Discover Uganda’s high season and low season discounted chimpanzee and gorilla permit prices released recently to help you book smart and safe Uganda tours.
On 26 February 2026, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) released updated conservation tariffs affecting gorilla permits, chimpanzee tracking permits, and other primate experiences.
The UWA New Tariffs, plus Uganda’s high season and introduced low season discounted chimpanzee and gorilla permit prices, introduce structured pricing, improve booking transparency, and strengthen conservation funding across Uganda’s national parks.
These updates impact travel to iconic destinations like Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the unique homes to endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda, as well as Kibale National Park, the major habitat for over 1,500 chimps.
The high season in Uganda is the period that has months running from
These high season months often also fall in the dry months, which are known for being prime times for most safari activities such as Uganda gorilla trekking, birding, chimpanzee tracking, game drives, etc., since they bring clear blue skies, drier trails, and warm temperatures.
However, it is important to note that this higher demand equals standard permit pricing.
The low season in Uganda often runs from the months of
This low season often falls in the rainy months of Uganda, known for being muddy and with cold temperatures that do not favour most Uganda safari excursions apart from birding.
Therefore, it is worth noting that UWA now offers discounted chimpanzee and gorilla trekking permits to stimulate travel during these months that have, for the past years, been avoided by travelers.
For the first time, UWA has successfully implemented and structured low-season discounts on:
| SAFARI ACTIVITY | Foreign Non-Residents (USD) | Foreign Residents (USD) |
| Gorilla Trekking | 600 | 500 |
| Chimpanzee Tracking | 200 | 150 |
Important:
Low-season discounted permits cannot be rescheduled.
These discounted chimpanzee and gorilla permit prices matter because they:
Uganda now competes strongly with neighboring gorilla destinations such as Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR Congo.
Starting January 2027, updated UWA conservation tariffs will apply to activities related to:
Newly Added Experiences:
It is important to note that these additions diversify Uganda safari packages beyond gorilla tourism.
The new 2027 rates for the above activities will be as listed below.
| SAFARI ACTIVITY | Foreign Non-Residents (USD) | Foreign Residents (USD) | Rest of Africa (USD) | East African Citizens (UGX) |
| Gorilla Trekking | 800 | 700 | 500 | 300,000 |
| Gorilla Habituation Experiences | 1,800 | 1,600 | 1,000 | 750,000 |
| Chimpanzee Tracking | 300 | 200 | 100 | 180,000 |
| Chimpanzee Habituation Experiences | 400 | 300 | 250 | 250,000 |
| Kyambura Gorge Chimpanzee Tracking | 200 | 150 | 100 | 50,000 |
| Golden Cat Tracking in Kibale National Park (5 DAYS) | 350 | 350 | 350 | 350,000 |
| Lion Tracking in Queen Elizabeth Park | 500 | 300 | 300 | 250,000 |
| Guided Buhoma to Nkuringo Walk | 100 | 50 | 50 | 50,000 |
| Guided Rushaga to Nyabaremura | 80 | 50 | 50 | 50,000 |
| Rhino Tracking in Ajai Reserve (Adults) | 20 | 15 | 10 | 10,000 |
| Rhino Tracking in Ajai Reserve (Children) | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2,500 |
Several park entry fees and wildlife activities remain unchanged through 2026 onwards to 2027, protecting the value for Uganda safaris, and they include:
Effective March 1, 2026, UWA removed the 7-days unpaid booking hold that has been in existence and used by most Uganda tour operators. The Uganda Wildlife Authority has introduced a new booking and permit purchase system that involves features listed below
New UWA Booking System:
This improves transparency within the UWA booking system and benefits serious buyers of the safari activity permits.
The updated tariff system:
. Stabilizes conservation funding
. Encourages off-season travel
. Reduces booking manipulation
. Protects endangered mountain gorillas
Uganda continues positioning itself as Africa’s leading gorilla trekking destination.
Are you starting to plan gorilla trekking tours in Uganda? See UWA’s new tariffs and discounted Uganda low-season permit prices now. To help you plan better! Inquire from us now and let us offer you the best tailored Uganda safari packages to engage in all the discounted activities!
Robert
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