Booking safety
Gorilla permit scams: how to spot fakes and verify an operator
Gorilla permit scams target travellers who book from abroad, usually at the moment of payment. This guide shows how permits really work, the common tricks, red flags and a seven-step checklist to verify a licensed Ugandan operator before you pay.
Gorilla permit scams: what they look like
Gorilla permit scams catch careful travellers every year. A trek is expensive, dates are limited and many people book from abroad, so criminals target the moment of payment. The good news is that a few simple checks stop almost all of them.
This guide explains how permits really work, the most common tricks and the checks that protect your money. It names no companies. Instead, it shows you how to verify any operator yourself, using the Uganda Tourism Board and other public sources.
How gorilla permits really work
Knowing the real process makes fake offers easier to spot. In Uganda, the Uganda Wildlife Authority issues permits, and visitors from outside East Africa normally book through a licensed tour operator. In Rwanda, the Rwanda Development Board runs a reservation portal, and some travellers use an operator instead.
Every permit is tied to a named person, a date and a park or sector. Therefore a genuine permit confirmation always shows your name, the trek date and the park. If an offer ignores these details, treat it with care. Our gorilla permit booking guide describes each step in full.
Common gorilla permit scams
Scammers copy real businesses and real brands. These gorilla permit scams appear again and again, so learn the pattern.
- Lookalike websites. A page copies a real operator's design and swaps the payment details.
- Social media sellers. An account sells "cheap permits" or "last-minute permits" through direct messages.
- Fake invoices. A genuine booking email is altered, and the bank details change.
- Personal account payments. A seller asks you to pay into a person's account, not a company's.
- Unlicensed middlemen. Someone resells a permit they do not hold.
- Pressure tactics. Messages claim that only one permit is left, and that you must pay today.
None of these gorilla permit scams is clever. Each one relies on rushing you.
Red flags that signal a scam
Use this table as a quick filter. One red flag is a reason to pause. Two or more is a reason to walk away.
| Red flag | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| A price far below every other quote | Real permits come with fixed costs, so a big discount is suspicious |
| No licence details or office address | A legitimate operator can give both on request |
| Payment to a personal account | Companies use business accounts in the company's name |
| Pressure to pay immediately | Genuine operators give you time to read the terms |
| A website with no history and stolen photos | Check the domain's age and the photos' source |
| No written terms | Refund and change rules must be written down |
| A different name on the invoice | The account name should match the company name |
If you notice any of these signs of gorilla permit scams, ask questions before you pay. For the Rwanda side of a trip, see our page on gorilla trekking from Kigali.
Not sure which dates suit you? Send them to us and a named member of our team will check.
Checks to make before you pay
Work through this checklist for every operator, including us. It takes about thirty minutes, and it protects thousands of dollars.
- Check the licence. Ask for the licence details, then verify them with the Tourism Board.
- Check the association. Ask whether the company belongs to a national operator association, then confirm it.
- Check the company. Look for registration details, a physical office and a working landline or office number.
- Check the people. Ask for the name of the person who will handle your booking.
- Check the terms. Read the payment, refund and cancellation rules in writing.
- Check the reviews. Read recent reviews on independent platforms, not only on the company's own site.
- Check the payment. Confirm that the account name matches the company before you send money.
Honest operators welcome these questions, and they answer them quickly.
How to verify a Ugandan operator step by step
Uganda publishes a list of licensed operators. The Uganda Tourism Board runs a directory where you can search by name and see licence numbers. Search for the company, compare the name and the website, and confirm that the licence is current.
Do not rely on a logo or a badge on the company's own site. Anyone can paste an image. Instead, ask any operator for licence details and verify them with the Tourism Board. We show our own licence number in the footer of every page, and we are happy to be checked.
Then confirm the basics: a street address you can find on a map, a phone number that rings and an email on the company's own domain. Free webmail addresses alone are a weaker sign.
Safe ways to pay for a gorilla permit
How you pay matters as much as who you pay. Choose methods that leave a clear record and give you a chance to dispute a charge.
- Pay a company account. The account name should match the operator's registered name.
- Prefer traceable methods. Bank transfers and cards leave records, and cards offer dispute rights.
- Avoid cash and personal wallets. Never pay a stranger's mobile money number.
- Confirm by phone. If bank details change in an email, call the office on a number you found yourself.
- Keep records. Save receipts, emails and chat messages.
Be extra careful with deposits. Ask what the deposit covers and what happens if you cancel.
How to confirm that your permit is real
After you pay, ask for the booking confirmation. A genuine confirmation shows the park or sector, the date, and the name of each traveller as printed in the passport. Keep a digital copy and a printed copy.
Ask your operator how and when the permit was bought, and which authority issued it. Operators who buy permits for you can explain the process in plain words. Before you travel, we also reconfirm each permit with the park. Read our permit refund and rescheduling guide to understand what happens if plans change.
Why the cheapest offer can be the most expensive
Everyone likes a bargain. With gorilla trekking, though, a very low price usually means a missing permit, a hidden cost or a business that will vanish. Compare quotes line by line instead of looking only at the total.
Ask what each quote includes, such as the permit, transport, lodging, meals and a guide. Then ask what it leaves out. A clear list is a good sign, and a vague list is a poor one. We explain how we build quotes on our permit cost page.
What to do if you think you were scammed
Act quickly, and stay calm. Fast action improves the chance of recovering money.
- Stop all payments. Do not send more money, even if the seller threatens to cancel.
- Contact your bank or card issuer. Ask about a chargeback or a payment recall.
- Save the evidence. Keep screenshots, emails, receipts and account details.
- Report it. Tell the Uganda Tourism Board and the police in the country where the seller operates.
- Warn others. Report fake pages to the hosting platform and to social media services.
Never pay a "recovery fee" to someone who contacts you after a scam. That is a second scam.
Not sure which dates suit you? Send them to us and a named member of our team will check.
How to check a website before you trust it
Lookalike sites copy real pages, so a good design proves nothing. Instead, check the basics.
- Web address. Look for small spelling changes, such as an extra letter or a different ending.
- Domain age. A free lookup tool shows when the domain was registered.
- Contact details. Search the phone number and the address on a map.
- Photos. Run a reverse image search to see whether the pictures belong to someone else.
- Links. Hover over a payment link and read the address before you click.
When a site fails two or more checks, do not send money. Our gorilla permit booking guide shows what a genuine process looks like.
Gorilla permit scams and the truth about last-minute permits
Last-minute permits are a favourite hook. Genuine permits can sometimes be found for dates inside the next few weeks, especially in wetter months. However, no one can guarantee a permit, and sellers who promise one are suspect.
The safe approach is simple. Ask the operator to confirm the date with the park in writing, and pay only after you see a booking confirmation. To understand what happens if plans change, read our permit refund guide.
Questions to ask every operator
Ask each company the same set of questions, and compare the answers. Honest operators reply clearly and quickly.
- Which park and sector is my permit for?
- Who issues the permit, and when will you confirm it?
- What does the quote include and leave out?
- What are the payment, change and cancellation terms?
- Which account will I pay into, and in whose name?
Keep the written answers with your booking. They also help if you compare us with other companies. See how we answer them on our permit cost page.
Choosing a destination without falling for hype
Scammers also push the biggest names. They claim that one country or one park is "sold out" unless you pay now. In truth, both countries have many families and treks, as our guide to Uganda or Rwanda shows. Learn about the Ugandan forest in our Bwindi guide before you decide.
Do your own research first. Informed travellers are far harder to scam.
Booking with confidence
We are a licensed Ugandan operator, and one named member of our team handles each booking. We encourage you to check us just as you would check anyone else. Ask for our licence details, verify them with the Tourism Board and read our terms in writing.
When you are ready, send your dates and group size, or message us on WhatsApp. For answers to other questions, see our frequently asked questions and our trek planning guide.
Not sure which dates suit you? Send them to us and a named member of our team will check.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common gorilla permit scams?
Lookalike websites, social media sellers offering cheap permits, altered invoices with new bank details, and requests to pay a personal account.
How do I know an operator is licensed?
Ask for licence details and verify them with the Uganda Tourism Board. Do not rely on a logo on the operator's own site.
Can I buy a gorilla permit from a stranger on social media?
It is risky. Permits are tied to a named person and a date, and genuine sellers are licensed operators or the official portal in Rwanda.
Is a very cheap gorilla permit a scam?
It is a warning sign. Compare quotes line by line and ask what is included.
How should I pay for a gorilla permit?
Pay a company account in the company's name, using a traceable method such as a bank transfer or a card. Avoid cash and personal mobile money numbers.
What should a real permit confirmation show?
The park or sector, the trek date and each traveller's name exactly as in the passport.
What do I do if I paid a fake seller?
Stop payments, contact your bank or card issuer, keep all evidence and report it to the Uganda Tourism Board and the police.
Can I book a Rwanda permit directly?
Yes, Rwanda's reservation portal accepts bookings, and some travellers also use an operator. Use only the official portal address.
Ready to trek? Ask for your quote.
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