Gorilla trekking booking checklist Uganda — everything to confirm before you commit
A gorilla trekking booking checklist is one of the most useful things we can give you before you commit to a booking, because the most common sources of post-booking dissatisfaction are things that could have been avoided with a few minutes of pre-booking clarification. This checklist covers every decision and piece of information that should be resolved before you pay your deposit — not to complicate the process, but to ensure that when you click “confirm,” you are doing so with full confidence in the details of what you are booking.
Dates and flexibility
Before booking, confirm: What are your preferred trek dates? Do you have any flexibility on the date — could you move by one or two days if your first choice is not available? Are you booking as part of a longer Uganda safari where the permit date needs to coordinate with flights and other activities, or is the permit the only fixed element and everything else can be arranged around it? The more flexibility you have on dates, the better your chance of getting your preferred sector and a permit without a long wait. If your dates are completely fixed, we need to know that upfront so we can check the right availability window immediately.
Number of permits
Confirm the number of permits you need. Are you travelling alone, as a couple, as a family group, or as part of a larger party? For groups of more than 8, multiple permits for the same date cannot be guaranteed for the same family group (the maximum is 8 per family per day), and we may need to book permits for two different families or two consecutive days. Confirm whether your group wants to trek together or whether splitting across two days or two families would be acceptable.
Sector preference
Have you decided which Bwindi sector you prefer? Buhoma is most accessible; Rushegura is best for photography; Ruhija is most remote and most demanding; Nkuringo is most dramatic. If you have a preference, confirm it. If you are flexible, tell us what matters most to you and we will recommend appropriately and check availability in the most suitable sector first.
Physical fitness and health
Before booking, honestly assess your physical fitness for the trek. Are you able to walk for several hours on steep, uneven terrain? Do you have any health conditions that could be affected by altitude, heat, or physical exertion? If you have any concerns, discuss them with us before booking — we can advise on whether a specific sector or a specific time of year is more appropriate, and whether a porter service should be included as a standard part of your arrangement rather than an afterthought.
Budget confirmation
Confirm that your budget covers the full cost of the gorilla trekking component: the $800 permit fee, our service fee, and the cost of accommodation near Bwindi on the night before the trek (which is required for an early morning departure). If you are building a full Uganda safari around the permit, confirm that your total budget is sufficient for the itinerary you want. We can provide a full cost breakdown for any itinerary configuration before you commit to any payment.
Travel insurance
Confirm that you have or are obtaining travel insurance that covers the following: medical evacuation from a remote location (relevant for the trek itself), trip cancellation (relevant if you need to cancel due to illness), and in particular, cancellation due to the traveller testing positive for a respiratory illness on the day of the trek (which Uganda Wildlife Authority requires in the interest of gorilla health). Some standard travel insurance policies do not explicitly cover this last scenario, and it is worth verifying before booking.
Contact details and communication
Confirm that you have a reliable email address and phone number through which we can reach you during the planning process and, critically, on the day before your trek when we may need to send you final logistics information. Confirm that you will be monitoring these channels in the days immediately before your trek. If you are in a remote location with limited connectivity during the lead-up to your trek, tell us in advance so we can build appropriate communication protocols into your booking.
Once you can tick every item on this checklist with confidence, you are ready to book. Contact our team to initiate the process.
