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A Uganda gorilla permit, issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, costs $800 per person and is the single biggest line item in the cost of a Uganda gorilla trekking safari. Uganda is home to more than half the world’s mountain gorilla population, trekked across two parks in the country’s southwestern corner: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, together forming the Bwindi-Mgahinga Conservation Area.

Bwindi and Mgahinga: Uganda’s Two Gorilla Parks

Bwindi is the larger of the two parks at about 298 square kilometers, split into four trekking sectors: Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the east, Rushaga in the southeast, and Nkuringo in the southwest. Each sector has its own set of habituated gorilla families available for daily trekking.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda’s smallest park and part of the wider Virunga Conservation Area, alongside Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR Congo. Due to its size, Mgahinga is home to a single habituated family, Nyakagezi, made up of 10 members.

How Many Uganda Gorilla Permits Are Available Daily

Permit numbers are capped to protect the gorillas from overexposure. Bwindi’s 13 trekkable habituated families (a 14th, Kyaguriro, is reserved for research and closed to tourism) allow for up to 104 permits per day, spread across the park’s four sectors. Mgahinga’s single family adds 8 more permits per day. Altogether, Uganda offers around 112 gorilla trekking permits daily, with each permit granting access to one gorilla family and one hour with them once located, in treks that can run 1 to 8 hours depending on how far the family has moved.

Cost of a Uganda Gorilla Permit

At $800, Uganda’s gorilla permit sits between Rwanda’s $1,500 and DR Congo’s $400, making it a mid-range option that still delivers one of the more reliable and secure trekking experiences of the three countries. Permits are issued directly by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, or can be booked on your behalf by a trusted tour operator.

Booking, Availability and Rescheduling

Uganda gorilla permits are in high demand, especially during the dry season from June to September and December to early February, so booking well in advance is important. If your plans change, permits can be rescheduled to a different date or gorilla region. Rescheduling within 7 days of your trip incurs a surcharge of 30% of the permit cost, so it’s worth confirming your dates as early as possible.

Gorilla Habituation Permits

For a longer encounter, Uganda also offers gorilla habituation permits at $1,500 each, giving visitors up to 4 hours with a gorilla family that is still adjusting to human presence, compared to the standard 1-hour trekking limit. Habituation takes place only in Bwindi’s Rushaga sector, with just 4 permits available per day, alongside a team of researchers, trackers, and rangers. Habituation permits can be purchased at the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s Kampala headquarters or booked through a tour operator.

Booking Your Permit Online

You can book your Uganda gorilla permit online through a trusted tour operator, which also improves your chances of securing your preferred trekking dates.

Book Your Uganda Gorilla Permit Today

With limited daily permits and high demand during peak season, securing your Uganda gorilla permit early is the best way to guarantee your preferred dates and park. Book your Uganda gorilla trekking permit with our team today, and we’ll handle the booking process for you.


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Our Gorilla Trekking Reviews & Testimonials

Read what our gorilla trekking clients have to say about us. You can read even more reviews on TripAdvisor.

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dawn sebastian profile picture
dawn sebastian
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I had an amazing 4 day trip , with magical gorillas. The driver muzwhei was amazing from start to finish, ensuring a safe journey, amazing conversation and knowledge that he shared, and ensuring I saw things I enjoyed along the way ! The lodgings were amazing and the treks with both the gorillas and golden monkey were a once in a lifetime opportunity ! I also participated in the additional options of the batwya people and boat cruise on lake bunyonyi which were both great ! Consider magical gorillas of your in need of a trek or safari !
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Jane Simpson-Jinks
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We had an absolutely fantastic experience with Magical Gorilla Adventures from start to finish. The booking process was straightforward, all of our queries were answered promptly, and communication throughout was excellent. Our driver, Innocent, was outstanding—professional, knowledgeable, friendly, and always willing to go the extra mile to ensure we had the best possible experience. Overall, it was a truly memorable trip, and we would highly recommend Magical Gorilla Adventures to anyone looking for a seamless and well-organised adventure. Thank you for a fabulous experience!
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Moritz Z.
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Wir haben eine 9 tägige „best of Uganda“ Safari mit Magical Gorilla Adventures gebucht. Eines vorweg: Diese Reise mit Magical Gorillas zu buchen war die absolut beste Entscheidung die wir treffen konnten. Die Kommunikation im Vorfeld lief hauptsächlich per WhatsApp ab. Kolo war immer, wirklich immer ansprechbar und hat alle Fragen unverzüglich beantwortet. Unsere anfänglichen Bedenken wegen der Permits für die Schimpansen und Gorillas waren total unbegründet. Kolo hat uns unverzüglich nach Erhalt der Permits Bilder zukommen lassen auf denen man die Dokumente erkennen konnte… es lief alles reibungslos! Auch der Reiseablauf, sowie Änderungen bezüglich der Lodges wurden nach unseren Vorstellungen innerhalb von kürzester Zeit angepasst und erledigt - sehr professionell. Das ist auch das Stichwort - die Kommunikation im Vorfeld, sowie die Reise selbst wurde absolut professionell geplant und durchgeführt. Wir hatten schon einige Safaris in Afrika erleben dürfen und kennen daher die ein oder andere „Stolperfalle“ bei der Planung und Durchführung. Aber unsere 9 Tage in Uganda waren die schönsten und entspanntesten Tage die wir bisher in Afrika verbracht haben. Den größten Anteil dazu beigetragen hat unser Guide Robert! Robert war vom ersten Tag an, bis zu dem Moment wo wir schweren Herzens getrennte Wege gehen mussten, unglaublich engagiert und professionell. Durch ihn haben wir so viel über Uganda gelernt. Nicht nur über die Tierwelt, (die nebenbei erwähnt spektakulär ist) sondern auch über Land und Leute konnte uns Robert so viel erzählen. Man hat ihm angemerkt dass er diesen Job schon länger macht, denn er hat genau gewusst wann es mal Zeit für sein Input war, aber auch wann es an der Zeit für eine Verschnaufpause ist! Er hat sich für uns Zeit genommen und ist immer wieder auf unsere Wünsche eingegangen. Ihm war kein Weg zu weit für uns - GENAUSO haben wir uns unseren Guide im Vorfeld vorgestellt und gewünscht! - Robert war für uns ein absoluter Glücksgriff. Wir können „Magical Gorilla Adventures“ und vor allem Robert als Guide UNEINGESCHRÄNKT weiterempfehlen 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Unser Rat: schaut euch alle dieses wunderschöne Land und seine Schätze (dazu zählen auch die Menschen) an. Ihr werdet es nicht bereuen. Happy Travels
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Manav Gupta
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I recently traveled to Uganda with Magical Gorillas, and it was an outstanding experience from start to finish. Our tour guides, Eddie and Collins, were exceptional. They were knowledgeable, professional, friendly, and always went the extra mile to ensure everything ran smoothly. The transportation was comfortable throughout the trip, and the drivers were safe and reliable, which made the long drives between destinations very enjoyable. The tour was delivered exactly as outlined in the itinerary, with no unexpected changes or hidden costs. Everything was well organized, and the accommodations exceeded our expectations. The lodges were of a very high standard, and the food at each location was excellent. The highlights of the trip were undoubtedly the chimpanzee and mountain gorilla trekking experiences, both of which were unforgettable. The boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel was another standout, offering incredible wildlife viewing in a beautiful setting. Overall, I would highly recommend Magical Gorillas to anyone considering a safari or wildlife adventure in Uganda. They delivered a seamless, high-quality experience that exceeded our expectations.
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Γερασιμος Ανυφαντης
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My first experience in safari was amazing ,everything was being organised perfect,i felt comfortable from first moments,kolo always did best for us,our guide ,Juvenal,made our trip exciting,all accommodations perfect .i will remember all and come back again.
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Ellenlen Ka
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The only bad thing about our trip with Eddie was that it was only two days and not longer. But boy, did we have a great time on those two days! Magical Gorilla Adventures chose an idyllic lodge for us, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, and a wonderful restaurant for lunch on our second day, the Bird's Nest. We enjoyed the Batwa Cultural Walk and the boat trip on Lake Bonyonyi very much. Needless to say, the highlight of our trip was the time we spent with the gorilla family. They put on a great show for us, especially the baby. A dream come true! Thank you, Magical Gorilla Adventures, for this truly magical experience. And thank you so much, Eddie, for not only providing us with the smoothest trip, but also for being so friendly and funny and for making the car rides very interesting and enjoyable!
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Christina Sweeting
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If you go to Uganda and want a truly magical adventure, I highly recommend booking with magical gorilla adventures. Our trip was exactly that - magical. We were always very well looked after and we felt safe at all times. All our wishes were made true and even more. This has easily been the best and most memorable trip of my life so far. Thank you!
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Stephan W. profile picture
Stephan W.
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During our journey through East Africa (specifically Rwanda), we also wanted to see the gorillas. We decided in advance to visit the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, partly because it is located not far from Kigali, but also because we were keen to make a side trip into Uganda. Having completed our tour of Rwanda as self-drivers, we decided to hire a professional tour operator for the trip to Bwindi—someone familiar with local conditions who would allow us to focus on enjoying the region's highlights rather than on the logistics. We compared various providers for this purpose and ultimately chose Magical Gorilla Adventures. Looking back, we can say that this was an excellent decision. Communication with their team was seamless via WhatsApp. It was important to us to include a visit to the local Batwa community alongside the gorilla trekking—a request that was immediately granted. Furthermore, they even added a boat trip on Lake Bunyonyi to the itinerary. From the very first day of the trip, everything ran flawlessly. Our driver and guide, Eddie, picked us up at our hotel in Kigali and drove us across the border to our (truly stunning) lodge near the Bwindi Forest. The tour of the Batwa community, the gorilla trekking the following morning, the boat trip, and finally the return journey to Kigali were all perfectly organized; we did not have to worry about a single thing—neither in advance nor once we were on site. These were incomparably beautiful days in Uganda—highlighted, of course, by the opportunity to see the mountain gorillas—and both the organization by Magical Gorilla Adventures and Eddie’s friendly, helpful demeanor were of the very highest standard. We look forward to traveling to this wonderful region again someday, and when we do, we will certainly choose Magical Gorilla Adventures once more.
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Julien Merle
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Thank you Magical Gorilla Adventure for organizing everything to perfection from pick up to drop off for the sitting of a Silverback Gorilla family in the Bwindi NP, it all went very smoothly. Shout out to my driver Eddie for sharing his knowledge along with his easy going and fun charisma! I would definitely recommend them to my fellow friends/family for future expeditions.
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Why Book With Us?

Book affordable Uganda gorilla trekking safaris with a licensed local operator. We specialize in cross-border Kigali to Bwindi tours.

1

Licensed Tour Operator

We are a registered Uganda gorilla trekking agency and Destination Management Company based in Kampala. Our Uganda Tourism Board license is UTB/RTT/TO/2023/100931.

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2

Flexible Safari Bookings

Secure your gorilla safari with flexible deposit terms. We offer clear pricing and customizable Kigali to Bwindi trekking packages.

3

Reliable Safari Management

We manage your entire gorilla trek from start to finish. This includes securing your $800 Uganda gorilla permits, transport, and lodging.

4

Commitment to Service

Expect punctual transfers, safe vehicles, and fast border crossings. We prioritize your comfort and safety during the Bwindi gorilla trek.

5

Community Support

Your booking supports local communities. We direct a percentage of our gorilla tour profits to single mothers living near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.


How to Book Your Gorilla Trek

Follow these three steps to book your Uganda gorilla safari from Kigali.

1
Share Your Travel Dates

Tell us your preferred trek dates and budget. We will check Uganda gorilla permit availability and recommend the best Bwindi sector.

2
Review Your Itinerary

We will send a detailed Kigali to Bwindi itinerary with pricing. You can request changes until the safari package fits your exact needs.

3
Secure Your Gorilla Permits

Pay your deposit to lock in your trip. We immediately purchase your $800 Uganda gorilla permits and confirm your safari lodge.

Contact a Gorilla Trekking Expert to Book

Call our Kampala office or book a video consultation. Let us build your Uganda gorilla safari itinerary today.

+256-787-230-575
Eddie Gorilla Trekking Guide
Eddie Guide with Alyssa