Gorilla permit cancellation and refund policy

Gorilla permits are not simply non-refundable. Uganda Wildlife Authority, the body that issues every permit for Bwindi and Mgahinga, runs an official, tiered cancellation and refund framework. How much you recover depends almost entirely on how far ahead of your trekking date you cancel. The earlier you tell us, the more you get back.

Just as importantly, cancelling is not your only option. In many cases a permit can be rescheduled or extended to a later date rather than cancelled outright, subject to UWA approval and a surcharge. For travellers whose plans have shifted rather than collapsed, this is often the better route.

UWA's refund framework works on a sliding scale measured in days before your trekking date. The structure below reflects the authority's current published tiers. The date that counts is the date we receive your cancellation in writing, so a single day can make a real difference near a boundary.

A single gorilla trekking permit costs USD 800 and a habituation permit costs USD 1,500, so the difference between an early and a late cancellation is significant. For a full breakdown of where the money goes, see our gorilla trekking cost guide.

If your plans have changed but you still intend to trek, rescheduling is almost always preferable to cancelling. Rather than forfeit part of the permit cost, you move the same permit to a new date. UWA must approve the change, and it typically attracts a surcharge of around 30 percent of the permit value.

Extensions are handled in the same spirit. Where availability allows, a permit can be carried forward to a future trekking window. Because gorilla families have only eight permits per day, the new date depends on availability, so the earlier we apply, the more options you have.

Refunds are calculated against what UWA has actually received for the permit. If you secured your booking with a partial deposit, for example a portion of the journey cost rather than the full permit, your refund entitlement is limited accordingly, and a partial deposit may not be refundable at all.

• Refunds apply to the permit value UWA has been paid
• Partial deposits may carry no refund entitlement
• Your proposal states the exact figures and deposit terms
• Lodge and transport costs follow separate policies
• Written cancellation date sets the applicable tier

Your Bwindi House Gorilla Safaris proposal always sets out the deposit, the balance due date and the cancellation terms in writing before you transfer any funds, so the numbers are clear before you commit.

UWA recognises that genuine emergencies happen. If you are unable to trek because of sudden illness or a medical emergency, the authority may exercise discretion and grant compassionate leniency, such as a partial refund of around 50 percent, when you provide official medical documentation.

This is assessed case by case and is never guaranteed. It is a humane allowance rather than an entitlement, which is precisely why we treat travel insurance as essential rather than optional for every guest.

The tiered refund schedule means that a late cancellation can recover little or nothing of the permit, and your lodges and flights carry their own terms on top. Good travel insurance with trip cancellation cover is what bridges that gap, refunding costs that UWA and lodges cannot.

We ask every guest to hold a policy that covers trip cancellation for the full journey value, emergency medical care and evacuation. Our travel insurance guide explains exactly what to look for and when to buy it.

Whether you need to cancel or simply move your dates, the process is the same and the timing matters. The date we receive your written request determines which UWA tier applies, so contact your curator as early as you can.

• Tell your Bwindi House Gorilla Safaris curator in writing as soon as you know
• We confirm the current UWA terms that apply to your permit
• We check whether rescheduling beats cancelling for you
• We apply to UWA for the refund or the date change
• We confirm the outcome and process any amount due back to you

Because we hold the relationship with UWA, you never navigate the authority alone. We handle the application and keep you informed at each step.

We believe the only fair way to handle permit rules is with complete transparency before you pay. Your proposal sets out the permit cost, the UWA cancellation framework, your deposit terms and the relevant lodge policies in writing, so nothing about cancellation is a surprise after the fact.

If your circumstances change, we act in your interest first: exploring a reschedule before a cancellation, applying the correct tier honestly, and pursuing any compassionate allowance you are entitled to. For the broader picture of permits, see our guide to Uganda gorilla permits.