Gorilla trekking permit availability peak season 2026 — act before they are gone
Gorilla trekking permit availability for the peak dry season months of 2026 — June, July, and August — is at critically low levels as of the time of writing, with many specific date-sector combinations showing no availability remaining and others down to single-digit permits. If you are planning to trek gorillas in Uganda during these months and have not yet secured your permit, the window for doing so without settling for your second or third choice of date and sector is closing. Here is an honest assessment of what is available, what is gone, and what you need to do in the next 24 hours to secure a permit before the situation deteriorates further.
What the availability picture looks like right now
Peak season 2026 permit availability is the tightest it has been in the programme’s history, reflecting the combination of increased demand from multiple sources — documentary releases, social media virality, travel award recognition, and improved airline access — with a supply of permits that is fixed by the number of habituated gorilla families and the 8-trekkers-per-family-per-day limit. July 2026 is the most constrained month, with the majority of dates fully sold out in the Buhoma and Rushegura sectors. June has more availability but is selling rapidly. August is better than July in the early weeks but filling fast in the final two weeks, which coincide with the end of the European summer holiday season.
Which specific options still have availability
Current availability — which changes daily as bookings are confirmed and any cancellations are released — is most reliably checked by contacting our team directly. In general, the highest remaining availability in peak season 2026 is in: the Ruhija sector (which has more permits available than Buhoma and Rushegura because its more demanding terrain reduces overall demand), the Nkuringo sector (similarly — the most physically challenging and remote sector has the best peak season availability), and weekday dates in all sectors (Monday through Thursday have consistently better availability than weekends, when family travel and working-week travellers combine to create the highest demand concentrations).
The gorilla habituation experience: an alternative worth considering
If standard gorilla trekking permits for your preferred peak season dates are fully sold out, the Gorilla Habituation Experience (GHEX) in the Rushegura sector is an alternative worth considering seriously. GHEX permits — available in limited numbers for families in the active habituation process — provide up to four hours with a gorilla family, compared to the one hour of a standard permit, and the smaller group size (maximum four visitors, compared to eight for a standard trek) creates an encounter of greater intimacy than the standard experience. GHEX permits are priced at $1,500 per person, more than the standard permit, but for visitors who find all standard permits sold out for their dates, they represent a compelling alternative that is, by many accounts, an even better experience than the standard trek.
What to do in the next 24 hours
If you want a peak season 2026 gorilla trek permit and do not yet have one, the single most important action you can take in the next 24 hours is to contact our team with your preferred dates and an honest indication of your flexibility on sector and date. We will check current availability across all sectors and present you with the best available options for your situation. If there is a permit available that works for you, we can have it confirmed within hours. If the specific dates you want are fully sold out, we will give you an honest assessment of your alternatives — and help you decide whether an alternative date, an alternative sector, or the GHEX experience is the right solution for your situation.
