The Uganda wildlife Authority has increased the price of the Uganda gorilla trekking permit from $700 – $800 starting July 1^st 2024 to 2026 running for a period of 2 years. For East African foreign resident, the price of the Uganda gorilla permit has been discounted to $700 come July 2024.

The gorilla habituation permits has however been kept at $1500 from July 1^st to 2026 which has been the going price for gorilla habituation experience which allows tourists to visit gorillas for 4 hours taking part in the habituation process.

The Uganda Wildlife authority has made a sudden increment in the price of the Uganda gorilla permit due to a pressing need to promote a competitive price structure due to a dynamic market with comparison to the price of a Rwanda gorilla permit at $1500.

Also the need to promote conservation of mountain gorillas in the jungle forests of Bwindi forest national park and Mgahinga national park has contributed to a pressure to increase the price of the permit to support gorilla conservation activities. It’s should be noted that Bwindi impenetrable forest national park Uganda shelters the largest part of the world’s mountain gorillas with over half the population of mountain gorillas, plus the about 30 gorilla species located in Mgahinga national park in Kisoro district of Uganda. The other population of mountain gorillas is found in Volcanoes national park Rwanda and a lesser population in Virunga national park Congo

The Uganda Wildlife Authority has been at the forefront of a fight to conserve and increase mountain gorilla population in Bwindi forest and Mgahinga national park with a remarkable population boost from 302 mountain gorilla species recorded in 2005 to 450 mountain gorillas according to the 2019 census conducted. According to Uganda Wildlife Authority management, the increase in the price of the Uganda gorilla permit will further support the ongoing conservation efforts at the local offices in the forests

Mountain gorillas are still endangered and a lot needs to be done to promote their survival covering security, staff who work closely with conservation, law enforcement activities, local community projects as well as health monitoring of the gorillas undergoing tourism.

Other than the gorillas, the Uganda Wildlife Authority caters for the communities surrounding Bwindi forest and Mgahinga national park as important tools to the conservation efforts of mountain gorillas. The authority must promote and uplift their standard of living through establishment of income generating projects and employment creation so at to benefit from gorilla tourism which is a key contributor to Uganda’s top foreign exchange.

Other Uganda National Park entrance fees which have been increased

• Chimpanzee tracking permit in Kibale forest national park has been increased from $200 to $250 starting 1^st July 2024 to 2026
• Chimpanzee Habituation permits in Kibale forest have been raised from $250 to $300, foresign residents at $250 from $200
• Chimpanzee permits in Kyambura Gorge experience has increased from $80 to $100
• Sabyinyo Volcano hiking in Mgahinga national park has been increased from $80 to $100
• Lion Tracking experiential in Queen Elizabeth national park has been increased from $150 to $200 inclusive of community fee.