As tourism slowly recovers from the worst effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Uganda Wildlife Authority has extended its promotional discounts to 30th June 2021 which among many exciting offers includes the incredible offer on gorilla and chimpanzee permits as well as a 50% slash in both park entry and birding fees for all Adventure Consults Travellers. As communicated earlier in our Dec. 2020 updates, a number of travellers have been enjoying the offer that was meant to end on March 31st 2021. 

Like many sub-sectors of the tourism industry, wildlife tourism has faced one of the most challenging episodes in recent times.  With the implementation of lockdowns and restrictions to travel, tourism business, which supports conservation efforts, was ground to a halt.

The pressure on wildlife resources from the also affected local communities increased. There were cases of poaching and encroachment in some protected areas, while in other wildlife reserves the loss of tourism revenue implied strained conservation efforts; including those which Adventure Consults is directly involved in. 

By June 2020, over 500,000 jobs directly involved in the sector had been lost,” Lilly Ajarova, Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Tourism Board.

Gorilla expert and Adventure Consults’ partner, Dr. Kalema-Zikusoka, a Ugandan veterinarian and CEO of the NGO, Conservation Through Public Health says that since lockdown gripped Uganda, many people living around the parks had started entering and poaching animals to put food on the table. 

UNESCO’s Rapid Response Facility (RRF) as a result, rendered critical emergency support to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, to safeguard one of the world’s last remaining mountain gorilla populations from this potentially existential threat of COVID-19.

Wildlife tourism in Uganda fully reopened in  September 2020 with the revival of mountain gorilla tourism in a bid to reattract visitors, but with special emphasis to new guidelines and standard operating procedures. 

The country’s wildlife authority has since 1st December 2020 been offering a series of discounts running until 31st March 2021; but have recently been extended to the end of June 2021. 

In their statement to tourism stakeholders Uganda Wildlife Authority’s Executive Director revealed that all visitors were at the heart of UWA’s conservation efforts, and that the discounts were a reward for their continued support throughout the years and more especially through this period of the COVID-19 pandemic (Sam Mwanda, Nov. 2020)

With the postponed period for the promotion, all Adventure Consults Gorilla packages to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park will be priced at USD 400 for foreign tourists.  

UWA has however maintained that the reduction on chimpanzee and gorilla fees will be applicable to only new purchases for all anyone visiting between 1st December 2020 and 30th June 2021 and will not apply to reschedules of already deposited on permits or purchases based on credit letters.

Primate related tourism is very popular in Uganda and attracts the greatest revenue collections for Uganda Wildlife Authority supporting enforcement and conservation efforts in other protected areas. 

Mountain gorilla business in particular has grown by over 40% over the past few years in this country that boasts the largest population of the last few members of this special species of apes.

With the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions, a predominantly domestic and resident focused form of tourism has become popular, with many travellers hoping to break away from the sombre of the previous year. 

Here is the full list of current discounts for all Uganda’s national parks until 30th June 2021

  • 50% discount on all park entry fee for Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo Valley, Murchison Falls, Semliki National Parks, as well as the Toro Semliki Wildlife Reserve, Katonga Wildlife Reserve, Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve and Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve.
  • UWA has also maintained its 50% discount on birding fees an extended opportunity for birders to enjoy Adventure Consults tours in search of some of the world’s most rare bird species, like the prehistoric and sporadic Shoebill. 
  • Foreign Non-Resident gorilla tracking permits reduced from USD 700 to USD 400
  • Foreign Resident gorilla tracking permits are still reduced from US$ 600 to US$ 300
  • East African Community citizen gorilla tracking permits reduced from UGX 250,000 to UGX. 150,000
  • East African Community resident chimpanzee tracking permits was also reduced from UGX. 150,000 to UGX. 100,000
  • Foreign Resident chimpanzee tracking permits reduced from USD 150 to USD 100
  • Foreign Non-Resident chimpanzee tracking permits reduced from USD 200 to USD 150

Where possible, Adventure Consults is happy to extend more discounts on other safari elements to match Uganda Wildlife Authority’s promotional rates and make your travels between now and June 2021 more affordable. Get in touch – sales@adventureconsults.com