November 3, 2026
The price of seeing mountain gorillas in Uganda is about to jump. According to a report from 4×4 Uganda, the Uganda Wildlife Authority has confirmed that the foreign non-resident gorilla trekking permit rises from 800 USD to 1,000 USD on January 1, 2027, the first 200 dollar jump in seven years after a string of 100 dollar increases. For Canadians weighing a Bwindi trip, the timing of that increase matters more than it might seem.
A Uganda gorilla trekking permit is the single ticket that lets you spend roughly one hour with a habituated gorilla family inside Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, accompanied by armed rangers and trackers. The fee funds park management, ranger salaries, and the community conservation programs that have helped Uganda’s gorilla population recover. At 800 USD through the end of 2026, it still sits well below Rwanda’s permit price of 1,500 USD, which is part of why Uganda has become the more budget-friendly route into gorilla trekking in East Africa.
Here’s the detail that catches travelers off guard: the new 1,000 USD rate applies based on when you actually trek, not when you buy the permit. Book today for a trek in March 2027 and you’ll still pay the higher rate. The only way to lock in the current 800 USD price is to trek before December 31, 2026. Permits are paid in full up front, with no partial deposit option, and rescheduling close to your trek date can trigger a 25 percent late fee, so once a date is booked it’s worth protecting it rather than shifting it around.
Uganda sits on the equator, which gives Bwindi two drier windows each year, roughly June through August and again from December through February, when forest trails are less slippery and trekking is more comfortable. Outside those windows the park is still open and the gorillas are just as active, but mud and shorter visibility can make the hike more demanding. Expect the trek itself to vary in length and difficulty from day to day, since trackers follow wherever the gorilla family has moved overnight.
Van Sun Travel is a Canada-based travel company, licensed by Consumer Protection BC, and we build private and small-group trips rather than large bus tours. Every gorilla trekking itinerary runs through carefully vetted local guides and partners on the ground in Uganda, with transparent pricing that spells out exactly what the permit and logistics cost, plus personal support before and during your trip so you’re never figuring out a permit deadline on your own.
If locking in the 2026 permit price is the deciding factor, our Uganda Gorilla Trekking Adventure is built around exactly this trip: nine days combining Nile rafting, Lake Bunyonyi, and a trek into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Many travelers pair it with our Kenya Wildlife and Culture Safari for a longer East Africa itinerary. Browse all of our current tours or contact us to talk through dates before the new pricing takes effect.
