Those Lower Gorilla Permit prices in Uganda

Promotional Gorilla Permits will most likely not be issued again

Changes in 2012 at Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rwanda increasing Gorilla Permit prices to 750 USD make 350 USD promotional permits unlikely

May 17th -2011– the then acting director of Uganda Wildlife Authority Dr. Andrew Seguya announced promotional Gorilla permits during off season – this caused a lot of excitement in the tourism industry and with those looking at visiting the Mountain Gorillas of Uganda during off season.  The reality is that they were only issued for a short time – this year during off season no promotional permits have been issued.  In April of 2012 a permanent board consisting of people with a background in tourism and wildlife were appointed and Rwanda raised gorilla permit prices from 500 usd to 750 usd as of June 2012 while Uganda remained at 500 USD.

The fact that Rwanda has raised Gorilla Permit Prices  makes Uganda’s prices for gorilla permits a bargain and to lower Ugandan Gorilla Permits by 150 usd to 350 usd may not be necessary since the price is already 250 usd lower than Rwanda’s price on Gorilla Permits

The new permanent board has yet to make any announcement about promotional Uganda Gorilla permits and the reality is that in practice they have seized to be.  It is hoped that until June 2013 Gorilla permit prices will stay at 500 USD and not be raised until that time if at all.

Uganda Wildlife Authority reviews its National Park and activity tariffs every two years and the next review of those tariffs is in 2013 – presently Uganda Park tariffs are for the most part considerably lower than neighboring countries including Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania.

If you were expecting a 150 usd savings on Gorilla Permits in Uganda during the off-season – the reality in 2012 “ most likely not.”  You will be able to find the original announcement about 350USD promotional permits on many Safari Tour Companies Websites in Uganda – even though they have not been issued recently.  It was a great idea in its time issued by a temporary acting Uganda Wildlife Authority Board and its acting director in 2011 – now in 2012 a permanent and competent board with a background in Wildlife, Conservation, Tourism has been appointed bringing much happiness to the tourism industry inside of Uganda.

Reality: Gorilla Tracking is a once in life time experience – at the end of the day it is the experience – not the 350 USD Gorilla Permits…but spending that time with a Gorilla Family – experiencing the Mountain Gorillas in the ancient Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or in the shadows of the Virunga Volcanoes at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park – 500 usd per permit is still a lot lower than paying 750 usd in Rwanda – you cannot see Mountain Gorillas in any zoo in the world you can only visit them in the wild of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC Gorilla area is under siege to a war going on) out of these countries Uganda represent the best option at a fair price and in a safe setting…enjoy the Mountain Gorillas of Uganda….from Kampala….jon

Update – October 2012 – Uganda Gorilla Permit Prices lowered as part of Golden Jubilee Independence Celebrations

“If I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa.” John Hemingway, African Journeys

Written by: Jon Blanc From Kampala -Uganda