Gorilla Tracking

Gorilla tracking is a very captivating activity; it involves walking in the wilderness in search of these great apes. It can be a changelling activity, therefore ensure physical fitness.Six people are permitted per group per day and a total of eighteen (18) people is taken in Bwindi, while six (6) people are allowed for Mgahinga. So far, we have four groups for viewing. There are three groups in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, (Mubare,Habinyanja, and Rushegura) and one (Nyakagezi) in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Booking Procedure:

1. Booking Office

• Booking for all gorilla permits in Bwindi and Mgahinga is done at UWA Headquarters in Kampala. For permit fee information please check on the tariffs section.

2. Long Term (Two Years in Advance) Booking Allocations

• Advance booking shall be allowed up to two years as long as a deposit of 30% is made and the balance shall be paid 91 days to the tracking date.
• 80% of all the gorilla permits in each month can be booked for two years in advance by the Association of Uganda Tour Operations (AUTO) members only. Foreign tour operators will book through local tour operators.
• Each tour operator (AUTO) shall book up to only 20 permits for that particular month on the day the booking opens, which is the first working day (Monday to Friday) of the month.

3. Short time booking (three months in advance)

• Individual trackers can buy from Uganda Wildlife Authority not more than 2 permits for the month. There is no guarantee, which dates or how many per day will be available. Booking can be done on the day the booking opens, which is the first working day of the month.

4. Permit Limits

• Permits not sold on the day the booking opens will be open for sale the following day with no limits on the number each tour operator would buy.

6. Refunds/Cancellation Guidelines

• UWA shall refund the full tracking fee, if the visitor fails to track due to illness, this will be at recommendation of the Warden in Charge and this clause only applies to visitors who have already tracked BINP or MGNP.
• Visitors who fail to track the gorillas (MGNP) as a result of their movement to the neighboring country shall receive a full refund on their permits. However, those who would have tracked the whole day and failed to view the gorillas for one reason or another will be refunded 75% of the tracking fee. All refunds shall be effected through the Reservation Office at UWA Headquarters in Kampala.
• UWA will retain the following percentages upon cancellations;
  0 - 8 days to tracking date - no refund
  9 - 45 days to tracking date - 75% (25% refund to client)
  46-90 days to tracking date - 50%
  91 days and above to tracking date - 25% (75% refund to client)
  

7. Any refund to be made on the 30% deposit shall be at the value of the permit.

8. Permits must be sold at face value, whoever sells at higher value will be penalized.

9. Primary sale of permits by individuals or tour companies anywhere is illegal. All permits MUST be sold by Uganda Wildlife Authority only.

10. Payment for gorilla permits must be made directly to Uganda Wildlife Authority.

11. Payment Terms:

The acceptable payment methods are:
Cash (Uganda Shillings, US dollars, GB Pounds, Euros),

Note:

1. US$ notes below $100 should be 1990 & above
2. Us$100 notes should be 1997 & above

• Bank Transfers (net of the bank charges)
• Traveler's Cheques (Present receipt of purchase at point of sale & 1% charge)

12. Time Limit

The tracking time is limited from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All visitors are expected back at the campground by 7:00 p.m.