Gorilla Safaris in Uganda – Book Your Gorilla Trekking Tour, Permits & Packages

Ultimate Guide for Booking Gorillas Safaris in Uganda

Ranked among the top 1000 places to visit before you pass on, many tourists embark on safaris to Uganda each year, primarily to trek to the country’s various mountain gorilla habitats and experience these gentle apes.

After trekking, they receive their respective gorilla trekking certificates to prove their experience and keep the memories alive when they return home.

Over 80% of Uganda safari packages include at least one gorilla trekking encounter, with some tourists opting for multiple treks for a more diverse experience.

There are five gorilla trekking locations in Uganda: four in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and one in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Bwindi has four sectors: Rushaga, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Buhoma.

Buhoma is the oldest sector and where Uganda’s gorilla trekking began.

Each sector offers a unique experience, and visiting all of them completes the gorilla circuit.

This 5-Day Bwindi Gorilla Circuit Package includes four gorilla treks in all the sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, taking you through the different terrains, scenery, and mountain gorillas of each sector.

Why Go on Uganda Safari Tours

The biggest attractions in the country are visiting the mountain gorillas and exploring the strongest waterfalls in the world in Murchison Falls National Park.

Unlike other mountain gorilla trekking destinations, Uganda has two gorilla trekking locations: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Mgahinga shares the same Virunga Conservation Perimeter as Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Congo’s Virunga National Park.

Over half of the remaining population of mountain gorillas reside in Bwindi, while Mgahinga has only one gorilla family.

Mgahinga also has golden monkeys, adding diversity to your gorilla trekking experience.

The thunderous Murchison Falls are found in Murchison Falls National Park, the oldest and largest national park in Uganda, spanning over 3,893 square kilometers, with Paraa being its prime wildlife viewing area.

This is the only park in Uganda with all the Big Five game animals. The rhinos, however, are located a few kilometers from its outskirts.

The park’s main attraction is the Devil’s Cauldron, where the River Nile squeezes through a narrow gorge and plunges to the bottom of the falls.

Boat trips are available to both the top and bottom of the falls.

Things to See in Uganda – Top Uganda Safari Places & Destinations

There are many great vacation places in Uganda. The Uganda tourism industry is very diverse, allowing you to spend up to 30 days engaging in various activities across different regions of the country.

The first tourist places you will encounter are Entebbe City (the main entry point for Uganda safari tours) and Kampala City (Uganda’s capital), also known as the city of seven hills.

A Kampala safari is highly recommended at the end of your tour itinerary.

Besides these two common destinations, Uganda has 10 national parks: Murchison Falls, Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi Impenetrable, Lake Mburo, Kidepo Valley, Mount Elgon, Semuliki Valley, Rwenzori Mountains, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks.

Those planning to visit cheap holiday destinations in Uganda should focus on the wildlife parks.

The primate parks, especially Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, are quite expensive.

Choosing the Best Safari in Uganda

You need to spend enough time planning your Uganda adventure safaris.

There are many tourist attractions in Uganda to visit, limited only by your budget and time.

Booking long Uganda holiday packages will allow you to visit most of these tourist places and destinations.

A good Uganda safari package should include mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, wildlife viewing, boat cruises, and at least one hiking activity.

Despite the high cost of gorilla trekking, it is the primary safari activity in Uganda, accounting for over 90% of safaris to Uganda.

Adding a mountain gorilla visit to your Uganda safaris and tours is highly recommended.

Should You Confide in Uganda Safari Guides?

To a certain extent, yes. Do not overly rely on travel guides because your experience will be different.

It is better to get advice from our travel company on how to best plan your Uganda travel packages.

Activities change, and more keep coming. For instance, a gorilla trekking sector could become less popular or very busy, making it harder to find gorillas.

Such up-to-date information can only be obtained directly from travel companies.

It is up to a travel company to allocate you to the best sector at the moment.

At our company, we encourage tourists to ask as many questions as they can. We also advise them accordingly where necessary.

Requirements for Entry into Uganda

As per the recent requirements for entering Uganda, you need a yellow fever vaccination certificate, a visa, and a passport with an expiry date greater than six months.

Getting a Visa to Uganda

Uganda is a very welcoming country where you can get a visa at a fee of $50.

Those who prefer to apply for their visas beforehand can do so through the online visa application portal and wait for 4-7 days to receive them.

Tourists are required to take yellow fever vaccine shots and present the certificate during application.

Without this certificate, you are unlikely to get your visa. Our agency can also help you apply for a visa at no extra charge.

If you would like this service, please get in touch with us.

When to Book Your Uganda Safari Holiday

Depending on your travel time, you should book your safari in advance to avoid missing out on available permits.

Safaris during high season months should be booked at least five months prior, especially if they include gorilla trekking.

However, this should not discourage last-minute travelers. You can still inquire about availability, and if permits are available, we can manage everything for you.

Advance booking is recommended, but if an abrupt opportunity arises for a safari to Uganda, you can always inquire about availability.

Acquiring Gorilla Permits

Uganda gorilla permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and authorize tourists to trek gorillas in Uganda.

These permits are presented at the park offices, where details are extracted before tourists are allocated to a specific mountain gorilla family.

Without a gorilla trekking permit, you cannot trek gorillas. Each permit costs $800 year-round.

In case of cancellation, the money is not refunded, as the Uganda Wildlife Authority issues no refunds for canceled permits.

However, our agency can resell your permits to other tour operators or reschedule them for other clients and process your refund in full.

That is the guarantee we always give our clients.

Gorilla permits should be booked well in advance to avoid missing out, as they are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you are traveling during the high season months (January, February, June-September), you should book your safari at least five months in advance to ensure everything is planned accordingly.

The Uganda tourism industry has become highly competitive, requiring advance bookings.

Are there free gorilla permits? Our agency gives out one free gorilla permit for trips lasting 13-20 days and two free permits for trips longer than 20 days.

Should You Book Luxury or Budget Safaris in Uganda?

Budget gorilla trekking and luxury gorilla trekking offer different experiences. Some tourists prefer luxury, while others prefer budget options, depending on their choice and finances.

Gorilla permit costs remain the same for both luxury and budget clients. The main differences are in transportation and accommodation.

We have organized all types of trips and can arrange them for you. For budget travelers, we have contracts with mid-range lodges offering discounted rates.

These are the rates we pass on to you to ensure your comfort.

Our transportation means are also comfortable. All our vans are regularly serviced, well-maintained, and equipped with air conditioning.

Most of our luxury trips come with free gorilla permits, depending on the number of days booked.

In some scenarios, scheduled flights may be used to reduce travel time.

In terms of accommodation, you will stay in the finest lodges in the park, offering good service and prime locations, most of them located in Buhoma sector, the oldest gorilla trekking sector in Uganda.

How Long Does Gorilla Trekking Take?

The actual gorilla trekking experience takes between two to six hours in Uganda and about one to six hours in Rwanda.

Mountain gorillas are mobile and move daily in search of food, building new nests each night.

This means you can never find a gorilla family in one place, and your trekking time depends on their previous day’s movements.

If they have moved further into the hills, you are bound for a challenging trek. If they are close to the foothills, you may locate them in two hours.

When you locate the gorillas, you are given a full hour to be around them.

This magical hour allows for free photos, videos, and interaction while maintaining an eight-meter distance and following the park rangers’ instructions.

These creatures can be dangerous if threatened, but if you follow instructions, you will have the best moments around them.

After the hour, you will return to the starting point, receive your respective gorilla trekking certificates, and drive back to your lodge.

Uganda Safaris: Best Time to Go

There is no particular best time to trek gorillas. While it is easier to trek the trails during the dry season, it is easier to locate gorillas during the rainy season, as they do not have to move to higher elevations for food.

However, trekking the trails might be challenging during the rainy season, especially without shoes with a strong grip.

Rain is also possible, which is not ideal. To avoid these challenges, book your gorilla trekking safari for the dry months of June through September and December to February.

These months are the driest, but rain is still possible, though less likely compared to the low season months.

Discounted Safaris in Uganda

We offer heavily discounted gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda. If you book a safari lasting more than 13 days, we offer one free gorilla permit worth $800.

For safaris lasting more than 20 days, we offer two free gorilla permits worth $1800 in total. These offers are available to everyone who books a safari with us.

Why Choose Uganda for Gorilla Tours

Unlike other gorilla trekking destinations, Uganda offers the most variety with numerous gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi.

It also offers a wide range of accommodation options from budget to luxury, both within and outside the gorilla parks.

Uganda has more supplementary activities than Rwanda and Congo.

Despite having the highest concentration of mountain gorillas, Uganda’s gorilla permits are the most affordable after Congo, each costing $800 and available for a region/sector of your choice.

Uganda is a very secure country, guaranteeing extreme safety while touring its attractions.

The locals are welcoming, earning the country the title of the friendliest in the world.

For a lifetime gorilla trek, book it in Uganda. If permits are fully booked for your dates, consider Rwanda or Congo depending on your budget.