There are entry charges to any national park in Uganda. Uganda Wildlife Authority set different entry charges for those visiting national parks and protected areas in the Pearl of Africa. Entrance fees are used to promote the conservation of wildlife and also to facilitate and support conservation projects in respective national parks.
Also, travelers are reminded that no uniform entrance fee to all national parks. Each Park has a different entrance fee valid for 24 hours. Travelers are also reminded that entrance fees are independent of package activities such as gorilla tracking, mountain climbing, and chimpanzee trekking among others. Also, travelers are reminded that Tariff fees are subject to change without prior notice. Looking at the price range in ages, children are those persons between 5-15 years while children below 5 years are exempted from paying. Also, park entrance fees in Uganda are categorized into foreign non-residents, foreign residents, and East African Citizens.
Park entrance fees in Uganda national parks are categorized into three categories. These are:
Category A Park entrance fees
This category includes Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Bwindi Forest National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park. The entrance fees to the savannah parks of Uganda are;
- Foreign nonresidents pay $40 for adults & $20 for children
- Foreign residents pay $30 for adults & $10 for children
- East Africans & Ugandans pay UGX 250,000 for adults & UGX 5000 for children
- Tertiary Institutions and university students in Uganda pay 5000 shillings
- Uganda Wildlife clubs in Uganda pay 2,000 shillings
CATEGORY B Park entrance
This category of Uganda safari parks includes Mt Rwenzori, Semuliki Valley, Mt Elgon, Toro Semuliki, Katonga wildlife reserve, and Pian Upe game reserve. The entrance fees in these parks include:
- Foreign non-residents pay $35 for foreign non residents for adults and $5 for children
- Foreign residents pay $25 for foreign nonresidents & $5 for children
- East African residents pay UGX 15,000 for adults and UGX 2,500 for children
- Uganda pupils and student groups pay UGX 2500
CATEGORY C park entrance
This category entails Ajai game reserve, Bokora game reserve, Bugungu game reserve, East Madi game reserve, Kabwoya game reserve, Karuma game reserve, Kigezi game reserve, Kyambura game reserve, and Matheniko game reserve among others.
Travelers to these game reserves pay $10 for Foreign non-residents $5 for foreign residents and UGX 2.500 for East African residents.
Annual park Entry Passes
Uganda Wildlife Authority also offers annual park entrance passes to travelers who wish to. These costs;
- Individuals pay $350 for foreign residents and UGX 150,000 for East African Citizens
- Couples pay $500 for foreign residents and UGX 200,000 for East African citizens
- Family with a maximum of 4 children pay $700 for foreign residents and UGX 300,000 for East African citizens
- Annual Corporate pass cost $1,500 for foreign residents and 2,500,000 for East African citizens
- Safari guide pay UGX 100,000
- Taxi driver pass cost UGX 100,000
- Tour Company driver is free to enter
The annual park entrance fees are not valid for travel packages such as mountain gorilla trekking, hiking, mountaineering, and chimpanzee tracking among others. More so, the vehicle entrance fee is paid separately.
Cost of game drives in Uganda
Day guided game drives per vehicle in Uganda cost $20 for foreign non-residents, $20 for foreign residents, and UGX 20,000 for East African citizens. On the other hand, night game drives cost $30 for foreign non-residents, $30 for foreign residents, and UGX 30,000 for East African citizens.
If you want to hire a day game drive vehicle from Uganda Wildlife Authority, it costs $30 per person for foreign non-residents, $30 for foreign residents, and 30,000 for east African citizens. This cost is per person.
Cost of Gorilla Trekking permits in Uganda
Each gorilla permit in Uganda costs $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX 250,000 for East African citizens.
A gorilla habituation experience costs $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 for foreign residents, and UGX 750,000 for East African citizens.
The price of gorilla trekking and habituation permits include the park entrance fee for the day, guide fee, and community development contribution.
Cost of Chimpanzee permits in Uganda
| Location | FNR (US$) | FR (US$) | EAC (UGX) |
| Kibale Forest National Park | 200 | 150 | 150,000 |
| Kyambura Gorge (QENP) | 50 | 50 | 30,000 |
| Primate walk in Toro Semuliki WR | 30 | 30 | 20,000 |
| Chimpanzee trekking at Ngogo | 400 | 400 | $400 |
Chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale Forest National Park cost $250 for foreign non-residents, $250 for foreign residents, and UGX150,000 for East African citizens
Entrance fees for Vehicles, boat and aircraft landing fees
Besides entrance fees for travelers, vehicles, and boats in Uganda national parks are paid for separately. These entrance fees are:
| Registration | Foreign US$ |
Ugandan (US$)
|
Ugandan(UGX) |
| Motor-cycles | 30 | 5 | 10,000 |
| Saloon Cars | 40 | 10 | 20,000 |
| Minibuses, omnibuses | 50 | 15 | 30,000 |
| Pickups | 50 | 15 | 30,000 |
| Tour company vehicles & 4 Wheel | 150 | 15 | 30,000 |
| overlanders | 150 | 50 | 100,00 |
| Buses & Lorries | 150 | 75 | 150,000 |
| School buses | 25 | 50,000 | |
| Delivery Vehicle per entry | 10 | 20,000 | |
| Boats up to 15 seater | 50 | 25 | 50,000 |
| Launches over 15 seater | 100 | 75 | 150,000 |
| Parking fees for boat per day | 10,000 | ||
Aircraft landing fees
| Gliders, microlights | 10 | 10 | 20,000 |
| Up to 3 seater | 20 | 20 | 40,000 |
| 4-6 Seater | 30 | 30 | 60,000 |
| 7-14 Seater | 40 | 40 | 80,000 |
| 15-20 Seater | 50 | 50 | 100,000 |
| 21 Seater and above | 60 | 60 | 120,000 |
| Helicopter (per landing) | 100 | 125 | 250,000 |
| Parking fees per day | 10,000 |
NOTE: Enroute pilots who spend less than 2 hours in the park do not pat park entrance fees. Also, the passengers pay entrance fees separate from landing fees.
Fees for the ferry crossing at Murchison falls National Park
| Categories | UGX |
| Light vehicles 2 tonnes and less | 20,000 |
| Medium vehicles 2 to 5 tonnes | 40,000 |
| Heavy vehicles 5 to 10 tonnes | 80,000 |
| Very heavy vehicles 10 to 20 tonnes | 150,000 |
| Motorcycles | 5,000 |
| Passengers | 50,000 |
| Vehicle drivers and a school bus with students | Free |
Launch Cruise / Canoes / Motorboats
| Status | FNR | FR | East Africans (UGX) |
| MFNP | 30 | 30 | 30,000 |
| QENP | 30 | 30 | 30,000 |
| School groups (per person) | NA | NA | 10,000 |
| School group per group | NA | NA | 350,000 |
| LMNP (big & small boat) | 30 | 30 | 30,000 |
| TSWR View of shoebill by boat | 100 | 100 | 100,000 |
| TSWR Ntoroko boat hire | 100 | 100 | 100,000 |
NOTE: A launch cruise in Murchison Falls National Park takes a maximum of 45 people and 40 people in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The launch trips in both parks last for approximately 2 hours.
Conclusively, awareness on park entrance and activity fees to all Uganda national parks is essential when planning a perfect Uganda Safari. Contact us or Uganda Wildlife Authority for more info on park entrance fees to Uganda.
