Low Season Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Permits & 2027 Rates
Low Season Uganda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Permits & 2027 Rates. Uganda has introduced low season or discounted gorilla and chimpanzee tracking permits effective 1st April 2026. These low season Uganda gorilla tracking permits and low season chimpanzee tracking permits are applicable for the months of April, May and November only. The low season gorilla and chimpanzee permit introduction aims to stimulate travel during the low season while maintaining Uganda’s exceptional primate tracking experience.
The low season Uganda gorilla tracking permit cost is $600 for foreign non-residents and $500 for foreign residents, while the chimpanzee tracking permit cost is $200 for foreign nonresidents and $150 for foreign residents. Low season gorilla and chimpanzee permits cannot be rescheduled; travelers are encouraged to ascertain travel and tracking dates before booking.
Furthermore from the same communique by UWA, the 7-day reservation window is suspended effective 1st March 2026. This 7-day reservation window previously allowed tour operators to reserve permits without making a payment for up to 7 days, after which unpaid reservations were automatically cancelled by the system.
Way Forward?
Going forward, all gorilla and chimpanzee permit bookings are to be made with full payments.
The system will only allow operators to secure permits upon full payment at the time of booking, thereby completing the transaction instantly. This move by the Uganda Wildlife Authority is intended to improve permit availability, enhance fairness and transparency in allocation, and ensure that permits remain accessible to operators with confirmed clients, ultimately allowing more efficient planning and equitable access across the industry.
Apart from the above, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) executive director Dr. James Musinguzi also announced other tariff adjustments that will take effect 1st January 2027. It is important to note the price increment of the chimpanzee permits, gorilla habituation permits, and experiential rhino tracking. Below is the revised tariff structure as shed by UWA, effective 1st January 2027;
| SN | Activity | FNR ($) | FR ($) | ROA ($) | EAC (UGX) |
| 1 | Gorilla Tracking | 800 | 700 | 500 | 300,000 |
| 2 | Gorilla Habituation | 1,800 | 1,600 | 1,000 | 750,000 |
| 3 | Chimpanzee Tracking (KNP) | 300 | 200 | 100 | 180,000 |
| 4 | Chimpanzee Habituation | 400 | 300 | 250 | 250,000 |
| 5 | Chimpanzee Tracking (Kyambura) | 200 | 150 | 100 | 50,000 |
| 6 | Rhino Tracking Ajai -Adults
-Children |
20
5 |
15
5 |
10
3 |
10,000
2,500 |
| 7 | Experiential Lion Tracking | 350 | 350 | 350 | 350,000 |
| 8 | Golden cat tracking in KNP for 5 days | ||||
| 9 | Guided walks:
-Rushaga to Nyabaremura -Buhoma to Nkuringo |
80 100 |
50 50 |
50 50 |
50,000 50,000 |
Despite the increment of the price of gorilla habituation, chimpanzee tracking and habituation as well as lion tracking among others, the price of gorilla tracking remains the same until a further update from UWA. The introduction of low season gorilla and chimpanzee permits is a welcome move because budget gorilla trekking trips are now more in sight.
