Booking a gorilla trek is a significant investment — $800 per permit, non-refundable, in a destination that requires careful logistical planning. Asking the right questions before confirming your booking protects that investment and ensures the experience matches your expectations. Here are the ten most important questions to ask your tour operator before signing the booking agreement.
1. Is the Permit Included in the Price or Additional?
Some operators quote a “gorilla trekking package” price that includes the $800 permit; others quote a base price and add the permit as an additional item. Confirm exactly what is included before paying a deposit. Also clarify whether the permit price is guaranteed or subject to change if Uganda Wildlife Authority adjusts fees before your travel date (which they do periodically).
2. Which Sector and Which Family Will I Trek?
Ask specifically which sector your permit is booked in (Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija or Nkuringo) and, if possible, which family. Operators working with advance bookings can sometimes specify a family; others can only specify the sector. Understanding which sector you are allocated to allows you to choose appropriate accommodation and set realistic physical expectations for the trek.
3. What Is the Cancellation Policy for the Permit?
Uganda Wildlife Authority permits are non-refundable in standard circumstances. Ask your operator whether their booking includes any cancellation protection — some operators can transfer permits to another date within a limited window; others cannot. Confirm this in writing, and ensure your travel insurance covers permit cancellation as a pre-paid, non-refundable activity.
4. What Is the Drive Time to Bwindi from My Previous Destination?
The drive from Kampala to Bwindi takes 8–10 hours. From Queen Elizabeth National Park, it is approximately 3–4 hours. Ask your operator for realistic travel times — not best-case estimates — so you can plan overnight stops and ensure you arrive rested and in daylight before your trek day.
5. Is a Porter Included or Additional?
Most packages do not include porter hire. Ask whether a porter is included or needs to be arranged and paid separately on trek day. Budget $15–20 for a porter and consider this mandatory rather than optional — the difference in physical experience is substantial, particularly in wet conditions or for treks lasting more than three hours.
6. What Accommodation Is Near the Sector?
Ask for specific accommodation recommendations near your allocated sector and across the budget range you are comfortable with. The nearest lodges to each sector vary in quality and price. A good operator provides options at budget, mid-range and luxury levels and can explain the practical trade-offs (proximity to the briefing point, meal quality, view, access in wet weather) of each option.
7. How Fit Do I Need to Be?
Ask your operator to be honest about the physical demands of the specific trek you are booking, given your current fitness level. Different families have different approach difficulties. If you have physical limitations, ask specifically what adaptations are available (gorilla chair, accessible sector selection, shorter-approach families). A good operator will not oversell your capability; they will help you prepare realistically.
8. What Health Measures Are Required for the Gorilla Encounter?
Ask about current UWA health protocols — face mask requirements, health screening at the briefing point and what happens if you are unwell on trek day. Understanding the sick-visitor policy in advance prevents the painful surprise of losing a permit because you developed a cough the previous night. Ask about the permit transfer policy for illness specifically.
9. Is Your Company Licensed by UWA?
Only licensed tour operators can legally purchase and hold gorilla permits on behalf of clients. Ask for your operator’s UWA licence number and verify it on the UWA website. Unlicensed operators sometimes sell permits they do not hold, creating situations where clients arrive to discover no permit exists. This is rare but happens; verification takes five minutes.
10. What Happens If the Gorillas Are Not Found?
Uganda Wildlife Authority’s policy is that if the gorilla family cannot be found after a full search — an extremely rare event — a partial or full permit refund applies. Ask your operator what the policy is, who processes any refund claim and how long refunds typically take. This is a low-probability scenario but worth understanding before the trek day.
