Uganda Safari 2020
July 2, 2019
Uganda Religious Tourism
July 20, 2019
Over and over again, Uganda has been ranked as one of the best travel destinations in the whole of Africa. Anyone who considers mountain gorilla trekking only has three options; Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Unfortunately, for many years the democratic republic of Congo has been unstable, while Rwanda has branded its self as a luxurious gorilla trekking destination by charging almost triple of what is charged in Uganda.
For this reason, many tourists have opted for Uganda over Rwanda but some unforeseen circumstances, clients find themselves in situations where they have to cancel their trip to Uganda.
In these circumstances, there is no other thought that fogs your mind other than how to get your refund. However, there are procedures, terms, and conditions that influence or determine how much of your gorilla permit money is refunded.
Refund and Cancellation Guidelines
Uganda wildlife Authority only refunds 50% of the tracking fee (US$350) if a visitor fails to track due to illness. A visitor is only declared unfit to track due to illness by the warden in charge. However, this clause only applies to visitors who have made their way to Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Visitors who fail to track the gorillas (especially in Mgahinga gorilla national park) as a result of their movement to the neighboring country (Though this has been unheard of in the last two years) receive a 100% refund (US$700) on their permits.
In case visitors track and fail to view gorillas for any other reason that is not their movement to the neighboring countries; only 50% (US$350) is refunded.
No refund can be accessed online; rather someone has to move physically to Uganda wildlife Authority headquarters in Kampala through the reservations office.
Uganda Wildlife Refund Policy 2023
| Time Period | Amount |
| 0 to 8 days to tracking date | 100% retained (No refund) |
| 9 to 45 days to tracking date | 75% retained (25% refund to client) |
| 46 to 90 days to tracking date | 50% retained (50% refund to client) |
| 91 days and above to tracking date | 25% retained (75% refund to client) |
Most of the clients do their booking 2 to 3 months to the tracking date; this implies that they are likely to get a 50% refund (US$350). However, the Uganda wildlife authority does not specify in its terms and conditions how long it might take to process your refund.
On the other hand, some clients usually cancel in between one month and a few weeks to the tracking date; this implies that they are likely to get a refund of 25% (US$175).
Considering the money transfer pros and cons, you will never receive back the exact amount of 50% refund or 25% refund or 75% refund. This is because the company will have to incur up to 5% of your refund in surcharges.
Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla Permit Rescheduling
Permit rescheduling is one of the best ways that can save you from making a total loss in case you will not make it on your previously scheduled gorilla tracking date.
To reschedule your gorilla tracking permit, you have to write a letter to the director of tourism with reasons for rescheduling the permits. Then it is given to the head of reservations who forwards it to the executive director.
In case the reason(s) are justifiable to the authority, you are allowed to reschedule at no extra cost. However; you will be required to pay US$150 in case you reschedule two weeks to the gorilla tracking date.
Gorilla Permit Resale
Uganda Gorilla permit resale is the best way to save almost all your money for the gorilla permit; however, it is always on a probability rate of ½ giving you a 50% chance of making a total loss or recovering 90% of your money.
This is because a company can place your permits up for resale but still fail to get a buyer which makes it a total loss on your side. It is often worse when you also got the permits through a resale.
Resale permits are often bought with a certain date but rescheduled to a future date which often makes it impossible to reschedule them again leaving you with only a resale option.
Asking For A Credit Note
The Covid-19 pandemic has seen Uganda wildlife Authority revise a number of its policies until the situation goes back to normal. Companies can reschedule their permits without paying late reschedule fines due to late flight cancelations on a number of occasions.
Credit notes make it possible to save all your gorilla permits money. However, they are only valid until the end of December 2022. Tourists are advised to take on the option of the credit note instead of considering the option of a gorilla permit cancelation.
