Planning a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda in 2027 or 2028? One of the first things you should check is whether gorilla permits are available for your preferred trekking date.
Uganda gorilla permits are limited because only a controlled number of visitors can trek each habituated mountain gorilla family each day. Therefore, checking permit availability early is particularly important if you plan to travel during popular months such as June, July, August, September, December or around major holidays.
At Tata Africa Safaris, we can help travellers check Uganda gorilla permit availability before they finalise their safari dates.
How Do I Check Gorilla Permit Availability for 2027–2028?
Uganda gorilla trekking permits are managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
Permit availability is checked according to your intended trekking date and location. Uganda Wildlife Authority advises travellers and tour operators to inquire about available trekking spaces for their preferred dates before completing the booking.
For international travellers, one of the easiest ways to check availability is through a licensed Ugandan tour operator.
When contacting us, provide:
- Your preferred gorilla trekking date
- One or two alternative dates
- Number of travellers
- Nationality or residency category
- Whether you prefer Bwindi or Mgahinga
- Your approximate safari dates
We can then check the relevant permit availability and help you plan the rest of the safari around the available trekking date.
Where Can You Trek Gorillas in Uganda in 2027–2028?
Uganda offers gorilla trekking in two national parks:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is Uganda’s main gorilla trekking destination.
The park has several trekking areas, including:
- Buhoma
- Ruhija
- Rushaga
- Nkuringo
When checking a permit, it is important to consider the trekking area as well as the date.
This is because your permit location affects where you should stay. For example, booking accommodation in Buhoma when your trekking permit requires you to report in Rushaga could create unnecessary travel problems on the morning of your trek.
For this reason, at Tata Africa Safaris™, we recommend confirming your permit and trekking area before finalising your gorilla lodge.
- Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
You can also trek mountain gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, close to Kisoro in southwestern Uganda.
Mgahinga has fewer daily trekking spaces than Bwindi. Therefore, travellers interested specifically in Mgahinga should check availability well in advance.
How Much Is a Uganda Gorilla Permit in 2027?
For standard gorilla trekking, the applicable permit price depends on your visitor category and the official Uganda Wildlife Authority tariff in force for your trekking date.
| Visitor Category | Gorilla Trekking Permit |
|---|---|
| Foreign Non-Resident (FNR) | USD 800 per person |
| Foreign Resident (FR) | USD 700 per person |
| Rest of Africa | USD 500 per person |
| East African Citizen (EAC) | UGX 300,000 per person |
The above rates will remain for the standard gorilla trek, but for Gorilla Habituation, the permit prices are going to change effective 1st January 2027.
Revised Gorilla Habituation Permit prices for 2027 – 2028
| Visitor Category | Gorilla Habituation Permit |
|---|---|
| Foreign Non-Resident (FNR) | USD 1,800 per person |
| Foreign Resident (FR) | USD 1,600 per person |
| Rest of Africa | USD 1,000 per person |
| East African Citizen (EAC) | UGX 750,000 per person |
A gorilla trekking permit normally covers your guided trek and time spent with the gorillas after locating them.
- The standard gorilla permit ($800 per person) allows you a maximum of 01 hour with a habituated gorilla family.
- Gorilla habituation experience allows you up to 4 hours with a wild gorilla group.
Permit prices mentioned above don’t include your accommodation, road transport, meals, porter, personal expenses or other safari activities unless these have been included separately in your safari package.
Can I Check Gorilla Permit Availability Online?
Travellers sometimes search for a public calendar showing every available gorilla permit for 2027 or 2028.
However, you should not assume that a date is available simply because you cannot find information saying that it is sold out.
Gorilla permit availability changes as bookings are confirmed.
Therefore, the safest approach is to request a live availability check for your exact travel dates.
At Tata Africa Safaris, we can check the requested dates and advise you about suitable alternatives if your first choice is unavailable.