About Mwanzo Tours · Booking safely
How We Protect Your Gorilla Permit Money
UTB licensed, availability confirmed with UWA before you pay, payment to a company account, and permits bought in your own name.
The most common worry we hear from travellers is simple: who can I trust with $800 or more per person before I have even landed? It is a fair question. Here is how Mwanzo Tours Uganda SMC Limited handles your permit money, step by step, and how you can check every step yourself.
1. A licensed company, not an individual
We are Mwanzo Tours Uganda SMC Limited, a locally owned tour operator in Kampala, licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board under licence UTB/RTT/TT/2023/100873. UWA sells foreign non-resident gorilla and chimpanzee permits only through UTB-licensed operators and asks visitors to check the licence. See how to verify our licence and reviews.
2. We confirm availability with UWA before you pay
Before we ask for any money, we check permit availability with the Uganda Wildlife Authority for your exact date and sector, and tell you in writing what is available. We never buy a permit for a date or sector you have not approved in writing.
3. You pay the company, in US dollars, to a company bank account
Payments go to Mwanzo Tours Uganda SMC Limited's company US dollar account at Equity Bank Uganda. We send the full bank details on your written invoice, never on a public web page, and we do not ask you to pay into a personal mobile money number or an individual's account. If anyone sends you different bank details by email or message, call or WhatsApp us on +256 789 487 378 before you pay.
4. A 30% deposit, then the balance 60 days before departure
- Deposit: 30% of the trip price confirms your booking.
- Balance: due no later than 60 days before departure.
- Permits bought in your name: since 1 March 2026 UWA no longer holds unpaid reservations, so a permit exists only once it is paid. We buy yours in the names on your passports once your payment clears, and send you the UWA confirmation reference.
5. What happens if your plans change
- Permits are non-refundable once purchased. That is a UWA rule, not ours.
- A standard-rate permit can be rescheduled to another date, subject to availability and UWA approval. We handle the request with UWA for you.
- Low-season permits ($600 in April, May and November) cannot be rescheduled, under UWA's February 2026 notice.
- Our full cancellation terms are on the payment page and terms page.
- Travel insurance is not included. We strongly suggest a policy with cancellation and medical evacuation cover.
How to protect yourself with any operator
- Check the operator's UTB licence before paying a deposit.
- Get a written quote in one currency that lists what is and is not included.
- Pay only to a named company account. UWA says permits cannot be paid for at park level and warns against paying UWA fees to an individual's mobile number.
- Ask for the UWA permit confirmation and check that the names match your passports.
Questions before you pay? Message us on WhatsApp at +256 789 487 378, email info@mwanzotoursuganda.com, or use the Plan your journey form. Planning a trip? See the 2027 gorilla permit price guide and our low-season gorilla safari.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to pay a Uganda tour operator for gorilla permits in advance?
Pay only a UTB-licensed company, to a named company bank account, against a written invoice. Mwanzo Tours Uganda SMC Limited holds UTB licence UTB/RTT/TT/2023/100873 and sends the UWA permit confirmation once permits are bought in your name.
When are my gorilla permits bought?
After we confirm availability with UWA and your payment clears. UWA no longer holds unpaid reservations, so we buy the permits in your names and send you the UWA confirmation reference.
How much deposit do I pay?
A 30% deposit confirms your booking. The balance is due no later than 60 days before departure.
Can I get a refund on a gorilla permit?
No. Permits are non-refundable once purchased. A standard-rate permit can be rescheduled to another date, subject to availability. Low-season permits cannot be rescheduled.
Where do I send payment?
To Mwanzo Tours Uganda SMC Limited's company US dollar account at Equity Bank Uganda. The full details are on your written invoice. If you receive different bank details, contact us on WhatsApp before you pay.
Is travel insurance included?
Travel insurance is not included; guests arrange their own. Choose a policy with cancellation and medical evacuation cover.