Can i book a gorilla tour in Uganda Now. Sitting quietly a few meters from a mountain gorilla family, watching a silverback feed while infants tumble through the leaves, is one of the most moving wildlife experiences on earth. Uganda is home to more than half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, and it offers the best-value gorilla permits in Africa. So if you’ve been dreaming about it, you’re probably wondering: “Can I book a gorilla tour in Uganda now?”

The answer is yes. Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks are open, gorilla permits are being issued every day, and licensed operators are taking bookings for the coming weeks, the festive season and all of 2027.

The key to booking now is timing. Gorilla permits are strictly limited, prices are changing in 2027, and travel advice and entry rules changed during 2026. In this guide, the team at Kenlink Tours, a Uganda Tourism Board-licensed operator that has secured gorilla permits since 2010, explains permit availability by season, current and upcoming prices, how to book, the latest entry rules and travel advice, and the gorilla tours you can book today.

The Short Answer

• Yes, you can book a gorilla tour in Uganda now, for travel in the coming weeks, months or next year.
• Permits are limited to eight visitors per gorilla family per day, so book three to six months ahead, and earlier for December to February and June to September.
• International tourists must book gorilla permits through a Uganda Tourism Board-licensed operator.
• The standard permit is US$800 for foreign non-residents, with announced low-season discounts for April, May and November from 2027.
• Check your government’s travel advice and your insurance before booking.

Gorilla Permit Availability Right Now

Gorilla trekking runs every day of the year. The limit of eight visitors per habituated family per day means availability depends mainly on the season and how far ahead you book.

Travel Period	Season	Permit Availability	When to Book
Late October to November 2026	Short rains	Usually good, with fewer visitors	Now
Mid-December 2026 to early January 2027	Festive peak	Tight; popular sectors fill quickly	Immediately
Mid-January to February 2027	Dry season	Busy	As soon as possible
March to May 2027	Long rains	Good, with announced low-season discounts in April and May	1 to 3 months ahead
June to September 2027	Long dry season	The busiest months; permits sell out early	6 to 12 months ahead
October to November 2027	Short rains	Good; announced low-season discount in November	3 to 6 months ahead

Can I Still Get Permits for Christmas and New Year?

Possibly, but you’ll need to move quickly. The festive weeks are among the busiest of the year in Bwindi. To improve your chances:

• Be flexible on sector. Accept any of Bwindi’s four sectors or Mgahinga.
• Be flexible on dates. Give your operator a range of days rather than one fixed date.
• Consider weekdays and the days between Christmas and New Year.
• Start in Kigali if it suits your flights, as the southern sectors are closer to Rwanda.

Booking Gorilla Trekking for 2027

Now is an excellent time to plan for 2027, especially for June to September. Booking early gives you the widest choice of sectors and lodges, and time to arrange flights, visas and insurance. It’s also the best way to lock in your preferred dates ahead of the 2027 tariff changes.

Why the Green Season Is Worth Considering

April, May and November are wetter months, but they have real advantages: more permit availability, fewer visitors, lush scenery and, under UWA’s announced 2027 tariff, cheaper gorilla permits. Showers usually come in the afternoon, and gorillas don’t migrate, so sighting success stays high. Learn more about the country on our Uganda destination guide.

Where Can I Trek Gorillas in Uganda?

Gorilla trekking in Uganda takes place in two national parks: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that protects nearly half of the world’s mountain gorillas, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes. Learn more on Pick and Transfer Safaris’ guides to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Bwindi’s Four Sectors and Mgahinga Compared

Area	Location	Best For	Nearest Gateway
Buhoma (Bwindi)	North	Combining with Queen Elizabeth and the Ishasha tree-climbing lions	Kihihi airstrip
Ruhija (Bwindi)	East	Cooler highlands, excellent birding, fewer visitors	Kabale
Rushaga (Bwindi)	South	The most gorilla families; the Gorilla Habituation Experience; Kigali starts	Kisoro airstrip, Kigali
Nkuringo (Bwindi)	Southwest	Dramatic views of the Virunga volcanoes; often steep treks	Kisoro airstrip, Kigali
Mgahinga	Far southwest	Gorillas plus golden monkeys and volcano hikes	Kisoro airstrip, Kigali

Your permit is issued for one specific sector or park, and the sectors are several hours apart by road. That’s why your lodge and transport must match your permit. When booking now, flexibility on sector is one of the easiest ways to secure your preferred date.

The Gorilla Habituation Experience

Offered in Bwindi’s Rushaga sector, the Gorilla Habituation Experience lets up to four visitors a day spend around four hours with a gorilla family that is still being accustomed to people, alongside researchers and trackers. It’s perfect for photographers and dedicated wildlife lovers. With only four places a day, book it well in advance.

Gorilla Permit Rules: Who Can Book Directly?

Under the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s permit purchase guidelines, gorilla permits for foreign non-residents and Rest of Africa visitors can only be bought through tour operators licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board. Foreign residents and East African citizens can still book directly with UWA’s reservations office in Kampala.

Gorilla Permit Prices Now and in 2027

Permit	Current Price (Foreign Non-Resident)	Announced From January 2027
Gorilla trekking (most months)	US$800	US$800
Gorilla trekking (April, May, November)	US$800	US$600 (reported low-season rate)
Gorilla Habituation Experience	US$1,500	US$1,800 (reported)

Current rates come from UWA’s published conservation tariff. The 2027 figures have been widely reported in the tourism industry following UWA’s announcement, but always ask your operator to confirm the exact rate for your trekking date before you pay. Foreign residents, Rest of Africa visitors and East African citizens pay lower rates.

For comparison, a gorilla permit in Rwanda costs US$1,500, so Uganda remains the best-value gorilla trekking destination.

How to Book a Gorilla Tour Now, Step by Step

1. Check your travel advice and insurance for Uganda (see the next section).
2. Choose a licensed operator. Verify the company on the Uganda Tourism Board list of licensed tour operators.
3. Share your dates and preferences: trekking date (plus backups), group size, starting point, lodge level and any extras such as chimps or a wildlife safari.
4. Get an availability check and itinerary. Your operator checks permits across all sectors and sends a quote, usually within 24 hours.
5. Send passport details and pay for the permit. UWA needs each trekker’s full name, nationality, date of birth and passport number.
6. Receive your confirmation: a copy of your permit, your itinerary and pre-departure information.

Booking With Flexibility

Gorilla permits are tied to a specific date, sector and name, and refunds are governed by UWA’s booking terms. Discounted low-season permits are reported to be non-reschedulable. To protect your plans:

• Ask your operator to explain permit and lodge cancellation terms in writing
• Pay the permit and a deposit first, with the balance closer to travel
• Ask whether lodges and transport can be moved if you need to change dates
• Buy travel insurance with good cancellation cover

Entry Requirements for Uganda Right Now

• Passport: valid for at least six months from your date of entry.
• Visa: most visitors need a Uganda e-visa, applied for online before travel. If you’re also visiting Rwanda or Kenya, consider the East Africa Tourist Visa, which is handy for Kigali-based gorilla trips.
• Yellow fever: in October 2026, Uganda’s immigration authorities confirmed that a yellow fever vaccination certificate is no longer a mandatory entry requirement, and the UK government updated its Uganda travel advice on 8 October 2026 to reflect this. Vaccination is still recommended, so speak to a travel health professional, and check Rwanda’s rules if you’re entering via Kigali.
• Travel insurance: essential, ideally including medical evacuation and cancellation cover.

Travel Advice and the 2026 Ebola Outbreak

Here’s an honest summary of the situation, so you can decide with the full picture:

• Uganda’s Ebola outbreak is over. Uganda confirmed cases from mid-May 2026, linked to travelers from the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Uganda recorded 20 confirmed cases, including two deaths, and the Ministry of Health declared the outbreak over on 28 July 2026.
• The outbreak in neighbouring DR Congo is continuing, and some governments remain cautious about the region.
• Advice differs between governments. For example, the United States has a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Uganda, issued in June 2026, and Canada advises avoiding non-essential travel. Other governments’ advice differs.

Before booking, read your own government’s current advice and confirm your travel insurance will cover the trip, as some insurers won’t cover destinations where your government advises against travel. If your advice is restrictive, you can still plan and book for a later date with flexible terms.

Gorilla Trekking Health Rules

Mountain gorillas share about 98 percent of our DNA and can catch human illnesses, so UWA enforces strict health rules on every trek:

• Don’t trek if you’re unwell. Visitors with a cold, flu, diarrhea or other contagious illness may be stopped from trekking.
• Keep at least seven meters from the gorillas.
• Wear a face mask if rangers ask you to.
• Don’t eat, drink or smoke near the gorillas.
• Turn away and cover your mouth if you need to cough or sneeze.

These rules matter more than ever in a year when the region has faced disease outbreaks, and they protect the gorillas that make your trip possible.

Gorilla Tours You Can Book Now

Here are popular gorilla tours you can book today, grouped by starting point and length.

Short Gorilla Tours From Kigali, Rwanda

Kigali is only about four to five hours from Bwindi’s southern sectors and Mgahinga, which makes it ideal for short trips and last-minute bookings:

• 2 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari Starting from Kigali
• 3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Safari Starting from Kigali
• 5-Day Gorilla Trekking Safari from Kigali to Uganda
• Pick and Transfer Safaris’ 1 Day Uganda Gorilla Safari Starting from Kigali and 2 Days Uganda Gorilla Tour Starting from Kigali

Browse all Pick and Transfer Safaris’ gorilla safaris from Kigali.

Short Gorilla Tours From Entebbe or Kampala

The classic road trip takes three days, or two days with domestic flights:

• 3-Day Uganda Gorillas Safari
• 3 Days Best of Uganda Gorilla Safari
• 4 Days Uganda Cultural and Gorilla Tour
• Pick and Transfer Safaris’ 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Safari

Gorillas With Wildlife and Chimpanzees

• 5-Day Wildlife and Gorilla Safari, with Queen Elizabeth National Park
• 5 Days Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tour in Uganda, with chimp tracking in Kibale
• 7 Days Gorilla and Wildlife Safari
• 8-Day Uganda Gorilla, Chimpanzee and Wildlife Safari
• Pick and Transfer Safaris’ 5-Day Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari and 10 Days Uganda Primates and Wildlife

Uganda and Rwanda Gorilla Combinations

• 4-Day Rwanda–Uganda Golden Monkey and Gorilla Trekking
• 5 Days Uganda Rwanda Double Gorilla Safari
• 9 Days Uganda and Rwanda Gorilla and Big Five Safari
• Pick and Transfer Safaris’ 10 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari

Budget and Shared Options

Our group tours and scheduled departure safaris share vehicle costs on set dates. Independent travelers can also book a permit-only service and drive themselves with our 4×4 car hire.

Why Book Your Gorilla Tour Now With Kenlink Tours

Since 2010, Kenlink Tours has secured gorilla permits and guided travelers through Uganda’s gorilla forests. When you book with us, you get:

• A UTB-licensed operator with direct access to UWA’s permit booking system
• Real-time availability checks across all Bwindi sectors and Mgahinga, usually within 24 hours
• Honest advice on sectors, seasons, prices and current travel conditions
• Permit, lodge and transport matched together, so everything lines up on trekking day
• Starts from Entebbe, Kampala or Kigali, plus permit-only bookings for independent travelers
• Clear terms and secure payments, with invoices for every transaction
• Community support: part of our profits helps the Kigezi Foundation care for orphaned children in southwestern Uganda

Read more about our team on the About Us page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I book a gorilla tour in Uganda right now?

Yes. Permits are being issued, and licensed operators are taking bookings for late 2026 and throughout 2027. Late October and November usually have good availability, while the festive season is tight.

How far ahead should I book gorilla permits?

Three to six months ahead is ideal, and six to twelve months ahead for June to September 2027.

Can I book a gorilla permit directly from UWA?

Only if you’re a foreign resident of Uganda or an East African citizen. International tourists must book through a Uganda Tourism Board-licensed operator.

Will gorilla permits be cheaper in 2027?

UWA has announced a discounted low-season rate for April, May and November from January 2027, reported at US$600 for foreign non-residents. The standard rate remains US$800 in other months. Confirm the exact price for your dates with your operator.

Is it safe to go gorilla trekking in Uganda now?

Uganda declared its 2026 Ebola outbreak over on 28 July 2026, and the gorilla parks are open. However, travel advice differs between governments, and some advise against travel to Uganda. Check your own government’s advice and your insurance before booking.

Do I need a yellow fever certificate?

As of October 2026, it’s no longer a mandatory entry requirement for Uganda, though vaccination is still recommended. If you’re entering via Rwanda, check Rwanda’s current rules too.

What’s the minimum age for gorilla trekking?

Trekkers must be at least 15 years old on the day of the trek.

Yes, You Can Book a Gorilla Tour in Uganda Now

Uganda’s gorilla parks are open, permits are available for the months ahead and 2027 bookings are well underway. The best time to book is now, especially for the festive season and June to September, when permits sell out first. Choose a licensed operator, be flexible on sector if you can, check your travel advice and insurance and ask for clear terms before you pay.

Do that, and you’ll be on your way to an hour in the forest that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

Ready to book your gorilla tour? Contact Kenlink Tours today with your dates and group size, and our team will check permit availability and reply within 24 hours with a free, tailor-made itinerary.