Not sure you would get a refund. Check with your tour operator or with the park authoriites. Chances of not seeing the gorillas is almost zero I would think. There is only one group in Mgahinga but they are very well tracked and the forest is not that thick so getting to them is relatively easy. I wouldn't worry about it. We had great experience.

Hello kena27201. Sorry about the delay in responding as I have just returned from the Christmas markets in Wroclaw, Poland (highly recommended by the way!). The fees for March are USD$600 per person for Mgahinga and I would hope that this shall remain the same. The prices in Rwanda have risen considerably, but having spoken to the guides in the park it is apparent that the Uganda fees are looking stable at present. The fee covers your entrance to the park and also the indroduction talk and the actual tracking (accompanied by guide, armed ranger and eventually the trackers who monitor the actual movements of the gorillas). After you have spent an hour with the gorillas it is customary to provide a tip to the trackers, and also to the guide/ranger when you return to the trail head. This is a discrectionary tip and the amount is down to you. The guides and trackers do evidently make the experience possible so we gladly paid the tips to all the afforementioned persons with gratitude. To actually arrange the permits it is highly recommended that you sort this out as far in advance as possible via the Uganda Wildlife Authority website (via email and bank transfer) as they are most helpful and you are assured the day on which you wish to track. I hope that this assists and I also hope that you manage to undertake this fantastic once in a lifetime experience!

I went in January 2016. The permit cost $600 but it was worth every penny and more. It was an amazing experience. The wildlife authority do the most incredible job protecting the gorillas from poachers and treating them when they are sick. On top of that you would need to budget for transfers and accommodation but it really is worth the cost.

Yes. You really should because they handle the necessary permits required to enter the park. You have to be scheduled. I recommend Mountain Gorilla Coffee Tours.