How to Book Gorilla Trekking Permits in Uganda

There is a moment, somewhere deep inside the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, when the trees part and a mountain gorilla looks directly at you. It lasts perhaps three seconds. It will stay with you for the rest of your life. But before that moment can happen, there is a process to navigate — one that confuses many first-time visitors to Uganda. Booking a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is not complicated once you understand the system, but it does require advance planning, the right information, and a clear-eyed awareness of costs.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know.

What Is a Gorilla Trekking Permit?

A gorilla trekking permit is an official authorization issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) that grants you access to trek to one of the habituated mountain gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The permit covers your park entry, ranger and guide fees, and one hour of time with a gorilla family in their natural habitat.

Uganda is one of only three countries in the world where mountain gorilla trekking is possible — the others being Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Uganda is home to roughly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population, making its permits some of the most sought-after wildlife experiences on the planet.

How Much Does a Gorilla Permit Cost in Uganda?

As of 2026, a standard gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs $800 USD per person for foreign non-residents. East African citizens pay a significantly reduced rate, and foreign residents of East Africa fall into a separate pricing tier. These fees are set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and are non-negotiable regardless of where or how you book.

While $800 may seem steep, Uganda’s permit remains considerably more affordable than Rwanda’s, where the equivalent permit costs $1,500. For budget-conscious travellers, Uganda continues to offer the most accessible entry point into a genuine mountain gorilla encounter.

It is worth noting that a portion of every permit fee is channelled directly into community development projects surrounding the national parks — a model that ties conservation to livelihood and has played a significant role in Uganda’s gorilla population recovery over recent decades.

Where Can You Book a Gorilla Trekking Permit?

There are two primary routes to securing your permit.

Through the Uganda Wildlife Authority directly. UWA manages permit bookings through its official website and offices. You can submit a booking request online, pay via bank transfer or credit card, and receive your permit documentation electronically. This is the most direct route, but it requires you to manage your own logistics — transport, accommodation, and trekking sector allocation — independently.

Through a licensed tour operator. The majority of visitors book their gorilla permits through a Uganda-based or internationally accredited tour operator. Operators like Rent A Driver Uganda purchase permits from UWA on behalf of their clients, often bundling them into broader safari packages. This is the more practical option for most travellers, as operators handle accommodation bookings near the forest, transfers, and guide coordination alongside the permit itself.

Whichever route you choose, always verify that the operator or booking platform is officially recognised by UWA and the Uganda Tourism Board. Permit scams exist — particularly online — and any third party claiming to offer permits at unusually low prices should be treated with immediate suspicion.

How Far in Advance Should You Book?

This is where many travellers underestimate the process. Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda sell out months in advance, particularly during the peak dry seasons of June through August and December through February. For travel during these windows, booking six to twelve months ahead is strongly advised.

Even in the quieter green seasons — March to May and October to November — availability can be thin, especially for specific trekking sectors or gorilla families. If you have a fixed travel date, lock in your permit as early as possible. Flexibility in travel dates gives you more options, but it should never be relied upon as a substitute for advance planning.

Choosing Your Trekking Sector in Bwindi

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is divided into four trekking sectors: Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the east, Rushaga in the south, and Nkuringo, also in the south. Each sector has a different number of habituated gorilla families available for trekking, and the experience — in terms of terrain, difficulty, and atmosphere — varies meaningfully between them.

Rushaga offers the highest number of habituation groups and is a popular choice for families or travellers who want flexibility. Nkuringo is known for its dramatic, steep terrain and more remote feel. Buhoma is the oldest and most established sector, with excellent infrastructure and easy access from Kampala via the Kabale road. Ruhija sits at higher elevation and is favoured by birders and those seeking a quieter experience.

When booking through a tour operator, discuss which sector suits your fitness level and interests. When booking directly through UWA, you will be asked to specify your preferred sector and date, and the authority will allocate you to an available gorilla family group.

What to Expect on Trekking Day

On the morning of your trek, you will gather at your designated sector’s ranger station for a briefing. Groups are capped at eight people per gorilla family per day — a strict limit designed to minimise stress on the animals and maintain the quality of the experience. Rangers will outline behavioural guidelines: no flash photography, maintain a seven-metre distance from the gorillas at all times, no eating or drinking in the gorillas’ presence, and cover your face if you feel a cough or sneeze coming.

Treks vary in duration from as little as thirty minutes to a full day of hiking, depending on where the gorilla family has moved since the previous evening. Professional trackers go ahead at first light to locate the group, meaning that by the time your party sets off, the rangers already have a general idea of the direction you are heading.

The hour spent with the gorillas does not begin until your guide confirms you are in the presence of the family. That one hour — regardless of how long the hike took — is what your permit covers, and it is typically the most extraordinary sixty minutes most travellers will ever experience in the natural world.

Practical Tips Before You Book

Travel insurance that covers permit cancellation is strongly recommended. UWA’s refund policy for cancelled permits is limited, and losing $800 to an unexpected illness or flight disruption is a painful outcome that insurance can prevent.

Carry your permit documentation — physical or digital — to the ranger station on trekking day. Without it, you will not be permitted to trek, regardless of any booking confirmation your operator holds.

Finally, consider pairing your gorilla trek with a chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale National Park, a Nile cruise at Murchison Falls, or a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Uganda rewards those who stay longer, and a single-activity trip rarely does justice to the richness of what the Pearl of Africa has to offer.

The mountain gorillas of Uganda are one of the natural world’s most humbling encounters. With the right planning, the right permit, and the right guide beside you, the forest will give you something no photograph can fully capture — a reminder of just how extraordinary this planet still is.

Ready to Start Planning? Book With Rent A Driver Uganda

IIf you are ready to turn this dream into a confirmed itinerary, Rent A Driver Uganda is your trusted one-stop partner for everything you need. Thousands of travellers have relied on them to rent a car and gorilla permit in Uganda for self drive or driver-guided trips to Bwindi forest— combining two of the most critical elements of any Uganda safari into a single, stress-free booking experience. They work directly with the Uganda Wildlife Authority to secure genuine, correctly priced permits on your behalf, while also offering a wide fleet of well-maintained safari vehicles, from self-drive 4x4s for independent adventurers to fully chauffeured options with experienced local driver-guides who know every road to Bwindi, Mgahinga, and beyond.

If you are searching for where to sort your rental car and gorilla permit in Uganda under one roof, Rent A Driver Uganda is the answer — reach out to us well ahead of your travel dates, since permits sell out fast, and let us handle the logistics so that when you finally stand face to face with a mountain gorilla, the only thing on your mind is the moment itself.