How much does a gorilla permit add to a Uganda safari?

US$800 per person for foreign non-residents, or US$600 in April, May and November, set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. It includes the guide fee and that day's park entry. In Rwanda the permit is US$1,500.

Is it cheaper to see gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda?

The permit is cheaper in Uganda — US$800 against Rwanda's US$1,500 for foreign visitors. Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park is about three hours from Kigali, while Bwindi is a long drive or a flight from Entebbe, so the rest of the trip can close part of that gap.

When is a Uganda safari cheapest?

UWA's low-season permit rates apply in April, May and November, and many lodges set lower rates in the wetter months. The trade-off is more rain.

Are park entry fees included in the gorilla permit?

Yes, in Uganda. UWA's tariff says gorilla permit rates include the guide fee and park entrance for the day. Chimpanzee tracking includes park entry in Kibale only.

Why don't you publish package prices?

Because a price only means something once the route, dates, lodges and group size are fixed. We price each trip against those rather than quoting a figure that would not match yours.

Planning

What does a Uganda safari cost?

There is no single price, because a safari is built from parts that each move the total: the permits you choose, how many days the route takes, whether you drive or fly between parks, the standard of lodge, and the season. The official fees are published. A Uganda gorilla permit is US$800 for foreign non-residents, or US$600 in April, May and November, and includes that day's park entry. Entry to most national parks is US$40 a day under the Uganda Wildlife Authority's latest published tariff. Everything else follows from the route.

Checked against official sources on 13 September 2026. Sources

Fees set by the authorities

These are the parts of the price nobody negotiates. They are per person, for foreign non-residents, and set by the wildlife authorities — not by us or any other operator.

Uganda rates from UWA's Conservation Tariff July 2024 to June 2026 — the latest full tariff UWA has published — and its tariff letter of 26 February 2026. Rwanda rates from RDB and the parks' own price lists. Checked 13 September 2026.
Fee	Rate	Notes
Gorilla permit, Uganda	US$800	US$600 in April, May and November. Includes guide fee and that day's park entry
Gorilla habituation, Bwindi	US$1,500	Rises to US$1,800 on 1 January 2027
Chimpanzee tracking, Kibale	US$250	US$200 in April, May and November; US$300 from 1 January 2027. Includes Kibale park entry
Park entry, Murchison Falls	US$45 per 24 hours	Category A+
Park entry, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, Kibale, Kidepo, Lake Mburo, Mgahinga	US$40 per 24 hours	Category A
Launch cruise, Murchison Falls or Queen Elizabeth	US$30	About two hours
Gorilla permit, Rwanda	US$1,500	30% off between November and May when combined with nights in Akagera or Nyungwe
Park entry, Akagera or Nyungwe, Rwanda	US$100 for one night, US$150 for two, US$200 for three	International visitors; Nyungwe per its 2025–2026 price list

Every permit tier, by residency

Distance: driving or flying

Uganda's parks are far apart, and every day on the road is a day of vehicle, driver-guide and accommodation. Flying turns most of those drives into about an hour in the air, at the cost of the fare. Aerolink Uganda runs flights to airstrips serving Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Kidepo and other parks.

Drive times as given by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and Visit Rwanda; flight times from UWA. Checked 13 September 2026.
Route	By road	By air
Kampala to Bwindi (Buhoma), via Kabale	About 6 hours to Kabale, then about 5 more on murram road	About 1 hour 10 minutes, Entebbe to Kihihi or Kisoro
Kampala to Kisoro, for Mgahinga and southern Bwindi	About 9 hours	About 1 hour 10 minutes, Entebbe to Kisoro
Kampala to Queen Elizabeth	At least 7 to 8 hours	About 1 hour to Kasese
Kampala to Kibale	About 6 hours	About 1 hour to Kasese, then about 2 hours by road
Kampala to Murchison Falls	4 to 5 hours to the southern gate, then 1 to 2 hours to most lodges	Flights to Pakuba airfield
Kampala to Kidepo Valley	About 10 hours, via Gulu	UWA recommends flying
Kigali to Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda	About 3 hours	—

This is why a Rwanda gorilla trek can fit a short trip and a Bwindi trek usually needs more days — the permit is cheaper in Uganda, the journey to it is longer.

How many days you need · Uganda or Rwanda for gorillas?

Lodges and season

Accommodation is usually the biggest choice you make, from simple lodges to luxury ones, and the same route can be built at any of those standards.

Season moves both permits and rooms. UWA's low-season gorilla and chimpanzee permit rates apply in April, May and November. Many lodges publish their own seasons: Bwindi Lodge, for example, lists high season as 1 June to 30 September and 15 December to 28 February, and low season as 1 March to 31 May and 1 October to 14 December. The trade-off is weather — the low months are the wetter ones.

Best time to visit, month by month

What we need to price your trip

Your dates, or the month you have in mind.
How many of you are travelling.
The experiences that matter most — gorillas, chimpanzees, savannah, birding.
The standard of lodge you want.
Whether you would rather fly some legs or drive the whole way.

With those, we can build a route and price it, with the permits secured against your dates before anything is committed.

Common questions

How much does a gorilla permit add to a Uganda safari?: US$800 per person for foreign non-residents, or US$600 in April, May and November, set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. It includes the guide fee and that day's park entry. In Rwanda the permit is US$1,500.
Is it cheaper to see gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda?: The permit is cheaper in Uganda — US$800 against Rwanda's US$1,500 for foreign visitors. Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park is about three hours from Kigali, while Bwindi is a long drive or a flight from Entebbe, so the rest of the trip can close part of that gap.
When is a Uganda safari cheapest?: UWA's low-season permit rates apply in April, May and November, and many lodges set lower rates in the wetter months. The trade-off is more rain.
Are park entry fees included in the gorilla permit?: Yes, in Uganda. UWA's tariff says gorilla permit rates include the guide fee and park entrance for the day. Chimpanzee tracking includes park entry in Kibale only.
Why don't you publish package prices?: Because a price only means something once the route, dates, lodges and group size are fixed. We price each trip against those rather than quoting a figure that would not match yours.

Sources

Every fact on this page was checked on 13 September 2026 against these sources. UWA's full tariff is labelled July 2024 to June 2026 and no replacement has been published; its February 2026 letter sets the low-season rates now in force and the rates that start on 1 January 2027. Fees can change without notice, so we confirm every fee when we price your trip.

Planning questions

How do you book a gorilla trekking permit?Who can book, when you pay, and the rules on changes and refunds.
Do you need a visa for Uganda?Uganda's tourist visa, the East Africa Tourist Visa and yellow fever.
How fit do you need to be for gorilla trekking?Altitude, terrain and trek length by park, and what makes it easier.

Want a price for your route?

Send us your dates, group size and what you most want to see, and we will come back with a route and what it costs.

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