Uganda has introduced a new booking tool for gorilla permits. The new online booking system will only be used by authorized/registered tour operators to book gorilla permits for their clients. The initiative is intended to enhance the efficiency and management of reservations for gorilla trekking and other tourist attractions.
The new online booking tool/system was announced by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and is aimed at ensuring sustainable management of tourism in Uganda’s protected areas.
How the new booking system operates
The authorized tour operators can access and book gorilla permits. The visitors can pay for the booking using the provided options for instance Mobile Money or online payment in multiple currencies.
The tour operators can track transaction progress from the visitors. The validation of the permit is enabled with a QR code on arrival at the respective gorilla trekking park.
To achieve the goal of the new booking system, all the licensed tour operators by the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) will be registered and provided with an active password. These will be provided to enable the tour operators to log into the system’s backend.
Each gorilla safari park will have its login details and non-transferrable permits.
Online Reservation and payments
The online reservations and payment modules will be affected subject to a robust and secure system which the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is developing to ensure integrity of the permit guidelines and security of visitors’ money.
Once the system is ready, the communication shall be passed on to the tour operators, and where any changes are made to the system, more so in line with the online payments module.
Training shall be provided to the eligible tour operators on how they can use the booking system to reserve and pay for available permits.
The online booking tool will display a calendar that clearly shows dates and locations that have availability and where there is no availability, the tour operator won’t be in a position to go beyond that window.
In case there is availability, the system will still guide the tour operator on the next steps to reach the point of paying using their card details/mobile money.
Note, all online payments for the gorilla and chimpanzee tracking services will require full payment that is 100% which should be done immediately using the tour operator card and mobile money details.
What has changed is that no deposits will be accepted again by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and take note that the terms shall be amended from time to time.
Payment methods
Payment for online gorilla permit bookings will be done using a card/mobile money. This can be done online (using the internet). But the following terms should be taken note;
- Eligible tour operators may have access to the booking system to reserve and book. The admission of the tour operators to the booking system shall be conducted at UWA headquarters as stated on the application form.
- Upon reserving the permits online, a booking ID and invoice are generated by the system which shall be given to the visitor.
- The visitor shall make payment against the invoice through their card/mobile money/any other available online system options as guided by UWA.
- All payments for gorilla permits online shall be made immediately and in full.
- Upon successful payment for gorilla permits, a system-generated receipt shall be sent to the visitor using their active emails.
- Gorilla and chimpanzee permits shall be paid for only at UWA headquarters in Kampala.
- Where the tour operator/visitors fail to pay the full amount for the permits perhaps as a result of challenges with cards/mobile money balances, such booking/reservation shall be automatically canceled.
Bank deposits or transfers to UWA Accounts
- A Bank account shall be provided by UWA where all the money for its products will be deposited.
- All bank deposits/transfers shall be conducted based on a system-generated invoice. To avoid doubt, partial settlement of bank deposits or transfers will be accepted.
- Upon payment by deposit/bank transfer, a payment advice slip from the bank will be presented by the tour operator/visitor to an authorized UWA officer to verify to ascertain whether the total invoiced amounts indeed are reflected on the UWA bank accounts.
- Payment for gorilla and chimpanzee permits will require verification to be done on the bank transfers and deposits and this will be at UWA headquarters in Kampala.
- All bank charges and related fees shall be borne by the tour operator or client.
- Once verification is complete, permits can then be issued and a receipt generated for the tour operator/client.
- UWA will officially give the bank account where all sales will be deposited.
Mobile Money merchant payments
Mobile money (MTN MOMO Pay) and Airtel Money Pay are currently acceptable by UWA. New providers shall also be accepted in the future.
There are mobile money options across the UWA gates, park headquarters, visitor information centers, the Sheraton Visitor information center, and reservation office.
Note, that each UWA payment location has its merchant code and will display.
Gorilla and chimpanzee permits shall be paid for using the mobile money option given for only the Kampala locations.
Upon invoicing by the UWA staff, the tour operator or visitor shall be required to initiate a payment on his or her phone as guided below;
- Airtel Money: You dial *185*9# -applying to those using Airtel lines then you enter the Merchant ID displayed at each gate.
- MTN MOMO: Dial *165*3# on MTN then you enter the Merchant ID displayed at each gate.
- In case any other payment method is approved, the communication shall be passed on to tour operators by UWA.
Minimum Age Limit to book a gorilla permit
The acceptable minimum age limit for anyone to book gorilla permits or engage in gorilla trekking is 15 years.
Visitor categories & cost of gorilla permits
The cost of gorilla permits varies depending on the visitor categories. They include East African Community (EAC) citizens that is citizens from the East African Community; Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, DRC, Burundi, South Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, and any other that may join the EAC with time. This category also covers refugees who are officially registered in Uganda. East African citizens can obtain Uganda gorilla trekking permits at UGX 300,000 per person.
Rest of Africa (ROA) citizens which includes those outside EAC. The cost of permits for this category is USD 500 per person.
Foreign residents (FR) –the foreign citizens, EAC states residents with valid work permits/resident visas/permits pay USD 700 per person.
Foreign nonresidents pay for Uganda gorilla permits at USD 800 per visitor.
