Flight Delayed and Missing Your Gorilla Trek? What to Do

Updated 19 October 2026

If a delayed or cancelled flight means you will miss your gorilla trek, contact your operator immediately, before the trek date: they can ask the Uganda Wildlife Authority to move your permit to a later date, subject to availability and possibly a fee. A permit that is simply not used on the day is a no-show and is not refunded. The best protection is a buffer day between arrival and the trek, and travel insurance that covers missed connections and trip disruption.

What to do straight away

As soon as you know your flight is disrupted, message or call your operator with your new arrival time. If you booked the permit directly with UWA, contact their reservations office. Ask whether the trek can be moved to the next day in the same sector or another sector, and whether there are fees. Keep the airline’s written confirmation of the delay, which you will need for insurance claims. Then rearrange transport and lodges around the new date.

UWA’s rules

Gorilla permits are issued for one date and one sector in your name. Under UWA’s published terms, cancellations are refunded on a sliding scale, with nothing refunded within eight days of the trek, so moving the date is usually the better option. Date changes depend on space on the new date and may carry a fee; moving from a US$600 month (April, May or November) to a US$800 month means paying the difference. Policies are reviewed from time to time, so confirm current terms. See our guide to cancellation and refunds.

Preventing the problem

Build in at least one night in Entebbe or Kampala before driving or flying to Bwindi; a trek the morning after an international arrival leaves no margin. If you are flying to Kihihi or Kisoro, note that light aircraft have strict luggage limits and may not operate in poor weather. Buy insurance that covers delay, missed connections and cancellation, and keep your operator’s emergency number handy. See our guides to arriving at Entebbe and travel insurance.

If you arrive late but before the trek

If you land late at night and the trek is in two days, you may still make it by driving straight through or taking a morning flight to the airstrip nearest your sector. Ask your operator which option is realistic. See our guide to domestic flights.

Frequently asked questions