Entrance fees for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are the costs incurred by each person who enters the park or other protected area in order to participate in activities there. In addition to other wildlife species including forest elephants, white and black colobus monkeys, bush pigs, and many more, the half-world endangered mountain gorillas may be found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Bwindi is home to a variety of birds and stunning butterflies.This park is situated above sea level in the southwest of Uganda and shares borders with the Virunga Mountains to the west and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.According to Bwindi, it takes nine to ten hours to drive there, and 1:30 hours to get there by plane.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), which oversees all protected areas and conservation areas and sets fees for all of Uganda’s protected regions, has complete control over this national park. Gorilla trekking permits, for example, are also available for purchase at the government offices in the capital city of Kampala. A reputable tour operator with a registered tour company may assist with all of these arrangements.
Fees for Bwindi
Only foreign residents of Uganda and East African citizens are exempt from the fees for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Payment is made separately for vehicle entry.
Package activities like chimpanzee tracking, gorilla trekking, mountaineering, hiking, and many more are not eligible.
To be eligible for an annual pass, foreign residents must provide their one-year employment permits.
A tour guide is a qualified and certified professional who leads visitors through a variety of activities, including those on horseback, in a boat, canoe, automobile, and in the outdoors.
A tour company driver is a qualified driver employed by a reputable safari company in Uganda who transports guests to the park’s grounds.
Additionally, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) collects landing and entrance fees for cars, boats, and airplanes.
N.B. Regulation Regarding Personal Admission Charges
To verify their residency status, all guests must show their legitimate identity cards.
Fees must be quoted in Uganda Shillings (UGX) and USD (United States Dollar).
The validity of a day’s admission ticket is “24” hours, or twenty-four hours, from the time of entry.
After 24 hours, any additional time spent at the park will be billed as an additional day.
Trekking with mountain gorillas is prohibited for those under the age of fifteen.
Activities like gorilla trekking, mountain climbing, bird watching, and so forth have separate entrance costs.
All fees, including park entrance fees, are assessed according to a traveler’s status. such as the “E.A.C.” (East African Citizens) listed below, foreign residents, and foreign non-residents;
Adult visitors to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are expected to pay USD 40 for non-resident foreigners, USD 30 for residents, and UGX 20,000 for East African citizens.
The expected payment for children is UGX5,000 for East African citizens, USD10 for foreign residents, and USD20 for foreign non-residents.
Groups of East African students are allowed to pay UGX 3,000, but groups of students attending universities or tertiary institutions must pay UGX 5,000 to enter the park.
Annual Park Admission Fees
If you want to enter the park on any day of the year, you can choose to pay a yearly entrance charge. Only East African citizens and foreign residents can choose to participate. Then, paying for this option is prohibited for foreign non-residents. To be eligible for this annual pass, foreign residents must have a work permit that is valid for a full year.
The annual admission fee to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is USD 350 for foreign residents and UGX 150,000 for East African citizens.
An East African citizen couple must pay UGX 200,000 for a yearly pass, whereas a foreign resident couple should budget USD 500.
Families with up to four children are required to pay an annual park fee of USD 700 for foreign residents and UGX 300,000 for East African families.
The annual corporate park admission price to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is UGX 2,500,000 for East African members and USD 1,500 for foreign residents.
The annual park entrance charge for a tour guide and a taxi driver is UGX 100,000.
Fees for Vehicle Entry
Foreign-registered motorcycles cost USD 30, whereas Ugandan-registered motorcycles should budget USD 5.
Saloon automobiles registered in Uganda are only taxed USD10, but those with foreign license plates are entitled to USD40.
For four-wheel drive and tour company vehicles, foreign-registered vehicles should anticipate to pay USD 150, whereas Ugandan-registered vehicles only pay USD $15.
Overlanders with foreign registration anticipate paying USD 150, while those with Ugandan registration anticipate paying USD 50 per entry to the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
The landing fees for aircraft are the same for both East African and foreign visas. aircraft that have
Pilots who visit the park for less than two hours while en route are exempt from paying admission costs.
Up to three-seater seating configurations should cost USD $20 per landing.
Expect to spend USD 30 every landing for a 4-6 seater.
Expect to pay USD 40 each landing for a 7-14 seater.
Each landing, 15 to 20-seaters are eligible to pay USD.
Expect to spend USD $60 for seats 21 and over.
Helicopters registered in Uganda are entitled to USD 125, while those registered abroad are entitled to USD 100.
The daily parking fee is UGX 10,000.
The cost of a gorilla trekking permit is UGX300,000 for East African nationals, USD800 for foreign non-residents, and USD700 for foreign residents. We recommend that you reserve your gorilla trekking permit at least six months in advance, but with a reliable tour operator, you can make reservations up to two years in advance without worrying.
Road and air transportation make it easy to reach Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, which is open year-round.
Gorilla Trekking in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is home to two gorilla species found nowhere else together: mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park and eastern lowland gorillas (Grauer’s gorillas, Gorilla beringei graueri) in Kahuzi-Biega National Park. Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Virunga National Park – Africa’s oldest national park, established in 1925 – covers 7,900 km² of remarkable ecological diversity, from the volcanic peaks of the Virunga Massif to the glaciers of the Rwenzori Mountains and the tropical lowland forests of the Congo Basin. The park is also home to hippos, elephants, okapis, and the entire cast of Congo rainforest wildlife.
Eastern Lowland Gorillas – A Unique Encounter
The eastern lowland gorilla (Grauer’s gorilla) is the world’s largest subspecies of gorilla, with silverbacks weighing up to 220kg. Found only in the DRC, Grauer’s gorillas are considerably rarer than mountain gorillas – their population has declined by more than 70% since the 1990s due to conflict, habitat loss, and poaching. Kahuzi-Biega National Park in South Kivu offers the only reliable trekking experience with habituated Grauer’s gorilla families.
A gorilla permit in the DRC costs USD 400 per person – significantly cheaper than Rwanda (USD 1,500) or Uganda (USD 800). The experience is raw, off-the-beaten-track, and unforgettable for travellers seeking something genuinely uncommon.
Practical Information for DRC Gorilla Trekking
Getting to Virunga and Kahuzi-Biega
The most common entry point to eastern DRC is via Kigali, Rwanda. Goma – the gateway to Virunga National Park – is just 80km from Kigali. Direct flights from Nairobi and Kampala also serve Goma. Bukavu (gateway to Kahuzi-Biega) is accessible from Goma by road (3-4 hours) or by light aircraft.
Is it safe to trek gorillas in the DRC?
Security in eastern DRC is complex and fluctuates. Virunga National Park and Kahuzi-Biega have experienced periods of closure due to armed group activity. Always check current security conditions with your tour operator and your government’s travel advisory before planning a DRC gorilla trek. Reputable operators with established local security networks are essential.
Recommended Tours: 8 Days Congo Gorillas & Nyiragongo Safari | 5 Days Lowland Gorilla Safari Congo
