Updated
Gorilla permits in Uganda are issued for a specific sector of Bwindi, such as Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga or Nkuringo, and a specific date, and you can only trek in the sector named on the permit.
If you realise you have booked the wrong sector, contact the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) or your operator as early as possible to ask for a change; it depends on availability in the other sector on that date and may carry a fee. If a change is not possible, the usual fix is to move your lodge and transport to match the permit instead.
Why the sector matters
Bwindi’s four sectors are hours apart by road, and the morning briefing starts at about 7:30 am at the sector’s park office. A lodge in Buhoma is no use for a Rushaga permit: the drive between them takes several hours on rough roads.
Sectors also differ in terrain and access: Buhoma, in the north, is reached via Kihihi and suits trips from Queen Elizabeth; Rushaga and Nkuringo, in the south, suit trips from Kigali or Lake Bunyonyi; Ruhija, in the east, is high and good for birders. See our guide to the four sectors compared.
Common mistakes
Most problems come from booking a lodge before the permit, choosing a lodge described as “near Bwindi” that is actually near a different sector, or confusing sectors that sound close on a map. Nkuringo and Rushaga are near each other geographically, but the road between them is slow. Another mistake is planning a flight into Kihihi when the permit is for a southern sector, which is better served by Kisoro airstrip. See our guide to domestic flights.
How to fix it
First, check your permit carefully: it names the sector and date. If the problem is the permit, ask UWA or your operator straight away whether the permit can be moved to the right sector on the same date; earlier requests have the best chance, and fees may apply.
If the problem is the lodge or transport, it is usually easier and cheaper to rebook the lodge in the permit’s sector and adjust your route. On the day before the trek, travel to the correct sector, as you cannot switch sectors on the morning. See our guide to changes and cancellations.
How to avoid it
Book in the right order: decide your route, book the permit for the sector that fits it, then the lodge in that sector, then transport and flights. Ask your operator to confirm the sector on every booking. If you are flexible, Rushaga, with the most gorilla families, usually has the best availability. See our guides to booking a permit step by step and the best lodges by sector.
Frequently asked questions
No. You must trek in the sector named on the permit unless UWA changes it in advance.
Sometimes, if there is availability on the same date. Ask as early as possible; a fee may apply.
Several hours by road, so your lodge must be in the same sector as your permit.
Usually Rushaga, which has the most habituated families.
