A gorilla permit is a card issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority that allows you to enter the mountain gorilla parks. These parks are Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in the south of Uganda and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the southwest.
Uganda used to offer low-season gorilla permits for the months of April, May, and November. However, when Rwanda increased its gorilla permit price from $750 to $1500, Uganda stopped giving discounts for the low season.
Now, gorilla permits in Uganda cost $800 all year round, whether it is the wet season or the dry season.
Sometimes, the Uganda Wildlife Authority works with the Association of Uganda Tour Operators to provide discounted low-season permits. But only tour operators registered under this association can access these permits.
These special offers do not happen often and are only available from time to time.
Even though Uganda no longer gives regular low-season discounts, it is still the best country for trekking mountain gorillas. This is because the permit price in Uganda is cheaper than in Rwanda. Also, the security situation in Congo is often not stable, which makes Uganda a safer and more reliable option.
In Uganda, even budget travelers can afford gorilla trekking permits.
The best time to trek mountain gorillas in Uganda is from June to September and from December to February. During these months, the trails are usually dry and easier to walk on, and the roads to the parks are in better condition.
Gorilla trekking is not like a normal game drive. It involves hiking through rainforests and climbing hills, so tourists need to be in good physical shape.
Tourists coming for gorilla trekking should bring garden gloves, raincoats, warm and long-sleeved clothes, insect repellent, enough drinking water, and energy snacks.
