Uganda Reintroduces Discounted Gorilla Trekking Permits

There was a speculation on revising the gorilla trekking permit rates effective 2027. A gorilla trekking permit for foreign non-residents was to cost $1000 per person, but after continued deliberation with the tour operators, the Uganda Wildlife Authority has not only come to the conclusion of keeping the gorilla trekking permit rate unchanged in the new tariff but also reintroduced the low-season gorilla trekking permits effective January 2027.

A gorilla trekking permit for a foreign none resident is currently $800 per permit and $700 for foreign residents. Under the new tariff starting on 1st January 2027, a gorilla trekking permit will continue to cost $800 but with a little twist. April, May and November gorilla trekking permits will cost $600 for a foreign none resident and $500 for foreign residents.

Gorilla Habituation Permits

Unlike the gorilla trekking permits, the gorilla habituation permits price has been revised. Formerly, a gorilla habituation permit was $1500 per permit for foreign none residents and has been revised to $1800 for foreign none residents effective 1 January 2027. None residents will be charged $1600 per gorilla habituation permit. However, none residents from the African continent will be charged $1000 per permit. East African will be charged 750,000 Ugx.

Gorilla Permit Reservation

Uganda wildlife Authority has also suspended the block booking model. Previously, you could book permits without paying for utmost seven days. Effective 1st March 2026, all permits will be reserved with proof of payment. Without the proof of payment, you cannot reserve the permits. This is intended to putting to an end the unavailability of permits due to block booking which later end up not being bought.

All foreign none resident permits are still reserved and organized in licensed companies’ names. To organize gorilla trekking permits, you will need to share your preferred gorilla trekking dates as well as your preferred gorilla trekking sector. There are generally five gorilla trekking locations in Uganda; Rushaga sector, Ruhija sector, Buhoma sector, Nkuringo sector and Mgahinga gorilla national park.

Though many people often think in terms of Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park, there is no gorilla trekking permit for Bwindi impenetrable national park, all Bwindi gorilla permits are earmarked on  a sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park. There is no gorilla permit that allows you to trek gorillas in any sector of Bwindi. Unless Uganda wildlife Authority introduces a golden gorilla trekking permit at allows you to trek gorillas in any location, until then, permits are still sector specific.

What To Expect At The End Of The New Tariff

The Uganda wildlife Authority tariff usually takes three years. At the end of those three years, which will be around 2029/30; the gorilla trekking permits will likely be revised to $1000 per permit and the gorilla habituation permit revised to either $2,000 per permit or lower depending on the response they will have got in the years 2027, 2028 and 2029.

There are other prices that have been revised effective 2027 but the gorilla trekking permit is not one of them. However there has been some changes in permit rescheduling. Previously, you could reschedule to a new date free of change as long as you are doing the reschedule more than a month to the trekking date. With the new order, the Uganda wildlife Authority is considering to charge for every reschedule. They want to keep all gorilla trekking permits in the initially booked dates. Without rescheduling options, it means you might have to simply buy new gorilla trekking permits in case you have any changes in your flights.

In conclusion, the communication regarding the new gorilla trekking permit has been received with mixed reactions. The question of value for man still stands but there strides made in regard to conservation are also enormous. The Uganda wildlife Authority is expected to give an update of the mountain gorilla population in Uganda before this year ends.