Can I get a refund if I cancel my gorilla trek? – Gorilla permit Cancellation & Refund Policy

Gorilla trekking is a one-shot opportunity to witness the rare mountain gorillas, a bucket list item for primate lovers. This gorilla trekking safari in Africa is unforgettable, bringing close the gentle primates of Uganda, Rwanda and D.R Congo. The expedition opens the eyes of travelers who get to see humble giants, learn about mountain gorillas of Rwanda & Uganda whilst obtaining information about their daily living. Can I get a refund if I cancel my gorilla trek? Just like other travel experiences in Africa and the world, a number of reasons may compel you to cancel your trip to either Uganda or Rwanda for Mountain Gorilla Trekking Tour. Some of the causes of gorilla permit cancellation may include; personal concerns, health related issues among others.

Travelers are weary of the assurance of a refund once their gorilla trekking trip is cancelled and are consequently asking questions like; Can I get a refund if I cancel my trek? Is money for gorilla trekking safari refundable after trip cancellation? For those planning to go on a  gorilla safari tour , this article discusses the policies of Gorilla permit cancellation and refund, what could qualify someone to be eligible for a refund (refund eligibility after gorilla permit cancellation).

Can I get a refund if I cancel my gorilla trek? Unfortunately, for gorilla trekking tours, cancellation of trips could prove risky for travelers who may lose their money since the gorilla permits behave differently in traits compared to other products where one may cancel the purchase of an item if it does not suit their taste.

Can I get a refund if I cancel my gorilla trek? Under what circumstances can I receive a refund after canceling my gorilla trekking permit? Once a traveler books and pays for the gorilla trekking permits in either Uganda or Rwanda, no funds are refunded. However, there a possibility for the money to be paid back to the traveler who cancelled the trip. The Uganda Wildlife Authority, the body that manages the 10 national parks of Uganda and selling of gorilla trekking permits allows the visitors to reschedule their Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tours to a later date in order to save travelers from bad loses that may arise with cancellation.

In case you book for a gorilla safari to Rwanda, the Rwanda Development Board can permit you to reschedule your trip if you cancel the Gorilla Tour. If you are planning a gorilla trekking safari, it is advised to read about the refund policy for gorilla tours (Gorilla permit cancellation and refund).

Gorilla Permit Refund and Cancelation Policy – Can I get a refund if I cancel my gorilla trek?

Uganda gorilla permit refund and cancellation – Uganda Wildlife Authority gorilla permit refund and cancellation policies

Usually, no refunds are made for gorilla permit cancelation but in case you book with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, you can apply for the refund program which is under the terms specified below. When you are unable to trek gorillas on the scheduled dates, the cancelations are handled by the Uganda Wildlife Authority from where you can request for a refund. Tour request should be match the set conditions under which the refund may be considered by the authorities. After your request has matched the specified conditions, it is forwarded to the Executive director ,who will authorize the cancellation of your fully paid permit. This article discusses the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s cancelation and refund policies;

Cancelling your permit 8 days to the allocated date for gorilla trekking. Can I get a refund if I cancel my permit 8 days to trekking for gorillas? Within 8 days prior to your tracking date, you are vulnerable to losing all your funds and there is no formal refund granted to the trekkers.

Cancellation from 9 to 45 days prior to your tracking dates. Can I get a refund if I cancel my gorilla trek between 9 to 45 days ( between one week and one month) before the trekking dates? Yes, cancellation of gorilla trekking between 9 to 45 days before the trekking dates is less risky and such one week and a month’s cancellation is compensated with utmost 25% of the permit value refund.

If the gorilla permit is cancelled between 46 to 90 days (one month-two months). Can I recover the money if I cancelled my gorilla permit within 46 to 90 days to the assigned tracking dates? Absolutely, you will receive about 50% of the original value of the permit when you cancel the trip within 46 to 90 days.

In case you cancelled the permit for gorilla trekking 91 days and above. What happens when I cancel my gorilla permit 90 days and beyond? Can I get a refund if I cancel my gorilla trek 91 days and above to the trekking dates? Yes, the cancellation with 90 days and beyond comes with 75% refund of the initial gorilla ticket.

Other conditions under which a gorilla permit is refundable in Uganda – When can I be refunded for failure to trek

Failure to view gorillas on your trek

Given the high infestation of mountain gorillas in the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park,, there is much assurance for trekkers to find the humble giants on your gorilla trekking safari holiday to Uganda. However, when there is sighting of gorillas made during the trek, an unusual happening, the Uganda Wildlife Authority may reschedule your permit for the following trekking day. The inability for visitors to see the primates the next day will force the Uganda Wildlife Authority to refund 50% of the permit value to the trekkers.

 

Illness and Accidents within the National Park 

This applies to trekkers who rise health concerns like illness at the receiving point for visitors before the beginning the expedition in the heart of the jungle. Victims in such cases will be exempted from indulging in trekking gorillas. Further examination will be done to the patient at the nearby health facility to find out the cause and nature of illness which lead to the failure to track gorillas. If the medical report declares the trekker medically unfit, they will be stopped to continue into the forest.

The next step is to submit a request to the Uganda Wildlife Authority to cancel the gorilla permit you initially subscribed to. Upon its reception by the Executive Director, a refund will be made to the visitor who will receive 50% value of the original permit.

Another refundable case is when you get an accident in the forest before approaching the gorillas, here the Uganda Wildlife Authority refunds 50% of the original value of the permit. The cancelation and refund request is  a formal document written to the office of the Executive Director of Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Rwanda Gorilla Permit Refund and Cancellation – Rwanda Development Board (RDB) gorilla permit cancellation and refund policies

Gorilla Trekking Cancellation and refund concerns in Rwanda are managed by the Rwanda Development Board. This board outlines some strict policies like in the neighboring Uganda concerning the cancellation and refund of gorilla trekking funds. Even though Rwanda’s gorilla permits are not refundable, there are circumstances under which it is possible to refund, only if the requests meet specific conditions set by the Rwanda Development Board. The refunds are ratios of the original cost of the permits, calculated in percentages. Here are some conditions that may make a fully paid Rwanda Gorilla Permit refundable;

In case the gorilla permit is canceled in more than 60 days before the trek. Can I get a refund if I cancel my gorilla trek to Rwanda 60 days before the allocated trekking dates?   Yes, receiving your refund is possible. Rwanda pays about 60% of the total cost of the gorilla permit if it is cancelled with in 60 days.

Cancelling a gorilla trek 30 to 59 days ( One-two weeks).  Can I get a refund if I cancel my gorilla trek 30 to 59 days before the trekking dates? Any cancelation made with in 30-59 days comes with a 50% refund on the original payment made for the gorilla permit.

On Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Days, any visitor who fails to hike to the assigned gorilla family will trek the following day. If trekking is impossible due to unavailability of slots, the Rwanda Development Board will refund full amount. In cases of failure to find mountain gorillas, the visitors are given 75% refund.

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