UWA Protected Areas Tariffs – Effective for 2024 to 2026
Would you like to plan a trip to Bwindi? Here are the park entrance fees and activity fees for different groups of visitors looking to explore Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Comprehensive Guide to Visitation Fees
| Activity (Charges per person) | Non-Residents (US Dollars) |
East African Residents (US Dollars) |
East African Citizens (UGX) |
Rest of Africa (US Dollars) |
|
| Gorilla Tracking | $800 | $700 | UGX 300,000 | $500 | |
| Gorilla Habituation Experience | $1500 | $1000 | UGX 750000 | $1000 | |
| Nature Walk (Day Walk) | $30 | $15 | UGX10000 | $10 | |
| Long Nature Walk (Rushaga to Nyabaremura) | $50 | $40 | UGX50,000 | $40 | |
| Guided Short Nature Walks for Children | $5 | $5 | UGX10000 | $5 | |
| Children Scouts – Adventure Activities | $10 | $10 | UGX20000 | $10 | |
| Batwa Forest Experience | $40 | $40 | UGX40,000 | $40 | |
| Park Entrance Fee | Adult
Children |
$40
$20 |
$30
$10 |
UGX20,000
UGX5,000 (Children) UGX3,000 (Pupils or Students) UGX5,000 (Tertiary Institutions) UGX2,000 (Uganda Wildlife Clubs) |
The following groups will receive free admission to protected areas:
- All children under five years of age
- People living in the vicinity of the protected area who have permission from the Warden In-Charge
Park Entrance Fees
| Visitor Entrance Fees | Non-Resident | Foreign Resident | East Africans |
| Class – Category A | Visitation Fees US$ | Visitation Fees US$ | Visitation Fees Ush |
| Adult | 1 day/night – $40- | 1 day/night – $30- | 1 day/night – Ush35,000- |
| Child (5-15 years) | 1 day/night – $20- | 1 day/night – $15- | 1 day/night – Ush2,5000- |
| Child (0-5 years) | Free | Free | Free |
- Foreign Students with valid international identity cards are allowed 25% on entrance fees.
- One days entrance is valid for twenty-four hours from the time of entrance.
Please note that all visitors are required to produce valid ID’s in order to determine their resident status.
Vehicle Entrance Fees
There are no vehicle entrance fees for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
| Guided Nature Walks | Non-Resident | Foreign Resident | East Africans |
| Up to 4 hours | US$10- | US$10- | Ushs15,000- |
| Over 4 hours | US$15- | US$15- | Ushs15,000- |
Commercial Filming Fees
Commercial filming permits need to be applied for in Kampala at the UWA offices before proceeding to Bwindi. The cost for this per day is US$200- per person per day. You do not need a filming permit for non professional Analogue Video or Digital Video.
Gorilla Filming: Less than 3 days US$3,500; 3days US$5,000, above 3 days each additional day US$1,000 per day. (This excludes gorilla tracking permits).
PAYMENTS:
• ALL Gorilla watching permits can only be booked through the central reservations office in Kampala
• Other activity fees can be paid for both at the reservations office or the different park gates by either Credit Card or Mobile Money.
How to Pay Park Fees
The following payment options are now available;
- Mobile money (Airtel money pay & MTN Momo pay)
- Payment through Point of Sale (POS Machines)
- Payment through the online payment portal
Bwindi Gorilla Permits
Important Information to Know
- Can i see gorillas during a nature walk in Bwindi?
- Do I need to make a Reservation to Enter Bwindi?
All National Park tariffs indicated below are effective 01 July 2024 through 30th June 2026
| Gorilla Tracking Fee | Non-Resident | East African Resident | East Africans |
| Visitors | US$800- | US$700 | UGX 300,000 |
For additional information on Gorilla Permits please read document ‘Gorilla Permits‘.
Direct bookings with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is not possible for international travelers. Gorilla permits are allocated to local tour operators. You can make your booking via a trusted agency info@visitbwindi.com. Please note that there is a little surcharge for bookings through a tour operator ranging from US$50 to US$100.
Cost of Gorilla Permits
Gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are categorized into four; Foreign nonresidents, Foreign residents, African Nationals and lastly East African citizens. The four categories offer a chance to all categories of visitors to travel and interact with a fully habituated gorilla group in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Uganda Gorilla Permits can be booked for international travelers at USD 800 per person. Bwindi National Park alone features about 24 habituated gorilla families and they translate to only 192 permits. Obtaining a permit your permit means a great opportunity to visit one of the gorilla groups, each assigned to a maximum of 8 guests per day.
- No persons under 15 years of age may trek gorillas (except in a few scenarios)
- Gorilla tracking begins at 08.30. Arrive at least 15 mins prior to this for registration.
- Gorilla Permit Rates include park entrance fee, guide fee, a certificate of trekking and community levy.
Gorilla Permits for Foreign Residents
How much do foreign residents pay for gorilla permits in Uganda?
Foreign residents living in Uganda and other African states like other visitor categories stand a chance to interact with a family of mountain gorillas of their choice on a gorilla tour. Trekking Bwindi gorillas is remarkably a lifetime experience, and you can only be allowed to get access to the park and family of gorillas if you have a valid gorilla permit.
How to book a gorilla permit as an International Traveler
Foreign travelers can have their permits booked through a reliable tour operator on ground. Consider reserving your permit in advance prior to actual visit to Bwindi Forest National Park to track gorillas. We advise that you book your permit and also entire gorilla tour at least 2-6 months earlier –often we have had guests who even book their trips 1 year earlier.
Booking your permit in advance can save you from last minute stress and generally, the process is tedious which should be tackled early enough. This also allows you plan for anything else that is essential to make your gorilla trip complete.
When Should I Book Gorilla Permits?
Make reservations well in advance – 10 to 12 months is a good time to book your passes for the peak months June to September as well as December to February. In the should months of June, March and May, it is advisable to book your gorilla permits 4-10 months.
Be in the know that you will need to book in advance gorilla passes even for “rainy months” of April and November. Since there are at times discounts for gorilla permits, many travelers book the passes early enough so that they cannot miss out on great offers.