Tulabagane
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If you've been searching for a Uganda safari in 2026, chances are the first question on your mind isn't which park to visit — it's how much a gorilla permit actually costs, and whether the rules for booking one have changed. They have. Between a new low-season discount, an updated payment policy, and a habituation fee that's set to rise, 2026 has been one of the busier years for gorilla permit news in a while.
Here's a clear, up-to-date breakdown of what you need to know before you book a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda.
A standard gorilla trekking permit for foreign non-residents costs $800 per person in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This fee covers one hour with a habituated gorilla family, an armed ranger guide, and park entry for the day of your trek.
It's worth remembering that permits are strictly limited — only eight visitors are allowed per gorilla family per day — which is exactly why permits for popular dates sell out months in advance.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has introduced a low-season incentive for 2026, dropping the standard $800 permit down to $600 per person during April, May and November. These months fall in Uganda's rainier, quieter season, so the trails are muddier and the crowds are thinner — but the gorillas don't mind the rain, and neither should you if you're chasing a good deal.
If your travel dates are flexible, timing a trip around one of these three months is currently the easiest way to save on a Uganda gorilla safari.
This is the change that has caught the most travelers off guard. Previously, UWA allowed a permit to be reserved and held for seven days before payment was due. As of 1 March 2026, that grace period has been suspended — full payment is now required immediately to secure a permit.
In practice, this means you can no longer "pencil in" a date while you finalize flights or annual leave. Once you're ready to commit to dates, your permit needs to be paid for there and then, which is another reason to book through an operator who can move quickly and confirm availability in real time.
Your $800 permit isn't just an entry fee — it's the single biggest source of funding for mountain gorilla conservation in Uganda. The bulk of it goes toward ranger patrols, anti-poaching efforts and veterinary care for the gorillas, while a share is shared directly with the communities living around the park boundaries. We've broken this down in detail in our post on how your gorilla permit funds wildlife conservation, if you'd like the fuller picture before you book.
If a standard one-hour trek isn't enough, the Gorilla Habituation Experience lets you spend up to four hours with a gorilla family that is still being habituated to human presence, alongside researchers and trackers. It currently costs $1,500 per person, and UWA has guaranteed that rate only through 30 June 2026.
A price increase is expected for the second half of the year, so if a habituation trek is on your bucket list for late 2026, it pays to book and lock in your permit sooner rather than later.
Permit prices, booking rules and habituation fees will keep shifting as the year goes on — but you don't have to track all of it yourself. Tulabagane Expeditions Africa Safaris secures and pays for gorilla permits on your behalf, confirms your dates instantly, and builds the rest of your Uganda itinerary around your trek.