April, May, and November
UWA introduced discounted gorilla tracking prices for these three months. The circular publishes USD 600 for foreign non-residents and USD 500 for foreign residents.
The essential answer
Secure the right permit before locking the wrong lodge.
Uganda gorilla permits are issued for a specific tracking date and designated entry point in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. In Bwindi, that means your permit must match the correct sector: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, or Nkuringo.
As of March 1, 2026, Uganda Wildlife Authority no longer provides the former seven-day unpaid reservation window. Its current circular says permits are secured through full payment at booking. That makes the order of decisions more important: check availability, confirm the entry point, verify the lodge and route, then approve payment.
Never treat a screenshot of availability as a confirmed permit. Ask for the written date, park or entry point, traveler category, amount, and official booking confirmation. For the permit inside a complete trip budget, use our Uganda safari cost guide. If you are still choosing a country, compare gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda.
Published gorilla tracking prices
Uganda gorilla permit rates by visitor category.
These figures were checked against UWA's live rates page and its February 26, 2026 tariff circular. Always confirm the applicable category and exact tracking date before payment.
| Visitor status | Published standard rate | April, May and November | Important note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign non-resident (FNR) | USD 800 | USD 600 | Low-season permit cannot be rescheduled. |
| Foreign resident (FR) | USD 700 | USD 500 | Valid resident identification is required. |
| Rest of Africa (ROA) | USD 500 | Not specified in the February 2026 low-season table | Confirm current eligibility and rate with UWA. |
| East African citizen (EAC) | UGX 300,000 | Not specified in the February 2026 low-season table | Valid citizenship identification is required. |
Rate context: UWA's February 2026 circular introduced the low-season figures immediately and lists the same standard gorilla tracking amounts in its tariff table effective January 1, 2027. Because UWA is transitioning between published tariff periods, verify the final amount on the official booking record or invoice for your date.
Gorilla habituation is a different product. It has a different duration, inventory, and tariff. UWA's circular lists rates effective January 1, 2027 of USD 1,800 for foreign non-residents, USD 1,600 for foreign residents, USD 1,000 for Rest of Africa visitors, and UGX 750,000 for East African citizens. Ask for the exact current habituation rate before paying for a 2026 date.
What changed in 2026
Lower selected-month prices, but less flexibility before payment.
Discounted permits are date-specific.
The same circular says low-season permits cannot be rescheduled. Choose the date only after flights, route logic, and traveler readiness have been considered.
The seven-day unpaid hold is suspended.
Effective March 1, 2026, UWA says the system secures permits upon full payment at booking. Availability can change while a traveler is still deciding.
Practical meaning: do the route work before the payment moment. A cheaper November permit is not a saving if it is bought for the wrong entry point, paired with the wrong lodge, or placed after an unrealistic transfer.
Permit inclusions
What the gorilla permit covers, and what remains separate.
The regulated tracking activity
The UWA tariff states that gorilla tracking rates include the UWA guide fee, park entrance for the tracking day, and a community development contribution. Standard tracking normally allows the regulated gorilla encounter after trackers locate the assigned family.
The safari around the permit
Accommodation, road or air transfers, porter support, walking sticks or personal equipment, tips, visas, travel insurance, meals outside the booked plan, and other park activities are not automatically included in the permit price. Prepare the personal gear with our Uganda safari packing list.
Permit revenue also supports conservation and community benefit. UWA describes revenue sharing around protected areas and identifies a specific contribution from each Bwindi gorilla tracking permit toward communities near the park.
Park and entry-point logic
A Uganda permit is attached to place as well as date.
UWA guidance identifies designated gorilla entry points at Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, Nkuringo, and Ntebeko or Muhavura for Mgahinga. A specific gorilla family is allocated by UWA on the tracking day; travelers should not assume the permit guarantees a named family. Use our Bwindi sectors comparison before matching the lodge.
Buhoma
Often fits Queen Elizabeth, Ishasha, Kihihi air access, and classic northern Bwindi lodge planning.
Ruhija
A highland entry point with its own lodge, road, birding, and transfer logic.
Rushaga
A southern entry point commonly connected with Kisoro, Lake Mutanda, and southern routes.
Nkuringo
A dramatic ridge area where lodge position, terrain, and transfer timing deserve care.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park uses the Ntebeko or Muhavura area and creates a different Virunga route near Kisoro. It can pair naturally with golden monkeys and Lake Mutanda when the permit and lodge plan align.
If you are still choosing the month, read the best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda before committing to a date.
Safe booking order
How to secure a gorilla permit without breaking the route.
Confirm travelers and workable dates.
Know who intends to trek, each traveler's visitor category, and whether every participant meets the current age and health rules.
Check live permit availability.
Ask for the park, date, and designated entry point. Availability language is not the same as a paid and confirmed permit.
Test the lodge and transfer.
Confirm that the lodge serves the correct entry point and that the previous day's drive or flight can reach it without risking briefing time.
Verify the written amount.
The quote or invoice should identify the number of permits, visitor category, tracking date, entry point, rate, and any separate planning services.
Approve full payment.
Because the unpaid hold is suspended, payment secures the permit. Use official UWA channels or a verifiable operator and retain the receipt.
Receive and check confirmation.
Reconfirm names, date, entry point, amount, and booking reference. Carry the identification documents required for validation.
Our payment rule: only pay after the written quote and confirmed invoice match what you approved. If a payment request changes the date, entry point, rate, or number of permits, stop and ask for a corrected document.
Age, identification, and health
A valid permit still has participation conditions.
Participants must be 15 or over.
UWA's Bwindi and Mgahinga park guidance states that gorilla tracking participants must be aged 15 or older. Plan another supervised activity for younger travelers.
Resident status must be supported.
UWA requires valid identification to confirm resident status and validates visitor documents against booking records at the designated entry point.
Protecting gorillas comes first.
UWA guidance says a visitor showing signs of illness before tracking will not be allowed to visit the gorillas and may be referred for medical assessment.
Rescheduling and refunds
Do not read flexibility into a permit that the rules do not provide.
For standard permits, UWA's July 2024 guidelines allow up to two reschedules, always subject to space for the requested date and location. The first permitted reschedule may be made once without a surcharge; the second carries a 25% surcharge. Requests should be submitted at least 14 days before tracking where possible, and a higher prevailing tariff requires a top-up.
Important exceptions apply. The February 2026 circular says low-season permits cannot be rescheduled. Promotional and complimentary permits are also described as non-reschedulable. A permit that has already been rescheduled is not eligible for a refund under the guidelines.
Refunds are not automatic travel cancellation cover. Requests are made in writing and are subject to UWA authorization. The guidelines contain specific provisions where a full day of tracking does not produce a sighting, or where illness is medically confirmed. Those provisions include possible next-day rescheduling or partial refunds under stated conditions, less applicable costs.
Protect the permit with travel insurance. Read the insurer's cancellation, medical, and activity terms before paying. A safari operator cannot promise a UWA refund outside UWA's own approval process.
Permit questions
Quick answers before you authorize payment.
How much is a Uganda gorilla permit in 2026?
The published standard rate is USD 800 for foreign non-residents, USD 700 for foreign residents, USD 500 for Rest of Africa visitors, and UGX 300,000 for East African citizens. UWA's February 2026 circular lists low-season April, May, and November rates of USD 600 for foreign non-residents and USD 500 for foreign residents. Confirm your exact category and date before payment.
Can a permit be held for seven days without payment?
No under the current circular. UWA suspended the former seven-day unpaid reservation window effective March 1, 2026, and states that permits are secured upon full payment at booking.
Can a discounted low-season permit be rescheduled?
No. The February 2026 UWA circular states that low-season permits cannot be rescheduled.
Does the permit guarantee a specific gorilla family?
No. UWA guidance says permits are booked by date and designated entry point, while a specific gorilla family is allocated by UWA at briefing on the tracking day.
Does the permit include my lodge and transport?
No. The permit covers the regulated UWA tracking activity and stated park inclusions. Lodging, transport, porter support, gear, insurance, visas, and the surrounding safari are separate.
What is the minimum age for gorilla trekking?
UWA park guidance states that participants must be aged 15 or over.
Official references: rates and rules were checked on June 27, 2026 against the UWA rates page, the February 2026 tariff circular, the gorilla and chimpanzee tracking guidelines, and UWA's community conservation page. UWA rules and tariffs can change; reconfirm before payment.
Continue planning
Pair permit facts with timing, place, and a realistic route.
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Confirm before you pay
Tell us your dates, traveler status, and preferred Uganda route.
We will check permit reality, align the entry point with the correct lodge and transfer, and provide the details in writing before payment.