Gorilla Trekking Permit Refund
Gorilla Trekking Permit Refund in Uganda: Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a popular safari activity done by tourists visiting Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park. Bwindi Forest Park in Uganda lies in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley. Its mist-covered hillsides are blanketed by one of Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests, and contains almost 400 species of plants. More famously, this “impenetrable forest” also protects an estimated 400 mountain gorillas – roughly half of the world’s population, including several habituated Gorilla families or groups, which can be tracked. BOOK NOW
Gorilla trekking safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park is the main tourist activity. Visitors/Tourists that are interested to take part in a gorilla trekking tour or Gorilla habituation safari are required to obtain a gorilla trekking permit well in advance before the tracking date.
Note: Gorilla trekking permits are sold on first come first serve basis and we therefore advice guests to plan well in advance to obtain their relevant Gorilla permits. Gorilla permits are on a high demand. It is advisable to have your gorilla trekking permit at least 2 months ahead of your gorilla trekking date. Once you have your Gorilla trekking permit scheduled on a given date, it will only be valid for that date.
Cancelling your Gorilla safari to Bwindi will mean you will not be able to track Gorillas as you had planned before and this could to sickness, family ties, work related issues among others that deliberately calls you to cancel your visit to Uganda or Bwindi Forest for gorillas trekking.
Gorilla permit refund is dependent on many factors and many tour operators will require a prepayment (30%-50%) of your safari to go ahead and secure the relevant Gorilla permits. Once payment of your gorilla permit payment has been made to Uganda Wildlife Authority no refund will be issued to you especially when full payment was made as required in obtain and collecting the Gorilla permit. Unless a prepayment on gorilla permits was made to Uganda Wildlife Authority in committing to pre secure the permits after full payment has been made. Always a 30 % is made and some tour operators can only refund 70% that is only if full amount was not made to Uganda Wildlife Authority. In case of full amount then expect NO refund for your Gorilla permit.
Reselling of Gorilla Permits that you have cancelled
Usually, when a visitor cancels his or her gorilla trekking trip thus Gorilla permit cancelled. A Gorilla permit can be resold to other guest/visitors that are looking out for Gorilla trekking on the very dates you had your gorilla trekking on. Fortunately, if the Gorilla permit is sold, your money is therefore refunded however, you need to note that a Tour Operator will not guarantee reselling your Gorilla permit as many times it completely fails especially off the peak season.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority policy on gorilla trekking permit Refund
Uganda Wildlife Authority has a policy for refunding a cancelled gorilla trekking safari and terms and conditions will apply as set. The 50% refund only allowed to tourist that have failed to track gorillas in Bwindi due to sickness and health related matters. This has to be confirmed by the park Warden in charge meaning that it applies to those who would have traveled to the ground.
Advance cancellations prior travelling to Bwindi Forest or visiting Uganda, Uganda Wildlife Authority has provision for the following refund percentages; 75% will be given back if the notice is above 91 days, 50% for the 46 – 90 days, 25% for the 9 – 45 days and no refund for 8 days. UWA retains the full control of the gorilla permit selling.
Note: The minimum age limit for Gorilla trekking in Uganda legible at 15 years.