National park penalties & Cancelling Gorilla permits in Uganda – Rules and regulations
National park penalties & cancelling gorilla permits in Uganda – Trekking Mountain Gorillas in the wild is a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience, which has presently become a must-do for most travelers on African safaris. Gorilla permit booking is the first step you have to do if you are intending to see Mountain Gorillas you must do this as early as possible due to high demand.
A Gorilla permit is a pass to see Mountain Gorillas and without it, you will not be allowed to access these endangered species. Government bodies for tourism and conservation issue Gorilla permits. These bodies are the Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rwanda Development Board in Uganda and Rwanda respectively. You are advised to first check and confirm Gorilla permit availability before confirming any Gorilla safari.
Gorilla permits cancellation policy
Like any other safaris, changes and cancellations inevitable in Gorilla tour bookings depending on the circumstances at hand. In this documentary, we bring you the Gorilla permit cancellation policies which all potential Gorilla trekkers MUST READ and UNDERSTAND to avoid any disappointments at the last hour. The cancellation policy and the refunding on Gorilla permits in Uganda are as follows:
91 days or more = 75% refund
46 -90 days = 50% refund
5-24 days = 25% refund
0-8 days = 0%
NOTE: Refunding is for those who cancel after paying the full cost of a gorilla permit.
Understand more about Gorilla permits in Uganda
Besides the cancellation policy, Great Adventure Safaris offer you other useful Gorilla permit information to ensure memorable Gorilla encounters in Uganda. These include among others:
Gorilla permits availability
Availability of Gorilla permits varies from the number of habituated Gorilla families where Uganda has got 19 habituated Gorilla families. Each day, 152 Gorilla permits are available in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks. Each Gorilla family is visited by a group of eight travelers each with a valid Gorilla permit. Uganda has more than 8 Gorilla Habituation Permits in Rushaga the southern part of Bwindi forest where Gorilla training takes place. Four people are allowed to interact with each semi-habituated Gorilla family undergoing the habituation process.
What if I fail to see the Mountain Gorillas?
In case you fail to see the Mountain Gorillas when you are already in the jungle, Uganda Wildlife Authority and Uganda Tourism Board improvise where possible. If you have more time the next day, you are given a second chance the next day to try again, however, this is a rare case. If you hike and fail to reach where the Mountain Gorillas are due to sickness and physical inabilities you are taken back to the starting point and given a nearby Gorilla family if there is any. For this case, you are required to disclose your physical abilities to the park rangers so that you are given a Gorilla family that is suitable for you. read more about the chances of seeing mountain gorillas in out blog post
Travel agent’s cancellation policy
Gorilla permits are handled by the government, but each tour operator you deal with in booking your Gorilla safari has his/her policies. You are always reminded to read and understand the companies booking terms and conditions to ensure the smooth flow of all operations. A tour operator is in charge of booking hotels, Lodges, and transport throughout the trip.
The company has all rights to alter safari prices especially when there are changes in exchange rates and an increase in other services. Confirming a Gorilla safari tells that you agree with the booking terms and conditions and you are willing to travel with that particular travel agent.
If you are intending to book a Gorilla safari and other wildlife experiences you are advised to be keen while booking. Read, understand and ask where possible to fully understand all Gorilla booking terms and conditions, the cancellation policies to ensure a memorable Gorilla safari experience in Uganda and Rwanda.
Penalties in National Parks
Uganda Wildlife Authority set penalties for people who misbehave in Uganda National Parks and other protected areas in all parts of the country. The penalties are meant to ensure the safety of wildlife and you while in the National Park. You are reminded to read, understand and remember all rules and regulations guiding tourism in Uganda National Parks to avoid falling victims of any offense which attracts a penalty. Each offense attracts a different penalty. These include:
Off tracking driving – –USD 150 per person in the vehicle
Over speeding – —UGX 100,000 per incident
Smart Card Loss ——USD 20
Default on Tariffs ——USD150
Animal accident (road) – $500
Sitting on top of the vehicle – $100 per incident
National Parks Regulations in Uganda
Do not camp or make a campfire anywhere in the national park
Do not drive off the track. Follow the tracks demarcated in national parks
Do not make sounding motor horns in the park. These disrupt wildlife
Do not drive the park in the park beyond 7:30 pm and before 6:30 am.
Don’t bring any pets to the park
Do not leave any litters in the park
Firearms are restricted in the park
Do not pick flowers or any plants in the park
Do not exceed the speed limit (40 km per hour) when driving through the park
Keep all entrance and payment receipts for inspection.
Gorilla Trekking Rules/Regulations
Uganda Wildlife Authority set rules/regulations to guide Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks. The rules are taught to you during the pre-Gorilla trekking briefing at the park headquarters at the start of each Gorilla trekking day. The dos and don’ts of Gorilla trekking in Uganda include:
Before meeting the Mountain Gorillas
Do not visit the endangered gorillas when sick
Bury human waste in 30 cent meters deep
Only 8 people must trek a gorilla family
When with the Mountain Gorillas
Keep a distance of 7 meters away from gorillas
Do not eat in the presence of gorillas
Do not smoke when with gorillas
Do not drink alcohol in the presence of gorillas
Turn back your faces when coughing or sneezing
Spend strictly an hour with the endangered gorilla
Do not use flashlight cameras
Keep within your group
Speak in a low tone
Do not run when a gorilla charges
Do not touch the gorilla
Chimpanzee trekking Rules and Regulations
These apply in all Chimpanzee habits in Uganda, which include Kibale Forest National Park, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Karinzu Forest, and Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park.
Do not enter the forest when sick
Do not leave any litter in the forest
Bury your waste 30cm deep
Keep quiet or speak in a low tone when with the Chimpanzees
Keep seven meters away from Chimpanzees
Do not mimic Chimpanzees Vocalization
Do not eat near Chimpanzees
Do not chase/ run after Chimpanzees
Do not use flashlight cameras
Inclusion, Uganda Wildlife Authority is in charge of all the National parks and sets all the rules and regulations for sustainable use of the parks and attractions, you can contact Great Adventure safaris if you any questions about National park penalties & cancelling of Gorilla permits in Uganda but we as well organize gorilla trekking and game viewing safari in East Africa.