Gorilla
tracking is a very captivating activity; it involves walking in
the wilderness in search of these great apes. It can be a changelling
activity, therefore ensure physical fitness.Eight people are permitted
per group per day and a total of twenty four(24) people is taken
in Bwindi, while eight (8) people are allowed for Mgahinga. So far,
we have five groups for viewing. There are four groups in Bwindi
Impenetrable National Park, (Mubare,Habinyanja, Rushegura,
and Nkuringo) and one (Nyakagezi) inMgahinga
Gorilla National Park.
Booking
for all gorilla permits in Bwindi and Mgahinga is done at UWA
Headquarters in Kampala. For permit fee information please check
on the tariffs section.
2.
Long Term (Two Years in Advance) Booking Allocations
Advance
booking shall be allowed up to two years as long as a deposit
of 30% is made and the balance shall be paid 91 days to the tracking
date. Late topup of 70% is not permitted but may be considered
7 days, and will attract a Surcharge of 20% beyond which deposit
is forfeited without refund.
80%
of all the gorilla permits in each month can be booked for two
years in advance by the Association of Uganda Tour Operations
(AUTO) members only. Foreign tour operators will book through
local tour operators.
Each
tour operator (AUTO) shall book up to only 20 permits for that
particular month on the day the booking opens, which is the first
working day (Monday to Friday) of the month.
3.
Short time booking (three months in advance)
Individual
trackers can buy from Uganda Wildlife Authority not more than
2 permits for the month. There is no guarantee, which dates or
how many per day will be available. Booking can be done on the
day the booking opens, which is the first working day of the month.
4.
Permit Limits
Permits
not sold on the day the booking opens will be open for sale the
following day with no limits on the number each tour operator
would buy.
6.
Refunds/Cancellation Guidelines
UWA
shall refund 50% tracking fee, if the visitor fails to track due
to illness, this will be at recommendation of the Warden in Charge
and this clause only applies to visitors who have already tracked
BINP or MGNP.
Visitors
who fail to track the gorillas (MGNP) as a result of their movement
to the neighboring country shall receive a full refund on their
permits. However, those who would have tracked the whole day and
failed to view the gorillas for one reason or another will be
refunded 75% of the tracking fee. All refunds shall be effected
through the Reservation Office at UWA Headquarters in Kampala.
·
UWA will retain the following percentages upon cancellations;
0
- 8 days to tracking date - no refund
9 - 45 days to tracking date - 75% (25% refund to client)
46-90 days to tracking date - 50%
91 days and above to tracking date - 25% (75% refund to client)
7.
Any refund to be made on the 30% deposit shall be at the value of
the permit.
8.
Permits must be sold at face value, whoever sells at higher value
will be penalized.
9.
Primary sale of permits by individuals or tour companies anywhere
is illegal. All permits MUST be sold by Uganda Wildlife Authority
only.
10.
Payment for gorilla permits must be made directly to Uganda Wildlife
Authority.
11.
Reschedules of Permit Reservations
Reschedules
of Permit reservations are not permitted, except if it is more
than 91 days to tracking date and is within (7) seven days of
rescheduled date.
This will attract
a reschedule fee of 20%. Any other charges of the date will be
considered as a cancellation and a re-booking. A cancellation
policy will therefore apply and re-booking a new date at the full
cost of a permit.
12.
Payment Terms:
The
acceptable payment methods are:
Cash
(Uganda Shillings, US dollars, GB Pounds, Euros),
Note: 1. US$
notes below $100 should be 1990 & above
2. Us$100 notes should be 1997 & above
Bank Transfers (net of the bank charges)
Traveler's
Cheques (Present receipt of purchase at point of sale & 1%
charge)
13. Time Limit
The
tracking time is limited from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All visitors
are expected back at the campground by 7:00 p.m.
