Entry Fees for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Entry Fees in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Entry Fees in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are the charges that tourists are meant to pay when they are accessing the National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the fascinating national parks in Africa and it is found in Uganda. The diverse eco-system that runs through Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has made it a home for various species of animals which has heavily increased the tourism activities in Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home for the famous mountain gorillas, about half the population in the world which have made the national park often visited by tourists to view these endangered gorillas.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the south western part of Uganda near the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the edge of the Albertine Rift next to Virunga National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is mostly known for mountain gorilla trekking because Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the two sites in the world that you will find the endangered mountain gorillas. The other site is the Virunga Massif that consists of three national parks with the mountain gorillas such as Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Additionally, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is regulated by a government body in charge of all other protected areas in Uganda that is the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

The entrance fees

Since Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is regulated by Uganda Wildlife Authority, the body is responsible and in charge of stipulating the park entrance fees. The entrance fees are stipulated according to the status of visitors such as foreign, non-residents, foreign residents, and the East African citizens as addressed below;

Individual Park Entrance Fees

Adults are charged USD 40 for foreign non-residents, USD 30 for foreign residents while UGX 20000 for the East African residents as park fees for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Children are charged USD 20 for foreign non-residents, USD 10 for foreign residents while UGX 5000 for the East African residents as park fees for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Students are charged UGX 5000 and pupils are charged UGX 3000 as park entry fees for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This is because they are taken or categorized as East African citizens.

Additionally, the foreign residents and the East African residents have the opportunity to pay a park entry fee to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park on a yearly basis. However, foreign non-residents are not put under that consideration.

An individual, a foreign resident is entitled to pay USD 350 and UGX 150,000 for the East African citizens as annual park entry fees
Couples who are foreign residents are supposed to pay USD 500 while the East African citizens are entitled to UGX 200000 as payment for the annual park entry fees in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
A family with a maximum of four children as well as foreign residents are supposed to pay USD 700 while a family of East African citizens is charged UGX 300000 as annual park entry fees in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
An annual corporate entry fee to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park goes for USD 1500 for foreign residents and UGX 2.5 million for the East African Citizens.
A taxi driver and safari guide are both charged UGX 100000 as an annual entry fee in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
A tour operator who is a foreign resident is charged USD 50 as an annual park entry fee while an East African citizen who is a tour operator is charged UGX 125000 as an annual entry fee in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Vehicles and Aircrafts

Apart from the people who are charged for park entrance, also the vehicles and aircraft are charged accordingly. The charges for the vehicles and aircraft are used for operating the conservation projects in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Foreign motor vehicles are charged USD 30 and UGX 20000 for those that belong TO East Africa while the foreign saloon cars are charged USD 40 and UGX 20000 for the East African saloon cars.
4WD Cars, Mini-bus, and pick-ups are charged USD 50 if foreign and UGX 30000 if they are East African cars.
Lorries and buses are charged USD 150 if foreign and UGX 150000 if East African vehicles.

Aircraft landing fees and parking

USD 20 charged on foreign aircraft with up to 3 seats and UGX 40000 for East African aircraft landing in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
4-6 seats are charged USD 30 and UGX 60000 for foreign aircraft and East African aircraft respectively for landing in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
7- 14 seats foreign aircraft is charged USD 40 and the East African aircraft is charged UGX 80000 for landing in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
15- 20 seats foreign aircraft is charged USD 50 and the East African aircraft is charged UGX 100000 for landing in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The aircraft with 21 seats and above are charged USD 60 and UGX 120000 for foreign aircraft and East African aircraft respectively for landing in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The helicopters are charged USD 100 and UGX 250000 for foreign and East African respectively per landing in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The parking fee is UGX 5000 per day.

Importantly, the park entry fees for vehicles and aircraft is charged per entry and it is changed exclusive of the entry fees for the passengers. The pilots are not liable to any payment if at all they do not stay in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park beyond 2 hours.

Accommodation places in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is has a great number of accommodation places ranging from luxury or upmarket, midrange to basic or budget hotels and lodges in the region. Travelers always have a choice to make based on their preferences. Some of these lodges, camps, and hotels include the following;

Gorilla Forest Camp: Gorilla Forest Camp is located in Buhoma Sector about 500 meters from the park entrance. The camp offers breakfast and lunch which are served from an open area of the camp. Travelers engaging in gorilla trekking always opt for this camp because of its distance from the starting point. In this place, travelers get to watch different bird species and chartering monkeys from the forests that regularly pass through via the ground.

Clouds Mount Gorilla Lodge: Clouds Mount Gorilla Lodge is a high-end accommodation facility that is located in the remote Nkuringo area in the south east of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. at the lodge, travelers can have a spectacular view of the mountains in the Virunga Massif and the tropical rain forest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Clouds Mount Gorilla Lodge offers restaurant and bar, lounge, adequate parking space, reading area plus some amenities like a spacious sitting room, overstuffed armchairs, and washrooms with showers among others.

Mahogany Springs Camp: One of the luxury accommodation facilities near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park we have Mahogany Springs Camp that features expanse panoramic terrace overlooking the river and the forest, a restaurant, and bar plus a double sided fireplace. Some of the amenities at the lodge include excellent room service, private terrace, and spacious rooms.

Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge: Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge is an upmarket accommodation facility that consists of naturally built cottages in the Ruhija area. Amenities in Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge include toilet and shower bedrooms, hot water bottles, storage cabins, and parking space among others.

In addition, other places to try out in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include Volcanoes Safaris Bwindi Lodge, Bwindi Travelers Motel Butogota, Buhoma Community Bandas and Campsite, Nkuringo Gorilla Campsite, and Buhoma Homestead among others.

Conclusion

In general, the park entry fees and additional fees will depend on what you will be using and the services you want to be given during your visit to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. For the best experience come well prepared for an adventurous expedition.