. Suggest a few dates in case your first choice of date is already booked up. Ideally, scan and email a copy of your passport to whoever is organising your permits.
- Your name, nationality and passport number. Gorilla tracking permits are non-transferable. (Note that you will need to show your passport or some other ID at the pre-tracking briefing).
- Payment. The best way to pay is by bank wire transfer. Remember to instruct your bank to deduct any transaction charges from your account.
- If you are buying gorilla tracking permits directly from UWA or RDB, you will need to send them the bank payment confirmation email.
- If you are buying gorilla tracking permits from a tour operator, note that not all tour operators in East Africa accept credit cards. Of those that do, many add a hefty surcharge (of between 3% and 9%). Once the tour company have your preferred dates and personal details, they can make a temporary reservation with the authority.
- Confirmation of your reservation. You should receive a scanned copy of your gorilla tracking permit within a few days or weeks. When you arrive in country, your tour driver guide will give you your original permit or you will collect it from the UWA / RTB office (if you are travelling independently).
Your gorilla tracking permit will have a unique serial number and your personal details written on it. It is non-transferable.
Tips on purchasing a gorilla tracking permit in Uganda
To reserve gorilla tracking permits in Uganda, you will need to specify which park (Bwindi or Mgahinga) you would like to visit. Before your tracking, UWA staff will advise which gorilla family you will track, according to your fitness level and interests.
Uganda’s gorilla families are spread over a wide geographic area, so it is important that you book accommodation that is within an hour’s drive – or a few minutes’ walk – of the start of the gorilla tracking.
To purchase gorilla tracking permits, you will need to buy them through a tour company if you are an international visitor. Ugandans and expats in Uganda can make independent purchases at the Uganda Wildlife Authority reservations office on Kira Road, Kampala or call +256 (0)414 355 409/410 or email reservations@ugandawildlife.org. (TIP: in-person visits are always more effective but the reservations office can get extremely busy).
Tips on purchasing a gorilla tracking permit in Rwanda
It is slightly easier to reserve gorilla tracking permits in Rwanda, as everyone starts their day at park headquarters in Kinigi so you don’t need to specify your lodge location or a gorilla family. Before your tracking, RDB staff will advise which gorilla family you will track, according to your fitness level and interests.
Rwanda gorilla trekking permits and tours can be made through a tour company or Rwanda Development Board’s bookings portal. You can also buy permits in person at the tourism office at RDB’s excellent ‘one stop centre’ in Kigali. This is located on the ground floor of RDB’s gleaming Head Office, KN 5 Road, KG 9 Avenue, Gishushu. The centre is open from 9 am – 5 pm from Monday to Friday.
For gorilla tracking stories and Uganda and Rwanda travel advice, click on the hyperlinks in the Ultimate Guide to Mountain Gorilla Tracking. Looking for more info? Check out my Travel Directory or Contact the Muzungu.
