Embark on an unforgettable experience to Uganda’s most visited destinations to see mountain gorillas as they roam freely in their natural habitat. To get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park – where you can see gorillas you will need a reliable 4×4 rental car and you need to have purchased gorilla trekking permits that can be got from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Uganda Specifically Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to almost half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas making it the best place in the world with high chances of seeing man’s closest relative as they play, feed within the park.
Gorilla trekking involves heading into the dense rainforests of Bwindi and Mgahinga in search of where the gorillas are located with the help of armed rangers and guides. On spotting them, you will be allowed to spend an hour around these endangered species while taking as many photos you want and observing their behavior. After the one hour, you will be led back to the park headquarters where you can get your certificate proving that you participated in gorilla trekking in Uganda.
With a perfect car on either a self drive or guided tour with a driver, you will be able to have a better on and off road experience, capture the beautiful scenic views situated in this part of the country that does include the Virunga ranges, rolling hill and valleys plus so much more. Our fleet of cars for hire that you can choose from include a Toyota RAV4, Land Cruiser TX/TZ, Land Cruiser V8/VX, Safari vans, Safari Land cruiser, Land Cruiser GX among others.
Whether you are coming on a solo trip, family or group trip, we have the right and perfect choice of car to get you there without about it breaking down or delays that may hinder your itinerary or schedule.
When you hire a car from Uganda Self Drives, and request for a booking of gorilla trekking permits or even chimpanzee tracking permits we will absolutely help you with the booking at no cost and make sure your permits are given to us upon your arrival at the airport.
Cost of gorilla trekking permits in Uganda
It’s very important to know the cost of gorilla trekking permits prior to the trip and you will be required to pay/purchase it weeks prior to your trip.
For foreign non-residents, you will be required to pay $700 per person for foreign non-residents, $600 per person for foreign residents and UGX 250,000/= for East African residents. When you hire a car with us, we will purchase you these tickets at no extra cost.
Please note that a gorilla trekking permit allows you to spend an hour with the endangered species and after it has elapsed, you will be led back to the park headquarters where you will be rewarded a certificate indicating that you successfully participated in gorilla trekking in Uganda. For those who prefer to stay close to the gorillas while observing their behavior as they play and feed, you will need to purchase a gorilla habituation permit available at only $1500 per person.
Requirements to book gorilla trekking permits
To book gorilla trekking permits, you will need to avail us with your full names, passport number, country of residence, gorilla trekking dates and the suitable trekking sector you would like to see gorillas from. Upon receiving these, we will submit them to Uganda Wildlife Authority so that your gorilla trekking permit is processed.
How to pay for gorilla trekking permits
You can pay for your gorilla permits online using this link ( https://payments.pesapal.com/yourdriveuganda ) and upon receiving your payment, we will proceed and make a booking with UWA. Once the payment is complete with the right reserved gorilla trekking dates, we will share with you a receipt.
Best time to go gorilla trekking Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a successful all year round activity which means regardless of the season you choose to come and see the gorillas, you will receive a memorable experience however to have a more rewarding and exciting time you will need to visit the parks during the months of June to September and December to February – this being the dry season, the country receives no or less rainfall which makes the trails within the park less slippery and passable. Its also during this time that your itinerary is likely not to be hindered with.
During the rain season of the year, the park receives a lot of rainfall which makes most trails within the park slippery and sometimes hard to go through which hinders movement. Its during this time that your itinerary can be hindered with especially when it rains. But regardless of the season you choose to visit Bwindi or Mgahinga, you will have an exciting and memorable experience.
What to pack for gorilla trekking
To have a rewarding and memorable gorilla trekking experience, you will need to have a few things with you and these do include:
- Waterproof hiking boots
- Long sleeved shirt or blouse to protect you from insect bites
- Long trousers
- Garden gloves to protect you from thorns
- A rain coat to protect you from getting wet in case it rains
- An insect repellent
- Sun glasses and a hat
- Two face masks and a hand sanitizers
- Warm clothes like a jacket or sweater