Booking a gorilla trekking permit is one of the most important steps when planning a Uganda gorilla safari. Because gorilla permits are linked to a particular trekking date and location, travellers often wonder what happens when their travel plans suddenly change.

Can you reschedule a gorilla permit in Uganda?

Yes. Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) provides procedures for rescheduling gorilla and chimpanzee tracking permits, subject to the applicable conditions, availability and booking requirements. UWA’s July 2024 guidelines specifically address reservations, payments, reschedules, cancellations and refunds.

If your Uganda gorilla safari was arranged through Mambo Gorilla Safaris Uganda, our team can help you navigate the practical arrangements involved in changing your trekking date and reorganizing the rest of your itinerary.

What Does Rescheduling a Gorilla Permit Mean?

Rescheduling a gorilla permit means changing the date and/or tracking location of your existing gorilla trekking reservation rather than simply cancelling the booking.

This can become necessary for several reasons, including:

Changes to international flight schedules
Delayed or cancelled flights
Personal emergencies
Illness
Changes to your holiday schedule
Accommodation changes
Changes to a larger Uganda safari itinerary
Unexpected travel disruptions

A reschedule is not automatically guaranteed. The requested new date and location must meet the applicable UWA requirements and have availability.

Can You Reschedule a Gorilla Permit in Uganda?

Yes, a Uganda gorilla permit can be rescheduled under UWA’s applicable guidelines.

The current UWA guidelines published in July 2024 provide procedures for managing gorilla and chimpanzee permits, including reschedules. They state that a specific permit can be rescheduled up to two times, subject to the stated conditions and availability.

According to the published guidelines:

The first reschedule is allowed once at no cost, subject to availability.
A second reschedule attracts a 25% surcharge on the total permit cost.
Rescheduling is subject to availability for the requested date and location.
Where the new date has a higher applicable permit rate, the difference may be payable.
A permit that has already been rescheduled is not eligible for a refund under the stated rescheduling provision.
A permit cannot be rescheduled more than twice under the guideline.

Because UWA may update its tourism procedures and tariffs, travellers should always confirm the rules that apply when making their request.

How to Reschedule a Gorilla Permit in Uganda

If your travel plans have changed, do not panic. The most important thing is to communicate with your safari operator as early as possible.

Step 1: Contact Mambo Gorilla Safaris Uganda

If Mambo Gorilla Safaris Uganda arranged your gorilla permit, contact us immediately when you realize that you cannot travel on the original date.

Provide your:

Full name
Original gorilla trekking date
Number of gorilla permits
Original trekking location or sector
Preferred new trekking date
Preferred new trekking location, if applicable
Reason for the requested change

Having these details ready makes it easier to assess the available options.

Step 2: Check Availability

Your preferred new date may not automatically be available.

Gorilla trekking takes place in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Bwindi has four principal trekking sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo.

The requested new date and location must therefore be checked before the rescheduling request can be confirmed.

For example, if your original permit was booked for Ruhija but you need to move your trek to another date, Mambo Gorilla Safaris can help check the available options according to the applicable UWA booking procedures.

Step 3: Submit the Rescheduling Request

Once an appropriate alternative has been identified, the rescheduling request can be handled through the applicable UWA reservation process.

If Mambo Gorilla Safaris arranged the permit for you, our team can coordinate the permit-related arrangements while also reviewing the rest of your itinerary.

This is particularly useful because changing a gorilla trekking date may also require changes to:

Lodge reservations
Airport transfers
Safari vehicle arrangements
Domestic flights
Park visits
Other activities
The number of nights at Bwindi

Step 4: Pay Any Applicable Additional Amount

The amount payable depends on the circumstances of the reschedule.

Under UWA’s July 2024 guidelines, the first reschedule is allowed once at no cost, subject to availability, while a second reschedule attracts a 25% surcharge on the total permit cost. A difference may also apply where the new booking falls under a higher applicable rate.

Before confirming your new date, ask your safari operator to explain any additional costs.

Step 5: Receive Confirmation

Do not assume your new trekking date is confirmed simply because you have requested a change.

Wait for confirmation that the rescheduling has been processed and that your revised gorilla trekking arrangements are properly recorded.

UWA’s permit management system is used to manage and validate tourism bookings and permits.

How Many Times Can a Gorilla Permit Be Rescheduled?

Under UWA’s July 2024 guidelines, a specific gorilla permit can be rescheduled up to two times.

The basic structure is:

Rescheduling request	UWA guideline
First reschedule	Once at no cost, subject to availability
Second reschedule	25% surcharge on total permit cost
Third reschedule	Not permitted under the guideline
New date with higher applicable rate	Difference may be payable
Previously rescheduled permit	No refund under the rescheduling provision

This is why it is important to choose your replacement trekking date carefully.

If your plans are uncertain, discuss the available options with Mambo Gorilla Safaris before selecting another date.

How Far in Advance Should You Reschedule a Gorilla Permit?

UWA’s July 2024 guidelines state that rescheduling requests should be received no later than 14 days before the tracking date. The guidelines also provide for requests received less than 14 days before tracking to be accepted and processed based on availability.

However, travellers should not wait until the last moment.

The earlier you contact Mambo Gorilla Safaris, the more time there is to:

Find another available trekking date
Check alternative trekking sectors
Adjust your lodge booking
Rearrange transportation
Change domestic flights
Reorganize other safari activities

Early communication can make a major difference when dealing with a time-sensitive safari itinerary.

Can I Change My Gorilla Trekking Date and Location?

Yes. UWA defines rescheduling in terms of changing the date and/or location of tracking, subject to the relevant conditions and availability.

This gives travellers some flexibility when reorganizing a Uganda gorilla safari.

For instance, your original itinerary might have been designed around:

Kampala → Bwindi → Gorilla Trekking → Kampala

If your travel dates change, Mambo Gorilla Safaris may need to reorganize your accommodation, transportation and trekking arrangements around the new date.

The available trekking location should be confirmed before making other non-refundable arrangements.

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi: Why Your Location Matters

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is Uganda’s principal gorilla trekking destination and is divided into four main trekking sectors:

Buhoma
Ruhija
Rushaga
Nkuringo

UWA states that Bwindi is home to roughly half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. Gorilla trekking in Uganda generally requires moderate fitness, with treks potentially lasting several hours depending on conditions and the location of the gorillas. Visitors are allocated one hour of observation with a habituated gorilla family.

This means that changing the trekking location can affect the logistics of your safari.

Your accommodation should ideally be located close to the sector where you will trek.

That is one reason working with a local Uganda safari operator can be useful when your gorilla permit date changes.

Can I Reschedule a Gorilla Permit Because of Illness?

Illness can sometimes make it impossible or unwise to continue with a planned gorilla trekking trip.

If you become ill before your scheduled trek, contact Mambo Gorilla Safaris as soon as possible.

Do not simply fail to appear for the trek.

UWA’s published guidelines include separate provisions covering cancellations, refunds and circumstances such as illness, so the appropriate procedure depends on the details of the situation.

If your request is related to a medical problem, keep relevant medical documentation where appropriate.

The applicable outcome should be confirmed through the current UWA procedure rather than assumed in advance.

What If My Flight Is Delayed?

International flight delays are another reason a traveller may need to change a gorilla trekking itinerary.

For example, you may have planned to arrive in Uganda one day before travelling to Bwindi. If your international flight is delayed significantly, you may no longer have enough time to reach the park for your scheduled trekking date.

Contact Mambo Gorilla Safaris immediately.

Depending on availability and the applicable UWA rules, we can help review whether your gorilla trekking date can be changed and reorganize the associated safari arrangements.

This is one reason we recommend allowing a reasonable buffer between your international arrival and your gorilla trek.

What If I Miss My Gorilla Trekking Date?

Missing your trekking date is different from requesting a reschedule before the date arrives.

If you know that you cannot make your scheduled trek, contact your safari operator before the trekking date whenever possible.

Do not simply assume that you can arrive the following day and use the same permit.

Gorilla permits are date-specific tourism products, and changes need to be handled through the appropriate reservation process.

Can Someone Else Use My Gorilla Permit?

You should never assume that you can simply give your gorilla permit to another traveller.

Permit details are managed through UWA’s booking system and are subject to verification.

If the person named on the booking cannot travel, contact Mambo Gorilla Safaris or the relevant UWA booking channel to establish what options are available.

An informal transfer between travellers should not be arranged without confirmation from the appropriate authority.

Can I Get a Refund After Rescheduling?

Rescheduling and cancellation are two different processes.

When you reschedule, you are moving the existing tracking arrangement to another eligible date and/or location.

When you cancel, you are no longer planning to use the permit.

UWA’s July 2024 guidelines state that where a permit has been rescheduled, no refund shall be permitted against that permit under the stated rescheduling provision.

If you are no longer able to travel at all, speak to Mambo Gorilla Safaris about the applicable cancellation and refund rules rather than assuming that rescheduling and cancellation are treated identically.

What Happens If the New Gorilla Permit Date Is More Expensive?

If your new trekking date falls under a higher applicable permit rate, UWA’s guidelines state that the difference is payable.

This means you should check the applicable rate before approving the change.

Remember that your overall safari cost may also change because of:

Accommodation rates
Flight prices
Vehicle requirements
Additional nights
Transfers
Other safari activities

Mambo Gorilla Safaris can help review the complete itinerary rather than looking at the permit in isolation.

Can Mambo Gorilla Safaris Help Reschedule My Gorilla Permit?

Yes.

If Mambo Gorilla Safaris Uganda arranged your gorilla safari, our team can help coordinate the practical changes to your itinerary and guide you through the applicable permit rescheduling process.

Our Uganda gorilla safari options include road-based and flying gorilla experiences.

For travellers looking for a shorter itinerary, our 3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Tour combines transportation, gorilla trekking, accommodation, meals, park-related services and other planned activities.

For travellers who want to avoid a long road journey to Bwindi, Mambo also offers a 3-day flying gorilla safari, with flights toward Kisoro or Kihihi followed by transfer to the appropriate area.

This flexibility can be especially useful when reorganizing a safari after a change in travel dates.

Rescheduling Your Gorilla Safari With Mambo Gorilla Safaris

Changing a gorilla trekking date does not necessarily mean cancelling your Uganda safari.

With early communication, your itinerary may be reorganized around a new trekking date, depending on permit availability and the applicable UWA rules.

At Mambo Gorilla Safaris Uganda, we can help you coordinate the different elements of your safari, including:

Gorilla trekking arrangements
Safari transportation
Accommodation
Airport transfers
Domestic flight arrangements
Wildlife safaris
Chimpanzee trekking
Cultural experiences
Extended Uganda safari itineraries

Uganda’s gorilla trekking destinations are located in the southwestern part of the country, and many travellers combine gorilla trekking with other wildlife and primate experiences.

For example, a longer Uganda safari can combine Bwindi with destinations such as Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale Forest and Lake Mburo.

How to Avoid Gorilla Permit Rescheduling Problems

Although travel disruptions cannot always be avoided, good planning can reduce the likelihood of needing to change your permit.

1. Confirm Your Major Travel Arrangements

Try to finalize your international flights before committing to a specific gorilla trekking date.

2. Leave a Buffer Before Your Trek

Avoid scheduling your gorilla trek immediately after an international flight when possible.

A buffer gives you some protection against delays.

3. Choose Accommodation Carefully

Your lodge should be appropriate for your selected gorilla trekking sector.

4. Use a Local Safari Operator

A local operator can coordinate different parts of your itinerary when plans change.

5. Contact Your Operator Immediately

If your plans change, don’t wait.

The earlier you communicate, the more opportunity there may be to find a suitable alternative.

6. Consider Travel Insurance

Choose insurance that covers the types of prepaid travel expenses relevant to your safari and carefully review the policy exclusions and conditions.