If you’re reading this in the middle of the year and your travel dates are creeping closer, you’ve probably already asked a tour operator, checked a few forums, or typed this exact question into Google late at night: can I still get a Uganda gorilla permit for November / December?
The short answer is yes, it is usually still possible but it depends entirely on which month, which sector, and how quickly you act from today. Here is the honest, detailed breakdown.
Why November and December Are Two Very Different Months
Can I Still Get A Uganda Gorilla Permit For November or December:People often lump these two months together, but for gorilla trekking in Uganda they behave completely differently.
November is one of Uganda’s designated low-season, or “green season,” months. The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) treats it the same way it treats April and May a quieter travel period with lighter rainfall than people expect, and permits that are genuinely easier to find on short notice.
December, on the other hand, is peak season. It’s the start of the dry spell that runs through February, and it overlaps with Christmas and New Year travel from Europe, North America, and elsewhere. Demand jumps sharply, and the popular sectors can be fully booked out well in advance of the month arriving.
So “can I still get a permit” has two very
Gorilla Permit Availability in November
November is genuinely your friend here. Because UWA classifies it as a low-season month, tour operators often report decent last-minute availability, sometimes even a few weeks out, especially outside the busiest sectors like Buhoma and Rushaga. If your travel dates are flexible within the month, your odds of finding a permit are good even if you’re booking closer to the date than the usual guidance recommends.
There’s also a financial upside. UWA has introduced discounted low-season permits for April, May, and November, bringing the price for foreign non-residents down from the standard rate to $600, and to $500 for foreign residents. The catch: these discounted permits are date-specific and cannot be rescheduled once booked, so you’ll want to be fairly confident about your dates before paying.
Gorilla Permit Availability in December
December is a different story. This is peak season, and popular sectors fill up months ahead of time often 6 to 10 months in advance for the most requested dates, especially around Christmas week and New Year’s. If you’re asking this question just a few weeks before December, your best chances are:
- Early December dates rather than the Christmas–New Year stretch
- Less-requested sectors such as Ruhija or Nkuringo rather than Buhoma or Rushaga
- Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which has smaller daily numbers but sometimes has more flexibility than Bwindi’s busiest sectors
- Weekday treks rather than weekend departures
It is not unusual for tour operators to still find a handful of permits for December even close to the date, because of last-minute cancellations or reallocations. But it’s a search-and-check situation rather than a guarantee, and the good sectors disappear first.
What a Gorilla Permit Actually Costs Right Now
Can I Still Get A Uganda Gorilla Permit For November or December:As of the current 2026 tariff structure:
- Foreign non-residents: $800 per person for standard season, dropping to $600 during the November low-season discount
- Foreign residents: $700 per person standard, $500 during November
- East African citizens: a heavily subsidized local rate, roughly UGX 300,000 (around $80)
The permit covers one hour with a habituated gorilla family, an armed ranger escort, and the services of an experienced park guide. It does not include park entrance fees, transport, accommodation, or tips for trackers and porters those are separate line items when budgeting your safari.
One operational change worth knowing about: as of March 2026, UWA no longer allows tour operators to place a temporary hold on a permit for several days while you decide. Full payment is now required at the time of booking to actually secure it. This makes the market move faster than it used to, so once you find an available date, be ready to commit.
How Many Permits Exist Per Day
Uganda issues roughly 176 standard gorilla trekking permits per day, spread across Bwindi Impenetrable National Park’s four sectors Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo plus a small allocation at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for its single habituated family.
There are also a limited number of Gorilla Habituation Experience permits issued daily in the Rushaga sector, for travelers who want a longer, more immersive four-hour encounter rather than the standard one-hour visit.
This daily cap is exactly why December sells out while November often doesn’t: the number of permits per day is fixed, but demand for December spikes while November stays comparatively calm.
Steps to under take especially if you need November or December Dates
Maximum flexibility:if you are not sure with the dates, you need to first confirm since permits are at a very high demand.
Book with a licensed Ugandan tour operator immediately:. This is one of the main steps is of help to you . Uganda has many tour operators that can be got from google for example gorilla safaris africa. (Under our mother company active African Vacations, we are the leading travel experts for gorilla safaris in africa for years and years.
From the time you place in your inquiry, our reservationist will check availability so that he confirms with you. As of 2026, individual foreign travelers can no longer book gorilla permits directly with UWA bookings must go through a licensed operator, who checks live availability and processes payment on your behalf.
Have your payment ready to go. This is the opening gate way while booking your gorilla safari. Since holding permits is no longer allowed, you need to secure the permit by paying for it. On the other hand, you must do it in time since they, disappear within 1 day in UWAs system.
Consider pairing your gorilla trek with chimpanzee tracking or a wildlife safari elsewhere in Uganda, both to make the most of the trip and because operators sometimes have more flexibility building a full itinerary than they do slotting in a single permit.
Day 9: Return to Entebbe With a Stop at the Equator
This is the end of your 9 day Uganda birding and gorilla tour. After breakfast, you begin the long but scenic drive back toward Entebbe and the airport, with one memorable stop along the way.
The Equator crossing on the Kampala–Masaka highway is one of those travel experiences that sounds trivial and turns out to be genuinely fascinating. A local guide demonstrates the Coriolis effect using basins of water showing how water drains in different directions on either side of the line and you can stand with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and one in the Southern for the requisite photograph.
From the Equator, the drive continues to Entebbe, where your guide bids you a warm farewell. You depart with a life list that has grown significantly, memories that will not fade quickly, and a legitimate connection to one of the world’s most endangered species.
Is November or December Actually a Good Time to Trek?
Both months have real advantages beyond permit availability.
November’s rains are usually short afternoon showers rather than all-day downpours, and the forest is lush and green. Gorillas tend to descend to lower elevations to feed on more abundant vegetation, which can occasionally mean a shorter, easier trek to reach them.
December offers classic dry-season trekking conditions firmer trails, clearer skies, and generally easier hiking, which is part of why it’s so popular in the first place. If you can secure a permit, December delivers a comfortable, classic gorilla trekking experience with good weather odds.
Conclusion
If you’re asking whether a Uganda gorilla permit is still available for November or December, the honest answer is: quite possibly, but the window is narrower for December than for November, and it’s shrinking every day you wait.
smartest move is not to keep searching for a definitive yes-or-no answer online it’s to get a real-time availability check from a licensed operator today like Gorilla Safaris Africa, because that’s the only way to know for certain what’s actually left for your specific dates.