Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the organization responsible for Uganda's national parks and protected areas, will increase gorilla tracking fees by $100 for the period 2024-2026.
According to eturbonews.com, the fee increase is an important step in meeting UWA's growing budget conservation and operating needs. This is essential for the effective management of all 13 UWA Wildlife Refuges, 12 Nature Reserves, 10 National Parks and five Community Wildlife Management Areas. In addition, UWA announced the tracking of two more gorilla units, bringing the total number of units tracked to 28.
The increased fees have caused an uproar among private tour operators offering tourists guided tours to see the famous gorilla troops of the region as they questioned the timing of the announcement due to their obligations under binding contracts with tourists entered into before the announcement of the increase in fees.
Negotiations between UWA and the Uganda Tour Operators Association mediated by the Minister of Tourism , Wildlife and Antiquities led to a deferral of fee increases for orders made before April 1, with the new gorilla tracking fees being as follows:
Permits for non-resident foreigners will change from $700 to $800 USA;
For foreign residents it will cost $700 out of $600;
For the rest of Africa (new category) the permit costs $500;
For residents of Eastern Africa African rates increase from UGX 250,000 to UGX 300,000.
Increased gorilla tracking permit rates in Uganda remain significantly lower than neighboring Rwanda, which costs for foreigners 1,500 dollars.
Source: travelnews.co.za
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