Why Choose Pamora Safaris

Trained Female Guides 

You travel with guides who take you everywhere!

Wellness Safaris

A natural way of improving your health.

24/7 Reliable Support

You can reach us at any time, we are readily available.

Customize Your Tour

Design your own tour or get our tailor-made tours.

You travel with guides who take you everywhere!

Our dedicated team of experienced guides has meticulously crafted top-notch safari packages for exploring Uganda and East Africa, ensuring unforgettable adventures.

A natural way of improving your health.

Health is wealth, immerse yourself in our new itineraries to improve your health. Health tourism is, the first of its kind in Uganda.

You can reach us at any time, we are readily available.

Our knowledgeable team of guides is always on standby to attend to your queries and help you in the planning and booking process.

Design your own tour or get our tailor-made tours.

Since 2013, our seasoned team has created tailor-made product solutions that precisely match our client’s requirements, ensuring a flawless package design process.

Planning a Gorilla Safari in Uganda or Rwanda!

Planning a gorilla safari but wondering how much a gorilla permit costs? Before embarking on an actual gorilla trek to Uganda, one of the essential things you need is a gorilla pass. It is an important requirement that allows you to take part in this life-changing adventure in Bwindi Forest.

One gorilla pass permits you to track a gorilla family a day. Within Bwindi Impenetrable Forest alone, there are 16 families that have been habituated in the forest. The gorilla groups are spread in four sectors that are spread far from each other.

Traveling from one sector to another takes about 3-7 hours and therefore it is important to reserve the gorilla permits from the sector where you are looking to stay. Mgahinga national park is also another gorilla tracking destination in Uganda, The price of trekking is the same and is twice as cheap, as tracking gorillas at volcanoes national park in Rwanda though each is equally highly rewarding.

If you are planning a gorilla safari, we advise that you book early, at least 3 months in advance, especially during the peak season as the gorilla permits are absolutely competitive and always run out with the limited number of people trekking per day in Uganda.

Planning destinations to choose from and which operator for your Africa safari can be challenging and something important to consider. Arranging a gorilla safari holiday through a reputable Uganda tour operator can be very relieving and even the biggest travel agents have relationships with Uganda gorilla safari operators therefore you can save a lot of money dealing directly with a local Uganda tour operator.

Pamora Safaris is a reputable tour company in East Africa well known for its honesty, transparency, and the best gorilla safari holiday, always available and attends to you from the time of planning to when the safari is complete and you have been safely seen off at the airport. Like a mother gives love to a child, each tour has been designed with love, and care and is so precious. Our team is always super excited and thrilled to have you around and will cater to every detail to ensure that you are having a smooth and interesting holiday.

Pamora Safaris Uganda offers remarkable gorilla safari experiences to Uganda and Rwanda in the best-known national parks of Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga national park, and volcanoes national park. We specialize in designing and organizing gorilla holidays that take you through the vast tropical rainforests to see the endangered mountain gorillas. As their name implies, mountain gorillas live in forests high up in the mountains at elevations of 8,000 to 13,000 feet. They have really thick fur that protects them from the cold temperatures compared to other great apes, the fur helps them to survive in a habitat where temperatures often drop below freezing. One look into the deep rare brown lovely eyes of these incredible and fascinating creatures will make you fall in love with them.

Uganda, Rwanda, and the democratic republic of Congo are the only 3 countries in the world where one can trek mountain gorillas that is Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park in Uganda, Volcanoes national parking Rwanda and Virunga national park in the democratic republic of Congo. Pamora Safaris Uganda therefore only operates in Uganda and Rwanda for any gorilla safaris, since in 2008 Congo was declared unsafe because of the political instability.

While on gorilla holidays, we take care of all entrance fees, reserve gorilla permits, handle all transfers, make sure your travel plan is well put together, and get you the best places to stay while of course handling all inquiries that you may have in regards to gorilla trekking.

Book one of our gorilla safari packages.  Aside from that we also have wildlife, cultural, and recreational safari packages in Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya therefore if you wish to extend your holiday across these fabulous destinations of East Africa, then we have you all sorted as ours is not just to give you a memorable experience but ensure your safety and guaranteed value for money.

If you choose to buy the permits yourself, you may do that at Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and you will definitely acquire permits or you could work with a trusted, reliable, tour operator which makes it much easier and quicker to get. Even though acquiring permits directly from the Uganda wildlife authority is safe and easy it still leaves you with the hustle of figuring out how you are going to travel back and forth which can be really expensive and unpredictable because of varying charges from different service providers like taxis.

How you can book your permit

Once you’re sure about booking this remarkable Gorilla safari experience, let the tour operator know the dates you intend to track. The tour operator will check for availability and make a temporary booking. While this is done, the operator will send you an email on how to proceed with the payment where you partly authorize your bank to charge your credit card. While you do this you are advised to avoid making less payment than what is requested as this may prevent you from getting your permit or even end up in more unnecessary costs. Extra costs may be for services such as transfer charges by the merchant, telephone calls, and transport that are incurred while securing a permit for you. A copy of your passport that has your details will be used during permit registration. Your full names, nationality, and passport number are some important things needed when registering your permit. After the payments are made, your operator obtains your permit that will avail your entrance for gorilla tracking on the dates specified as per the gorilla permit.

This is how you can book, confirm the dates you want to do tracking at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and send an email to your operator confirming dates of travel, who will then check for availability from the Uganda wildlife authority a system that only operators can access. Once she confirms availability you may make payments based on the information given by your operator. Tour Operator makes payments through the Uganda wildlife authority the only place where permits can be bought and sold, operator gets the permit, sends you confirmation online, and keeps the original for when you actually do the trekking right there the permit is yours till the day of trekking prior to trekking you leave it at the desk with Uganda wildlife authority officials please note that while you own the permit after registration and attaining it, the permit can only be activated on the actual dates of trekking as mentioned on the permit.

If there are reschedules and changes of dates due to unavoidable circumstances, your operator will reschedule at the wildlife authority, but most importantly your operator should carry a copy of rescheduled email and proof of changed dates with him while you go for trekking as it is usually required.

After trekking you will get a certificate of participation which is really nice and cool because while most people would love to do this, you’re sure you just kicked that off your bucket list and have contributed to the conservation of these amazing endangered apes.

Validity of the Gorilla Permit in Uganda

Soon as a permit is bought, it is yours till the day of trekking but for that to happen with no inconveniences try to book in advance at the Uganda Wildlife or with your tour operator however in case of any uncertainties that are mostly to prevent you from meeting the set dates of trekking be sure to inform as early as 2 weeks before through your operator.

The cost of a gorilla holiday varies at Pamora Safaris Uganda due to a number of factors like places visited, and number of people travelling among others as listed and explained below.

Number of people travelling

The number of people travelling has a reasonable impact on the safari charge for example big groups travelling pay lesser per person than smaller groups or individuals as there are some shared costs that are considered like shared rooms, vehicles used come with a shared cost among others.

The kind of safari you undertake

The type of safari one is doing. All itineraries are crafted to give travellers the best experiences however gorilla safaris, bird-watching safaris, and butterfly-watching cost more than other activities like game drives, boat cruises, and city tours, among other safaris

The safari vehicle used during the travel

We have different categories of 4×4 vehicles used on safari the land cruiser and the safari van. The land cruisers are considered more comfortable and cost slightly more than the safari vans because of their ability to navigate through all terrains in the destinations and are most reliable during the rainy season and for those with gorilla safaris due to the mountainous nature of the destinations and more guaranteed smooth ride, we recommend a land cruiser for travels during safaris.

When other transfers like local flights have chattered from one destination to another, it also costs a little more than the road transport but is worth the go for travellers who do not want to sit for long hours and wish to enjoy the slice of Mother Nature, especially Uganda’s most popular gorilla tracking and chimpanzee tracking. Please note that upon arrival at the airstrip, vehicle transfers apply though it is a short distance to your lodge.

Season of travel

The high season also known as the peak season is highly considered and great to make bookings a little earlier due to the number of visitors travelling this takes on from June to September and December to February is characterised by on and off scattered rainfall though it is much drier. The low is much water with lesser travellers and a great time to get reasonable safari charges with Pamora safaris so if you are looking for the best of both worlds and a less trafficked destination that would be a better time to travel.

Number of days to travel

Depending on the number of days you have on your travel plan during your Uganda safari will affect the cost of your safari say more days cost more than fewer days although more days are much more rewarding than lesser days since it takes planning to travel to these destinations and may only happen once in a lifetime since there are many destination countries to visit after so why not fully exhaust.

Cost of Gorilla Permit

Uganda gorilla trekking tours cost $700 per person per trek and gorilla tracking is done in 2 national parks that is Bwindi national park which has the highest number of gorilla families compared to all other gorilla tracking destinations and Mgahinga national park but the distance to get to Bwindi from Entebbe airport is about 8 hours on the Road. Are almost two times cheaper than Rwanda safaris Rwanda gorilla safaris tracking permits alone cost $ 1500 per person per trek at Volcanoes National Park but the time and distance from Kigali airport is about 2 hours and a half this can be done from June to September and from December to February. Please be in the know that some guests book gorilla permits a year in advance

Overall when it comes to the cost of your gorilla tour in Uganda or Rwanda, the type of safari package you chose during your African travel safari, contributes a lot to how much you will pay for your holiday. For instance, accommodation is classified into luxury, mid-range and budget where each is charged completely differently depending on the services and level of comfort it provides travellers.

Luxury safaris packages

This ranges from $300 to $1600 per person per night and offers guests ultimate comfort in the wild with a 4×4 land cruiser for all transfers during a safari with full board accommodation, fine dining, and special meals occasionally served in the bush, hot showers and other special treatments specific to individual safari lodges during your gorilla safari in Uganda.

Midrange safaris packages

With a guaranteed 4×4 safari van for all transfers during safaris and great moderate accommodation for the wild travellers which is usually a fusion of budget and luxury touches to offer you a comfortable stay. You can expect a price range of $170 to $250 per person per night on a full-board basis

Budget safaris packages

Here travellers should expect basic accommodation on a full board basis to minimise the cost of gorilla safari, with a 4×4 safari van that offers full-time transfers as per the itinerary. The price range is about $150 per person per day.

Opt for Accommodation outside the Park

Accommodation outside the park is much more affordable than that located in the park. Most accommodations are either near the park or on the boundaries of the national park. Feel free therefore to secure yourself either a budget or midrange accommodation outside the park which is also more affordable than the luxury accommodation.

Travel in low season

Uganda has the peak season a time when we receive a high number of travellers which is June-September and December-February. During this time of the year, it is much drier with limited scatters of rainfall in different parts of the country however travelling in the low season of. April, May and November give you better deals on gorilla safaris with your operator, there are few travellers so that means less traffic at the destination please keep in mind that this time of year is a wet season and animals tend to hide in the thickets or forests so chances of seeing the wild are not so high.

Use a Local Tour Operator

Choosing a trusted and reputable local tour operator can be so helpful in cutting down your gorilla safari cost as it automatically takes away the travel agent from the picture which takes a certain weight off your pocket. Local tour operators also give you great insight and advice or suggestions on other possible destinations or hidden gems without putting you on a long wait since they have good ground experience and connection.

Use Packing List

Knowing what to pack for your safari will help reduce the cost of the safari and help you pack light. Common Safari essential items like sunglasses, long-sleeved shirts or sturdy shoes, a camera, a pair of binoculars, bug spray, sunscreen, raincoat, can cost a good amount of money, therefore, reusing what you already have may work therefore if reuse is not a problem, then carrying what you already have can just be a good idea.

Safari Vehicle

Even though a  4*4 land cruiser offers a smooth ride and is recommended for the terrain in the destinations, especially gorilla trekking safaris, they cost more than the 4*4 safari vans, so if you are looking for a way to reduce costs safari vans are an option so feel free to ask your operator which safari vehicle you will be using for your gorilla tours.

Travelling in a Safari Group

On your gorilla’s safari, you will pay for an entire vehicle could be a land cruiser or van which is normally used and has a seating capacity of 6–8 people for that reason travelling in a group of family or friends and more could be very helpful in cutting on the cost paid by each when organizing your safari, it better you join or plan travel as a group such that you share the transport cost among others…

Carry local cash to move with.

Rwanda gorilla tours and Uganda gorilla tours are really interesting where appreciating what people are doing or the need to support locals can be voluntarily irresistible, therefore we advise that one carries local currency and also know it’s worth to help them better spend and cut the cost of how much they spend on safari hence cut the safari cost. Feel free to ask for advice from your operator and they should be in a position to help with currency advice.

What are the limitations of gorilla trekking?

Gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda for any gorilla tracking national park has an age limit of 15 years and above meaning anyone below the age of 15 cannot tack the mountain gorillas and the major reason is to prevent disease transmission from the gorillas to the children as they are more prone to infection, also the walking distance is quite long for children below the age of 15.

How fit should I be?

A moderate level of fitness or better is all you need aside from that, if you are physically challenged for any reason that’s okay as we also provide services of Porters that can assist you on the trek at an extra cost, not forgetting local Walking Stick are also provided to give you extra support. For all just get proper boots for the jungle, The Gear, daypack, raincoat, and clothing that have forest-friendly colors, and with the camera to make the Gorilla Trek a better experience.

How close do you get to the gorillas?

Upon seeing the gorillas, Visitors’ gorilla trekking should allow about 7-8 meters. Trekking rules highly apply provided by the park authorities during the briefing. The rules for humans and mountain gorillas are essential for the protection of the humans seeing the gorillas as well as the gorillas. Make sure that you listen to the instructions that your guide will give you when you are in the field, and please, make sure that you take each comment and instruction very seriously so that you don’t encounter any problems with gorilla trekking in the forests.

Also, do not forget to carry a mask with you as this is a requirement to get close to the mountain gorillas.

How far in advance to book?

Travelers gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda should book permits 3 to 6 months in advance before the trekking date because they are competitive and get sold out quickly especially during the dry season also known as the peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January, and February.

Uganda and Rwanda which is better to trek?

Volcanoes national park in Rwanda is smaller and has fewer gorilla families than Bwindi’s impenetrable national park but is breathe taking too.

Gorilla tracking in Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable national park or Mgahinga national park costs $700 per person almost two times cheaper than Rwanda gorilla safaris as tracking permits alone cost $ 1500 per person per trek at Volcanoes National Park.

The time and distance from Kigali airport is about 2 hours and a half to volcanoes national park while from Entebbe airport to Bwindi and Mgahinga national park is about 8 hours drive depending on the means you are using also if this helps when Rwanda, the driving distance is about 4.5hrs to Uganda gorilla tracking parks which means, it’s possible to track from Uganda while arriving through Kigali international airport. We usually advise travelers to do both and it will surprise you how different yet remarkable both experiences are! If you cannot afford both, no problem consider what’s written and chose where you would like to travel from and your tour operator will take you there.

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Uganda is amazingly blessed and being the “Pearl of Africa” is well deserved, given its beautiful, stunning, and breathtaking landscape, nature, wildlife, and culture. You don’t want to miss these destinations on your bucket list, simply get in touch with our travel experts to book your adventure.

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