Gorilla trekking is one of the most popular activities in Uganda. This experience involves tracking mountain gorillas on a tour in either Mgahinga Gorilla National park or Bwindi (Impenetrable) Forest National Park.
However, this activity is also one of the most expensive among tour activities that the Pear of Africa offers thus requiring careful planning. From the permit fees to accessing the remote parks in southwestern Uganda, you need to save significantly more than you would for typical Uganda Adventure Safaris or African wildlife safari in general.
Imagine missing your scheduled gorilla trek due to unforeseen circumstances, such as illness or a missed flight. What can you do to keep your gorilla permits valid? Here are the fines associated with late alterations to gorilla schedules in Uganda, according to the new Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) 2024 tariff.
Late Reschedule
If an unfortunate event occurs and you are likely to miss your gorilla trek, you can request a change in the tracking date—either to move it closer or postpone it. This process is known as gorilla permit rescheduling.
However, if you make this request within the last 8 or 11 days leading up to your tracking date, you will likely incur a fee known as the late rescheduling fee, as specified by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. This fee is typically 25% of the permit cost. For instance, if your gorilla permit costs $800, you would need to pay a fine of $200.
It’s important to note that this process is only possible if there are available gorilla trekking slots on the new date you wish to transfer your permit to, along with authorization from the Director of Tourism or the Head of Reservations in some cases.
Tracking a wrong sector
Uganda features four gorilla tracking sectors in Bwindi Forest: Rushaga, Ruhija, Buhoma, and Nkuringo. Being a vast forest, the distances between each sector’s headquarters can span several kilometers, often requiring hours of driving. It is crucial to book accommodations that correspond to your chosen gorilla trekking sector. Otherwise, you may face the added burden of paying an extra 50% of the permit fee to track from the wrong sector. This mistake is quite common among travelers who opt for self-drive car hire in Uganda or those visiting independently.
Sector Change
Changing sectors is possible; however, if it must be done at the last minute, you may incur fines for either late rescheduling or for tracking in the wrong sector. If there is still time and you need to transfer your gorilla permits from one sector to another, you can apply for a reschedule, which will involve paying the late rescheduling fee.
If the change occurs on the tracking date itself and you end up in the wrong sector, you will face a fine of 50% of the gorilla permit value for tracking in the wrong sector.
Missing the Trek
Lastly, if you miss the trek, it can be challenging to recover your money or permit. However, with proper communication, you might find some leniency. On the tracking date, make sure to promptly inform the UWA offices and provide valid reasons for missing the trek. This could include medical documentation for an abrupt illness, proof of flight cancellation if you missed a flight, or any other reason that affected your travel plans.
Once you provide this information, you will need to pay the late reschedule fee after your request is approved by the Tourism Director or the UWA Executive Director.
Always remember that gorilla permits can only be purchased from the UWA central reservation offices in Kampala or through a tour agency registered and approved by the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB). Avoid falling victim to scams by purchasing permits from individuals you encounter at the park, as this may result in missing the trek due to illegal documents. Rescheduling is possible, but only up to three times. Please note that missed treks are non-refundable.