Low Season Gorilla Safari in Uganda: $600 Permits

Source: Uganda Wildlife Authority letter TDO 93/04, dated 26 February 2026, which introduced low-season permit rates with immediate effect. We confirm the rate that applies to your exact dates in writing before you pay anything.

In April, May and November, UWA sells gorilla trekking permits to foreign non-resident visitors for $600 instead of $800, and chimpanzee tracking permits for $200 instead of $300. For two people on a gorilla trek, that is $400 less on permits alone. These are the green, quieter months in Uganda's forests, and a private low-season safari with your own guide and vehicle is the best-value way to see mountain gorillas in East Africa.

Low-season permit rates (UWA, foreign non-resident)

Important: UWA states that low-season permits cannot be rescheduled. Standard-rate permits can sometimes be moved to another date subject to availability, but a $600 low-season permit is fixed to its date once bought. Choose your dates carefully, and arrange your own travel insurance with cancellation cover (travel insurance is not included). The UWA letter does not say how long the low-season rates will run, so we confirm the rate for 2027 dates in writing at booking.

What the low season is like

• Weather. April, May and November fall in Uganda's rainy seasons. Expect showers, often in the afternoon, and muddy forest trails. A porter and good waterproof boots make a real difference. See what to pack and the best time to visit for gorillas.
• Fewer visitors. In our booking experience permits are easier to find in these months than in June to August or December, so shorter notice can work. Availability is never certain, and we check it with UWA before you pay.
• The gorillas are the same. Every standard trek is one hour with a habituated family, led by UWA rangers, with at most eight visitors per family per day. Sightings depend on wild animals and are never certain, but the rangers track the families every day.

Low-season trips we can build

We run private, tailor-made safaris with your own guide and vehicle. Any of these can run in April, May or November with the low-season permit rate:

• 3-day Bwindi gorilla trekking, Batwa and Lake Bunyonyi
• 4-day gorillas and chimpanzee trekking, where both permits are discounted
• 7-day gorillas, chimpanzee and wildlife tour
• 3-day fly-in gorilla tour, which saves the long drive on wet roads

Price: Ask for a quote. We do not publish low-season package prices yet. Send us your dates and group size and we will send a written quote in US dollars that shows the $600 permit rate, before you pay anything.

How booking works

We check permit availability with UWA, then you pay a 30% deposit and we buy the permits in your name. The balance is due 60 days before departure. Read how we protect your permit money, the 2027 gorilla permit price guide and our payment terms.

Ready to plan? Message us on WhatsApp at +256 789 487 378, email info@mwanzotoursuganda.com, or use the Plan your journey form. We reply within one business day.