Uganda gorilla safari bookings are generally made in advance at least 3-5 months prior to the arrival date and start of the tour.
With many travelers booking Uganda gorilla safaris especially in the high season, chances are that gorilla permits will sell out quickly so everyone wants to book in advance to be on a safe side.
In that way, it can be challenging to find a gorilla permit when you need one at last. last minute gorilla safari bookings however can be made within two weeks. First of all, the tour operator will have to check if there are gorilla permits available in Bwindi or Mgahinga with Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Wherever the gorilla permits will be found, whether in Bwindi or Mgahinga, it means that the tourist will have no choice other than accept what is on the table. For instance, Bwindi has 17 gorilla families that are habituated and it always receives many visitors for gorilla tracking. It is likely that some sectors like Buhoma, Ruhija and Rushaga may be fully booked. the only option left for Bwindi would be Nkuringo sector which tends to receive less visitors and therefore you may find there are gorilla permits available for last minute gorilla safari booking.
if you can’t get a gorilla permit in one of the sectors it means that you also can’t have accommodation in the same sector. that is because the sectors are far away from each other and it would be inconveniencing to sleep in buhoma and wake up to drive over 40 km to Ruhija for example.
For tourists making booking late, Mgahinga gorilla national park provides higher chances of getting gorilla permits. because this park has 1 gorilla family that is habituated for gorilla tracking and therefore receives few tourists. Unlike Bwindi which can be busy in the peak season, in Mgahinga gorilla permits are always available most of the time.
The dry season which is the best time for gorilla tracking in Uganda, it is always tricky to find gorilla permits at last during the months of December to February and June to September.
The low season on the other hand is highly recommended. due to few visitors in for gorilla tracking, gorilla permits are highly available in Bwindi and Mgahinga any time thus suitable to make last minute gorilla safari bookings in the months of April to May and October to November.
last but not least. to be honest, there are permits on re-sale sometimes from other operators and that can help you get a gorilla permit at the last minute.
