Safari guides · Uganda
How to Book a Gorilla Permit in Uganda (2027 Guide)
Step by step: who can buy a Uganda gorilla permit, what it costs in 2027, how far ahead to book, and what changed when UWA stopped holding unpaid permits.
To book a gorilla permit in Uganda for 2027, you go through a licensed tour operator, choose your trek date and Bwindi sector, and pay the permit in full so the operator can buy it in your name. UWA's standard rate for foreign non-residents is $800 per person from 1 January 2027. Since 1 March 2026, UWA no longer holds unpaid permits for seven days, so a permit only exists once it is paid. This guide walks through each step, the lead times we work with, and what to do if your date is full.
Who can buy a Uganda gorilla permit?
Gorilla permits are sold by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Under UWA's tariff, permits for foreign non-residents and residents of other African countries are booked through a licensed tour operator, not by the traveller directly. In practice this means you choose an operator, agree your dates and route, and the operator pays UWA and receives the permit in your name.
Mwanzo Tours Uganda is licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board, licence UTB/RTT/TT/2023/100873. We buy gorilla permits for the trips we run and put the permit, sector and date in your written quote, so you always know exactly what you are paying for.
What a 2027 gorilla permit costs
| Permit | Rate (foreign non-resident) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gorilla trekking, standard | $800 per person | UWA revised tariff, from 1 January 2027 |
| Gorilla trekking, low season | Ask us for your month | UWA introduced a low-season rate for April, May and November in 2026. Low-season permits cannot be rescheduled. |
| Gorilla habituation experience | Quoted in writing | Longer visit, Rushaga sector, fewer places |
The permit covers your guided trek with UWA rangers and trackers, up to one hour with a habituated gorilla family, and a certificate. It does not cover transport, lodges, porters or tips. For the full picture, read our gorilla permit cost guide for 2027 and the Uganda safari cost guide.
Step 1. Pick your month and your trek date
Gorilla trekking runs all year. What changes is demand and the weather. June to September and December to February are the drier, busiest months, and permits for those dates can sell out months ahead. Our best time to visit Uganda for gorillas guide goes month by month.
- Peak months (June to September, December to February): plan three to six months ahead. July, August and the December holidays go first.
- Quieter months: a few weeks' notice can work, but there is no guarantee.
- Fixed dates? If your flights are already booked, tell us straight away so we can check availability before you commit to anything else.
Step 2. Choose a route and a Bwindi sector
Most Uganda gorilla permits are for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which has four trekking sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. A permit is issued for one sector on one date. The sector decides where you sleep the night before, how you drive in and out, and how steep your trek is likely to be. The permit price is the same in every sector.
We match the sector to your route and fitness. Buhoma is a common choice for first-time trekkers and sits well with Queen Elizabeth National Park. Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south often mean longer, steeper walks. Read the Bwindi sectors guide for the detail. You cannot pick a named gorilla family: UWA assigns families on trek morning.
Step 3. Send your enquiry
Tell us your dates, the number of trekkers and their ages, your fitness, and whether you prefer to drive or fly to Bwindi. The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15, and UWA applies it strictly. We check permit availability for your date and sector before we send a quote.
Step 4. Read your written quote
Your quote names the permit and its rate, the sector and date, the lodges, the transport (road or fly-in), what is included and what is not. Nothing is vague. If the permit is not included in a package price, the quote says so.
Step 5. Pay so the permit can be bought
This is the step that changed in 2026. Until 1 March 2026, operators could reserve a permit for up to seven days without paying. UWA suspended that window. A permit is now secured only when it is paid in full at the time of booking. In plain terms: no payment, no permit. If you are waiting on leave dates or a partner's decision, the date you want can be sold to someone else in the meantime.
Once your deposit reaches us, we buy the permit in your name. Our deposit, balance and cancellation terms are on the payment page and in your quote.
Step 6. Receive your UWA confirmation
When the purchase goes through, we send you the UWA booking confirmation. Check that every name matches the passport exactly. On trek day you bring your passport to the briefing, and if a young trekker turns 15 shortly before the trip, bring proof of their date of birth.
If your date is sold out
A full date does not have to end the plan. These are the options we work through, in this order:
- Another Bwindi sector on the same date. Same permit price, different trailhead. We re-route the nights around it.
- A day or two either side. Often the simplest fix if your flights allow it.
- Change the order of the trip. Moving the gorilla day to the start or end of the itinerary can open a date.
- Fly in. A scheduled flight to the Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips takes about 1 hour 10 minutes according to UWA, and can save a road day so a different date fits.
Refunds, changes and low-season permits
- UWA permits are generally non-refundable once bought.
- Changing a date or sector depends on UWA approval and on availability.
- UWA's low-season permits (April, May and November) cannot be rescheduled, according to the 26 February 2026 letter.
- If you are unwell on trek morning, rangers can stop you trekking to protect the gorillas, who catch human illnesses.
We explain all of this before you pay, and we recommend travel insurance with cancellation cover.
Trips with the permit built in
If you would rather book the whole trip in one go, these packages are built around a Bwindi gorilla trek:
- 3-Day Bwindi Gorilla Trekking, Batwa and Lake Bunyonyi
- 3-Day Fly-in Gorilla Tour
- 7-Day Gorillas, Chimpanzee and Wildlife Tour
- 10-Day Wildlife, Big 5, Chimpanzee and Gorilla Safari
Planning from abroad? Our country guides cover flights, currency and timing for your trip: from the USA, from the UK, from Canada, from Australia, from the Netherlands, from Germany, from Belgium and from Scandinavia.
Questions before you book? Send us a message on WhatsApp at +256 789 487 378, email info@mwanzotoursuganda.com, or use the Plan your journey form. We reply within one business day.
Frequently asked questions
Can I book a Uganda gorilla permit myself?
Not as a foreign visitor. Under UWA's tariff, gorilla and chimpanzee permits for foreign non-residents and residents of other African countries are booked through a licensed tour operator. We buy the permit in your name and send you the confirmation.
How much is a gorilla permit in Uganda in 2027?
UWA's standard rate for foreign non-residents is $800 per person from 1 January 2027. We confirm the rate for your trek month in writing before you pay.
How far ahead should I book a 2027 gorilla permit?
For June to September and December to February, plan three to six months ahead. In quieter months a few weeks can be enough, but space is never guaranteed.
Is a gorilla permit held while I decide?
No. Since 1 March 2026 UWA only secures a permit when it is paid in full. Until then, the date can go to someone else.
Can I get a refund on a gorilla permit?
UWA permits are generally non-refundable once bought. Changes depend on UWA approval and availability, and the UWA low-season permits cannot be rescheduled. Travel insurance with cancellation cover is strongly recommended.
What do I bring on trek day?
Your passport, because the permit is issued to a named person, plus rain gear, boots and water. Rangers brief you at the sector headquarters before you set off.