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Uganda park fees 2027–2028: the UWA conservation tariff explained

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) conservation tariff sets every fee you pay inside Uganda’s national parks and wildlife reserves from 1 January 2027 to 30 June 2028. This page explains it all in plain language: park entrance, gorilla and chimpanzee permits, game drives, boat cruises, nature walks, mountain hikes, accommodation, fines and the park rules. Prices are per person in US dollars (or Uganda shillings for East African citizens) unless stated.

Who pays which rate?

  • Foreign non-resident (FNR): visitors from outside Africa. This is the rate most international travellers pay.

  • Foreign resident (FR): foreigners living in Uganda with a valid work permit or residence document.

  • Rest of Africa (ROA): citizens of African countries outside the East African Community.

  • East African citizen (EAC): citizens of EAC member states, priced in Uganda shillings (UGX).

  • Bring ID or a permit to prove resident status. Children are 5–15 years old; under-5s enter free.

Gorilla permits in Uganda (Bwindi and Mgahinga)

  • Gorilla trekking permit: US$800 FNR, US$700 FR, US$500 ROA; East African citizens pay UGX 350,000 in Bwindi and UGX 300,000 in Mgahinga.

  • Low season gorilla permit (April, May and November only): US$600 FNR, US$500 FR.

  • Gorilla habituation experience: US$1,800 FNR, US$1,500 FR, US$1,000 ROA, UGX 750,000 EAC.

  • The permit includes the ranger guide, park entrance for that day and a community contribution.

  • Bonus: a gorilla permit holder gets one free day of park entrance to Mount Elgon National Park or Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve, within a month before or after tracking (activities are extra).

  • Minimum age 15; at most 8 visitors per gorilla group; one hour with the gorillas.

Chimpanzee tracking permits

  • Kibale National Park: US$250 FNR, US$200 FR, US$100 ROA, UGX 180,000 EAC.

  • Low season chimp permit (April, May, November): US$200 FNR, US$150 FR.

  • Kyambura Gorge, Queen Elizabeth: US$240 FNR, US$180 FR, US$125 ROA, UGX 70,000 EAC.

  • Chimpanzee habituation, Kibale (about 4 hours): US$400 FNR, US$350 FR, US$300 ROA, UGX 250,000 EAC.

  • Bugoma Forest: chimp tracking US$100 FNR; habituation US$200 FNR; mangabey tracking US$65.

  • Permits include the guide and park entrance; minimum age 12.

Golden monkeys, rhinos and special experiences

  • Golden monkey tracking, Mgahinga: US$60 FNR, US$50 FR/ROA, UGX 40,000 EAC. Habituation US$100 FNR.

  • Rhino tracking, Ajai: adults US$20 FNR; in Kidepo US$30 FNR.

  • Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch: entry US$60 adult / US$30 child (FNR); shoebill trip, birding or walks US$25–30.

  • Lion tracking, Queen Elizabeth: US$500 FNR, US$300 FR, UGX 250,000 EAC (plus a US$10 community fee and vehicle).

  • Mongoose tracking: US$30. Hippo census: US$100.

  • Golden cat night search, Kibale: US$80 per night or US$350 for five days.

Park entrance fees per day

Entrance is charged per person for each 24 hours in the park, separately from activities.

  • Murchison Falls (Category A+): adults US$45 FNR, US$35 FR, US$30 ROA, UGX 25,000 EAC; children US$25.

  • Category A — Kidepo Valley, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, Mgahinga, Kibale, Lake Mburo: adults US$40 FNR, US$30 FR, US$25 ROA, UGX 20,000 EAC; children US$20.

  • Category B — Ajai, Rwenzori, Semuliki, Mount Elgon, Toro-Semliki, Katonga, Pian Upe: adults US$35 FNR, US$25 FR, US$20 ROA, UGX 15,000 EAC; children US$5.

  • Category C — other wildlife reserves: US$10 FNR, US$5 FR/ROA, UGX 2,500 EAC.

  • Annual passes (foreign residents): individual US$350, couple US$600, family US$800.

Game drives, launch cruises and boat trips

  • UWA ranger guide on your game drive: US$30 per guide per day (FNR), US$25 FR.

  • Night game drive: US$35–40 per person; only for guests staying inside the park.

  • Self-guided game drive: US$50 per vehicle per day.

  • Launch cruise on the Nile in Murchison Falls, the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth or Lake Mburo: US$30 FNR, US$25 FR, US$20 ROA, UGX 30,000 EAC. About 2 hours.

  • Shoebill boat trip, Toro-Semliki: US$100 for up to 3 people, US$20 per extra person.

  • Vehicle entry: foreign-registered tour 4x4 US$250; Uganda-registered tour vehicles UGX 50,000.

Nature walks, birding and hikes

  • Birding and nature walks in Bwindi, Mgahinga, Kibale, Mount Elgon, Semuliki and Rwenzori: US$40 FNR, US$30 FR.

  • Walks in Murchison, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo, Kidepo and reserves: US$25 FNR, US$20 FR.

  • Night walk: US$50 FNR. Hike to the top of Murchison Falls: US$15 FNR.

  • Buhoma–Nkuringo trail, Bwindi: US$100 FNR. Rushaga–Nyabaremura: US$80.

  • Batwa trail: Mgahinga US$80 (incl. entrance); Bwindi Batwa experience US$40; Semuliki US$10.

Mountain climbing fees

  • Mgahinga volcano climbing: US$100 FNR, US$80 FR per day, including entrance.

  • Rwenzori Mountains and trails: US$50 FNR per day; climbing is run by licensed operators such as Rwenzori Trekking Services.

  • Mount Elgon: hiking US$100 FNR, US$80 FR, UGX 100,000 EAC per day; rock climbing US$65, mountain biking US$100, Bushiyi trail US$150.

  • Kidepo Lonyili summit: US$50 FNR.

  • Porters cost UGX 40,000 and cooks UGX 30,000 per day.

Sport fishing, camping and filming

  • Sport fishing: Murchison Falls US$50 per day or US$150 for 4 days; Queen Elizabeth US$20; Lake Mburo US$15.

  • Camping: wilderness sites US$40, private sites US$30, public sites UGX 40,000 per person per night.

  • UWA bandas and dorms in Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison, Semuliki and Mgahinga from UGX 25,000.

  • Filming: 40% on top of activity and entrance fees; drones 50% of the activity fee, booked in advance.

Fines you should avoid

  • Off-track driving: US$150 per person in the vehicle.

  • Speeding over 60 km/h: UGX 100,000. Running over an animal: US$500.

  • Rescheduling gorilla or chimp tracking late: 25% of the permit; tracking in the wrong location: 50%.

  • Sitting on the vehicle roof: US$100. Littering: UGX 200,000. Feeding animals or hooting: UGX 100,000.

Park rules

  • Gates open 6:30am to 7pm. Stay on tracks and keep to 60 km/h.

  • No pets, firearms, litter or picking plants; camp and make fires only in marked sites.

  • Do not track gorillas or chimps if you are sick; keep 10 metres away; no flash photography.

  • Keep your receipts and permits with you.

Entebbe: UWEC and the Botanic Gardens

  • Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (Entebbe zoo): US$15 adult / US$10 child (FNR); chimp close-up US$300; behind the scenes US$70.

  • UWEC Mbale: US$15 FNR adult, UGX 10,000 East Africans.

  • Entebbe Botanic Gardens: UGX 20,000 adult (FNR), UGX 5,000 East African adult.

How to pay and book

  • Gorilla and chimp permits for foreign non-residents and Rest of Africa visitors are booked through licensed tour operators.

  • Other fees are paid at UWA reservations or park gates by mobile money, card, bank transfer or the online portal.

  • Tickets last 24 hours; staying longer means another day’s fee. Fees can change without notice.

  • Riftvoya sends your request to two vetted Ugandan operators, and the permit cost is clearly shown in each quote. Get two quotes or read getting around Uganda.

Source: Uganda Wildlife Authority Conservation Tariff, January 2027 – June 2028. UWA: reservations@wildlife.go.ug, toll free 0800 100 960.

Uganda national parks in this tariff

Trips that include these parks

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Kisoro District, Uganda: golden monkey tracking

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Kisoro District, Uganda

Kibale National Park, Western, Uganda: best place in East Africa to track chimpanzees

Kibale National Park

Western, Uganda

Murchison Falls (Top of the Falls), Northern / Western, Uganda: the whole Nile squeezes through a 7-metre gap with a thunderous roar

Murchison Falls (Top of the Falls)

Northern / Western, Uganda

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