Bwindi Impenetrable National Park's gates are open daily from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, year-round, with paid entry starting at US$40 for adult foreign non-residents. The big cost is the gorilla permit — US$800 under the current UWA tariff — which covers that day's park entrance, your guide, a community contribution and a tracking certificate.
Bwindi's park gates open every day of the year, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm — there is no seasonal closure and no day off. Gorilla trekking also runs year-round, though it starts early: you need to be at your sector trailhead by about 7:30–8:00 am for registration and briefing, and treks set off around 8:30 am. A one-day entrance ticket stays valid for 24 hours from the moment you enter; anything beyond that is charged as another day.
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| Day | Hours | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Monday–Sunday (park gates) | 07:00–19:00 | Open daily year-round; a one-day ticket is valid 24 hours from entry, and time beyond that is billed as an extra day. |
| Monday–Sunday (gorilla trekking) | Registration 07:30–08:00; treks depart 08:30 | Carry your passport and permit to the briefing at your sector trailhead (Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga or Nkuringo); treks finish by early afternoon or evening depending on where the gorillas are that day. |
Bwindi does not close for national or religious holidays — the gates keep the same 7:00 am–7:00 pm hours every day of the year, and gorilla treks run on Christmas, Easter and Eid alike. The only calendar variation worth planning around is the rain: March to May (and late September to November) is the wet period, when trails turn muddy and the murram access roads are at their worst, while June–August and December–February are drier. Even then, this is a rainforest — pack rain gear whatever the month.
Entry to Bwindi costs US$40 per adult foreign non-resident under the UWA Conservation Tariff (July 2024–June 2026), with discounts for foreign residents (US$30), Rest of Africa visitors (US$25) and East African citizens (UGX 20,000). Most visitors come for the gorillas, and that permit is separate: US$800 for foreign non-residents, which covers that day's park entrance, guide fees, a community contribution and your tracking certificate.
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| Category | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Adult entrance (foreign non-resident) | US$40 | Category A park under the UWA tariff; ticket valid 24 hours from entry |
| Adult entrance (foreign resident) | US$30 | Residency determined by passport/ID at the gate — carry it |
| Adult entrance (Rest of Africa) | US$25 | |
| Adult entrance (East African citizen) | UGX 20,000 | |
| Child entrance, ages 5–15 | US$20 / US$10 / US$5 / UGX 5,000 (by fee category) | Under-5s enter free; Ugandan pupils and students pay UGX 3,000 |
| Gorilla trekking permit (foreign non-resident) | US$800 | Includes that day's park entrance, guide fee, community contribution and tracking certificate; US$700 foreign resident, US$500 Rest of Africa, UGX 300,000 East African citizens; book 2–6 months ahead |
| Gorilla Habituation Experience | US$1,500 (foreign non-resident) | US$1,000 foreign resident and Rest of Africa, UGX 750,000 East African citizens; full day with a semi-habituated group, tiny visitor numbers |
| Birding and day nature walks | US$40 / US$30 / UGX 30,000 | Park entrance charged on top |
| Long guided walks (Buhoma–Nkuringo, Rushaga–Nyabaremura) | US$60 / US$50 / UGX 50,000 | Full forest traverses between sectors; entrance extra |
| Batwa Trail Experience | US$40 | Excludes park entrance; prior booking required |
| Guided children's nature walks | US$5 | One option for under-15s, who cannot trek gorillas |
| Vehicle entry (foreign-registered saloon) | US$40 per 24 hours | Ugandan-registered vehicles UGX 20,000 |
| Annual pass (foreign residents only) | US$350 individual / US$600 couple / US$800 family | |
| Foreign student discount | 25% off entrance | Valid international student ID required; tertiary institutions UGX 5,000, Wildlife Clubs UGX 2,000 |
No regular free entry days, but children under 5 enter free and gorilla-permit holders pay no separate entrance on trek day — foreign students with valid international ID get 25% off.
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View All ToursJune to August is the best time to trek Bwindi's gorillas: the trails are drier and less slippery, the murram access roads are passable, and photography conditions are at their best. This is also peak season, when the 8 daily permits per habituated group sell out months ahead. December to February offers similarly good weather with slightly fewer crowds.
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| Period | Crowd Level | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Early morning (07:00–08:30) | High | Every trekker converges on the sector trailheads for 7:30–8:00 am registration and briefing before groups set off around 8:30, so arrive early with passport and permit in hand. |
| Morning to midday (08:30–13:00) | Moderate | Groups disperse into the forest on hikes of 2–8 hours, so trailhead crowds thin fast; this is the core of the gorilla experience and everyone's reason for being here. |
| Early afternoon (13:00–15:00) | Low | Most treks wrap up by early afternoon depending on where the gorillas are, making this a good window for lunch and a community walk near Buhoma while others are still in the forest. |
| Late afternoon (15:00–19:00) | Low | Quietest hours at the gates, suited to birders and nature walkers; remember the park gates close at 7:00 pm sharp. |
Plan on three days and two nights: arrive day one, trek day two, depart day three. Two-day trips from Kigali, three to four hours away by road, are feasible if you're pressed. The trek itself lasts 2–8 hours plus one regulated hour with the gorillas, and birders and hikers typically add 1–3 days for nature walks, community trails and sector-to-sector hikes — all guided, since UWA rangers lead every activity in the forest.
Only 8 permits are issued per habituated gorilla group per day, and June–August sells out months ahead, so book through the UWA reservations office in Kampala or a licensed operator 2–6 months in advance. Your permit is tied to one sector — Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga or Nkuringo — and driving between them takes hours, so sleep near your correct trailhead the night before the trek.
June–August and December–February bring drier trails and easier murram-road access; June–August is peak demand, while December–February is quieter with similar weather. Skip March–May if you can — heavy rains turn the steep trails to mud and some access roads become near-impassable for saloon cars. And pack rain gear regardless: this is a rainforest, and it rains every month of the year.
For US$10–25 a porter carries your daypack, steadies you across mud gullies and hauls you up the steep sections — treat it as safety gear, not a luxury. The fee goes straight to local families, including reformed poachers, so it also puts money behind gorilla protection.
Be at your sector trailhead by 7:30–8:00 am with your passport and permit for registration and briefing; treks set off around 8:30 am. Eat a proper breakfast, carry 2–3 litres of water and high-energy snacks, and use the toilet before you start — facilities end at the forest edge.
Wear waterproof hiking boots, gaiters, long trousers, long sleeves and gardening gloves — Bwindi earned the name 'Impenetrable' for its dense, nettle-filled undergrowth, and you'll be grabbing vegetation on the climbs. Bring a warm layer too; mornings at 2,000+ metres are cool, and a dry bag for your electronics is cheap insurance against the daily rain risk.
Under the UWA Conservation Tariff running July 2024 to June 2026, a gorilla permit costs US$800 for foreign non-residents, US$700 for foreign residents, US$500 for Rest of Africa visitors, and UGX 300,000 for East African citizens. The permit covers that day's park entrance, the guide fee, a community contribution, and your tracking certificate. Only 8 visitors may track each habituated group per day, so permits sell out months ahead in peak season.
Daily entrance is US$40 for foreign non-resident adults, US$30 for foreign residents, US$25 for Rest of Africa, and UGX 20,000 for East African citizens; children aged 5–15 pay US$20, US$10, US$5, or UGX 5,000 respectively, and under-5s enter free. A day ticket is valid for 24 hours from entry — anything beyond that is charged as another day. Foreign students with valid international ID get 25% off entrance.
Park gates are open daily from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, and the park runs year-round with no seasonal closure. For gorilla trekking, be at your sector trailhead by about 7:30–8:00 am for registration and briefing; treks set off around 8:30 am and finish anywhere from early afternoon to evening depending on where the gorillas are that day.
Yes — book 2–6 months ahead through the UWA central reservations office in Kampala or a licensed tour operator (a US$50–100 operator surcharge is common). With only 8 permits per habituated gorilla group per day, June–August sells out earliest. Your permit is tied to one sector — Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, or Nkuringo — and driving between sectors takes hours, so sleep near the right trailhead the night before.
Fifteen years, set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority for safety and to reduce disease transmission to the gorillas — there are no exceptions in normal circumstances. Younger children can still join guided short nature walks (US$5), 'Children Scouts' adventure activities (US$10), and Batwa cultural experiences. Kids under 5 enter the park free.
The classic itinerary is 3 days and 2 nights — arrive day 1, trek day 2, depart day 3 — though 2-day trips from Kigali are feasible since the Rwanda route is only a 3–4 hour drive. The trek itself runs 2 to 8 hours plus exactly one hour with the gorillas. Birders and hikers often add 1–3 extra days for nature walks, community trails, and sector-to-sector hikes like the Buhoma–Nkuringo traverse (US$60 for foreign non-residents).
It costs US$1,500 for foreign non-residents, US$1,000 for foreign residents and Rest of Africa visitors, and UGX 750,000 for East African citizens. Unlike the standard trek's one hour, habituation gives you a full day alongside researchers and rangers as they accustom a semi-habituated group to human presence, run out of the Rushaga sector. Visitor numbers are tiny, so reserve it well ahead.
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