How to Go Trekking With the Gorillas In Uganda
Today, Trekking with the Gorillas in Uganda is the countries’ biggest draw for international visitors. Most visitors who come to spend a magical moment with the gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga National Park describe it as a life-changing experience. It’s an experience that never gets old since every gorilla encounter is different.
Imagine yourself sitting a few meters from a barrel-headed silverback as it delicately shreds a bamboo shoot or exchanging a questioning glance with a curious middle-aged mama or watching a young hooligan climbing ineptly up a liana and tumbling playfully back to the ground. Whatever encounter you have with these gentle giants, anybody who has looked into the soft brown eyes of a gorilla will confirm that it is an awesome experience and perhaps there’s something about these creatures’ gentle vulnerability despite their colossal size that triggers a sense of empathy for our distant cousins. Due to the popularity of Gorilla Trekking Experience in Uganda, availability gorilla trekking permit can be limited the reason you have to plan well ahead to ensure you can lock in your desired travel dates.
In this article, we will be sharing very important details about how to go trekking with the Gorillas in Uganda including what you should know about the gorilla trekking experience and how to secure a gorilla trekking permit among other things. This is crucial information to know if you’re planning to embark on this life changing experience sometime soon.
Where To Go Gorilla Trekking In Uganda
In Uganda, gorillas are found in the 2 major National Parks of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park with Bwindi being by far the main location for commercially-organized gorilla trekking due to the huge number of Gorilla families.
Bwindi is arguably Africa’s best all-round gorilla trekking destination. Its densely forested slopes are home to 45% of the world’s mountain gorilla population and a total of 23 habituated groups means that 180-plus permits are available daily. Yes, trekking conditions are generally less predictable than they are in Rwanda and the denser foliage can sometimes make it more difficult to obtain clear views. But this is mitigated by the fact that permits are less than half the price (in other words, you could track here on two successive days and pay less than you would for a single excursion in Rwanda) and by the park’s relative accessibility to independent travelers.
Be aware that there are four discrete trekking gates/sectors in Bwindi with each gate/sector being serviced by its own cluster of lodges the reason you should arrange your permit and accommodation booking based on the gate/sector. The oldest sector is Buhoma which usually offers the easiest hiking conditions and is accessible by public transport with the widest range of accommodation (from luxury lodges to simple local guesthouses) but is also the most likely for permits to be booked solid months in advance. Nkuringo sector offers the most challenging trekking (almost always bookended by a steep one-hour descent and two-hour ascent) and Rushaga sector has the most permits with 9 habituated groups resident making it possible for last minute bookings. Finally, Ruhija is the only trekking hub set deep within the park rather than on the periphery which makes it highly alluring for other wildlife and birding.
Mgahinga National Park which is set on the Ugandan slope of the Virungas is another spot where you can go for gorilla trekking in Uganda. The Park is home to only one habituated group but if you can secure one of the park’s eight daily permits, you are in for a special experience. This is because the group in question is overseen by a trio of massive male siblings making for superb silverback viewing. In addition to the above, the gorillas here are generally found in bamboo forest or other relatively open areas making the hiking conditions usually quite undemanding and the low tourist volumes give the park a relatively off-the-beaten-track feel.
What’s Gorilla Trekking In Uganda Like?
The day you go for the Gorilla Trekking experience in Uganda is a big day with an early start and potentially hours of hiking so make sure you sleep early the night before because you can be excited on the eve of your gorilla trek that you will barely sleep. Your tour operator will organize a transfer to the park headquarters for registration and a briefing around 7:00am. It’s here that you will get an important reminder of the gorilla trekking regulations and safety guidelines and your group will be assigned to visit a specific gorilla family. Normally you will usually trek for at least an hour before you reach your gorilla family though in some cases it may take three or more hours before you find your group.
As you come within range of your gorilla family, you will leave your bags so you can approach the group more closely and once you make contact you will spend an hour with the gorillas watching them as they go around with their daily lives hanging from trees, grooming, suckling their babies, playing, sleeping, farting or mating. Your hour with the gorillas may be calm or it may be full of drama! One thing is for sure the hour will fly by. Our biggest tip is to just enjoy being in their presence and not spending the whole time watching them through your camera screen. If the gorillas are on the move, you will be able to move with them keeping the required minimum distance of ten meters at all times. They may ignore you or show some interest and approach you which is normal, exciting and – because of their size – a little scary too! It’s all part of the fun.
If the gorillas do approach, the rangers will reassure you and ask you to calmly step back. The rangers are highly knowledgeable; they will show you how to vocalize like a gorilla and help you notice their behavior and traits. We find talking to the guides an integral part of the experience. They know each gorilla family and their personalities intimately. Tap into their wealth of knowledge about the gorillas, the forest and conservation issues.
Depending on where you are, you will find the gorillas in very different settings: Our experts first saw them in dense dark forest, they have watched them in an open clearing with clear views and plenty of sunlight and they have seen them balance precariously in the bamboo/jungle above their head! Keep lighting conditions in mind when planning your photos as flash photography is strictly prohibited.
Hire a porter!
At the morning briefing you will have the option of hiring a porter for the day. The going rate for a porter is around USD $20 (plus optional tip) and we can’t recommend it highly enough. Their help is absolutely invaluable it feels good having your hands free to take photos or grab hold of a branch as you are climbing a slope. Porters are more than happy to carry extra water (so there is no excuse for getting dehydrated). If it gets muddy, you have a strong pair of hands to help you scramble up the hillside.
It’s also a fun way to interact with the locals and it provides useful income in a community that has little access to cash jobs. Pottering makes a valuable contribution to local livelihoods and therefore directly supports gorilla conservation through tourism. In these areas, most people are subsistence farmers meaning that having an opportunity to earn some extra cash is extremely well received. If you’re unsure of your physical ability, it’s also possible to hire an unglamorous-sounding “stretcher” which is carried by a group of porters. The use of a stretcher costs around USD $100 plus tips.
Speak to the Rangers about your fitness and preferences before setting off!
When assigning you a gorilla family to visit, they consider your group’s trekking ability and preferences. Some families are within an hour of easy hiking, others could be four or more hours away from the starting point and authorities will assign you to a gorilla family that is suited to your preferences and personal fitness as they closely monitor the whereabouts of each family hence having a good idea of their locations. So if you have any preferences for a shorter or longer trek, we urge you to speak up at the morning briefing and you will be assigned to trek the most appropriate gorilla family.
Uganda Gorilla Trekking Costs & permits
Permit are limited in terms of availability which is determined by the number of habituated gorilla families in each park. This means that Permits can sell out months in advance especially during peak season. The current cost of a Gorilla permit for a foreign non-resident is USD $800 in Uganda. This fee includes park entrance, and all guiding and tracking services (which are provided by the park not by individual operators) but it does not include an optional porter to carry your day pack.
Please note that In Uganda foreigners can only secure a permit via an authorized tour operator and Engabi Tours and Travel is an authorized tour operator licensed by Uganda Tourism Board
The average Uganda Gorilla Trekking Cost will depend on how you arrange your trip. Most visitors book an all-inclusive organized tour using midrange or luxury lodges and packages of two or three day tours of this sort might cost anything from USD $1,500 per person to USD $5,000 and up depending largely on the quality of accommodation. CONTACT US to book your Gorilla Trekking Tour in Uganda
Mind where you stay on your Gorilla Tour
Unlike Rwanda, Uganda’s gorilla population is more dispersed and gorilla trekking here requires more planning. The Mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest are scattered across four sectors of Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga and Ruhija and in each sector the gorillas are distances away from the entrance with a varying terrain making trekking easier or harder in different sectorst. Generally speaking we recommend Buhoma for easier-going gorilla treks and Nkuringo for longer and more challenging treks. Rushaga has the most permits while Ruhija is good for birdwatching although you will probably need to do a separate (quieter) guided birdwatching hike after your gorilla trek.
Having the above in mind, you must therefore ensure that your accommodation is not too far from your chosen trekking area and should make it possible for you to be at the relevant entrance for the 7:00am briefing. At Engabi Tours and Travel, we will make the best match for your interests, budget and fitness capacity.
Use Local Tour Operators
There are many locally-based operators as well as international travel companies often with stark price differences between the two. International travel companies often subcontract local operators to run their ground operations so you may wonder why you are paying a premium to a middleman. Local operators can be good on pre-trip communication and can offer higher-end lodges when you request for them as Itineraries and quotes are structured based on your preferences. In addition to the above, a good local tour operator will have a stronger grounding in the local community and customs and can generally get you out of the international tourism bubble. And the biggest factor for us is that much more of your money will stay in the local economy instead of being syphoned off abroad. If you book your Gorilla Tour with a local tour operator, always check independent reviews(TripAdvisor) and ensure they are registered with the Uganda Tourism Board and are members of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators. Always Pay by credit card for financial protection.
Gorilla Trekking rules & Guidelines
Tourists are only allowed to visit and interact with habituated mountain gorilla families. Habituation is a gradual process through which the gorillas get used to the presence of humans. This allows people to visit the gorillas without affecting their daily lives or natural behavior. Although the gorillas are habituated, the Uganda Wildlife Authority enforce strict rules governing how tourists can interact with the animals. The following are for the safety and wellbeing of the gorillas and tourists and are considered non-negotiable:
- Your group is allowed a maximum of one hour with the gorillas.
- Visitors must be over the age of 15.
- The maximum group size for tracking the gorillas is eight people (plus rangers and porters).
- Hiking in thick forest at an altitude of over 2,000 meters (6,560 ft) can be tough. It is often wet. Visitors must be fit and in good health.
- You should not visit the gorillas if you have Covid-19, diarrhea, flu or a cold. Gorillas have no immunity to most human diseases and even mild human infections can be lethal to a gorilla. The Covid-19 pandemic made us even more aware of the risk we pose to them. You are obliged to inform the authorities if you are sick and they will decide if you are well enough to visit the gorillas. Remember that the lives of the endangered gorillas are more important than your holiday.
- If you need to sneeze or cough, cover your nose and mouth to reduce the chance of spreading infection.
- Don’t spit or leave litter in the forest. Gorillas can catch diseases from human rubbish.
- Always leave a distance of ten meters between you and the gorillas. If the gorillas start moving towards you, the rangers may advise you to move away from them.
- Gorillas can be quite curious. Do not touch the gorillas, even if they come close to you.
- Do not make any sudden movements.
- If a gorilla charges, do not run away. Avoid direct eye contact until the gorilla has moved away. Stay calm and slowly crouch down.
- Stay in your group. Do not crowd or surround the gorillas.
- If you need to go to the toilet in the forest, tell your guide and he will dig a hole for you. Cover the hole afterwards to prevent spreading disease to the gorillas.
- Flash photography is strictly forbidden.
Follow these simple, common-sense rules and your gorilla trek will be a positive one—for the gorillas as well as yourself!
Gorilla trekking FAQs-what you need to know for this once-in-a-lifetime encounter
How much does a trekking permit cost?
Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda cost US $800 per person per day (this is non-refundable). Only 8 permits per Gorilla family are issued each day and for this reason it’s a good idea to acquire yours ahead of time at least a year in advance to make sure this part of your trip is secured. The cost of your permit goes towards sustainable conservation initiatives whose goal it is to preserve and protect mountain gorillas, conserve the precious natural landscapes and support the development of communities living around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Recommended to Read: How to Book Bwindi Gorilla Permits
What will the day itself hold?
On the morning of your trek you will be woken at 6:20am of a light continental breakfast and a cup of freshly brewed Ugandan coffee. By 6:45am you will depart for the trekking headquarters at Bwindi National Park . On arrival, you will have time to enjoy a cup of coffee while your Driver Guide secures your spots with specific gorilla families (selecting the most suitable family depending on the group’s requirements – there are however no guarantees). You will then join their group and Bwindi National Park Guide for a detailed briefing. At 8am, you will depart to the various trailheads depending on the gorilla family each group has been allocated. At the start of the trailhead, guests will be allocated a porter on request to assist with carrying bags and navigating challenging terrain (this is recommended). Cash is required to pay the porters (the minimum amount is US $20).
How long will we trek for?
The time that it takes to reach the gorilla family varies and can take anything from 30 minutes to 3-4 hours. Once you’ve located the gorilla family you’re seeking, you will have one hour to sit and observe these magnificent animals. Trackers will be on hand to assist and guide your interactions (these trackers also head up into the jungle ahead of guests to locate the respective families). Once the time has elapsed, you will meet your porter again, enjoy lunch and have some time to take in the experience and then make your way back down.
Your arrival time back at the lodge could be anywhere between 12pm and 5pm. On arrival, you will be welcomed with refreshments and will then be able to spend the remainder of the day at leisure whether that’s reflecting in your room with a view of the jungle in the distance. As the timing is unpredictable and the experience best enjoyed unhurried, we recommend you don’t book a trek on your day of departure.
Is gorilla trekking hard?
This is the first question most people ask us. It’s hard to answer because it depends on where you go, the weather and how long it takes to find the gorillas all of which can vary from one day to the next. In our experience, however moderately fit people under the age of 60 are unlikely to find it particularly tough, Older and less fit travelers may find it more challenging even so the odds of locating gorillas is better than 99% and your exhaustion is sure to dissipate when this happens.
Is gorilla trekking worth the money?
If you do a search for this question you will find hundreds of pages mostly from companies selling gorilla treks saying yes it’s definitely worth the money but to us the answer entirely depends on how passionate you are about wildlife encounters and hiking. To get maximum value from the experience, make sure you are prepared. Be as fit as possible, wear the right gear, rest well and don’t try to pack too many activities into your itinerary. These are both fascinating countries with much more than ‘just’ gorilla tracking; slow down and round out your experience by getting to know the rest of the country.
Is there an age limit?
The minimum age to visit gorillas in both countries is 15. You will need to provide your passport when you book your permits and park authorities will use your passport to verify your birthday matches the date given on your gorilla tracking permit.
Is gorilla trekking safe?
Despite their size and unfair reputation, gorillas are not remotely dangerous provided they’re treated with appropriate respect. All gorilla treks are accompanied by expert ranger guides who spend most of their time with the mountain gorillas. You are only allowed to visit gorilla groups who have been habituated to the presence of humans, meaning they are used to having people near them and understand that you’re not a threat.
Gorillas are normally shy and reserved, spending the majority of their time feeding and looking after their young. However, they—like any wild animal—can exhibit defensive behavior if they feel uneasy, particularly around their young. Your guide will recognize the signs; they may include ‘mock charging’, aggressive beating of their chests and grunting. Always follow your guide’s lead, but if faced with an aggressive gorilla, crouch down, look away and try to act relaxed. Your guide will advise you further during the pre-trek briefing.
How close can I get to the mountain gorillas?
Regulations state that you must stay 10 meters from the gorillas at all times and only spend one hour with them. In practice, inquisitive gorillas may come closer to you on your trek. If they do, stay calm and quiet, follow your guide’s advice and never touch the gorillas. Keep your voice low and avoid eye contact. The gorillas will normally be more relaxed the further back you are. Your guide may ask your group to move to a different location to calm the gorillas or to get a better view.
What should I pack for a gorilla trek?
Your day of gorilla tracking will be long, active and may be fairly arduous. You will be hiking in thick forest in a changeable climate. Evenings can be cold with cool mornings and hot days especially when you’re clambering up a muddy mountainside. Having the right gear makes all the difference:
A small backpack to carry water, packed lunch and rain jacket.
Walking boots or hiking shoes. Boots are ideal for the extra ankle support on rocky and muddy terrain. Another option (that is particularly popular with locals) is plastic gumboots. Not only do they keep your feet dry, but they keep insects—particular ants—at bay.
Long socks will allow you to tuck in your hiking trousers and protect your ankles from scratches and biting insects. Higher-end lodges may loan gaiters to guests.
Lightweight waterproof jacket.
Hiking pants or waterproof trousers (handy when sliding down muddy slopes!) Do not wear jeans or shorts: hiking in wet jeans can be miserable and shorts will leave you exposed to hungry insects and scratches from thorns.
A long-sleeved shirt offers much needed protection from the sun and insects.
A fleece or light-wool sweater for cold mornings.
Cheap gardening gloves will protect your hands but aren’t essential.
Sunglasses, sunscreen and sunhat.
Camera (and associated paraphernalia). Although some people take binoculars, you aren’t very likely to use them. You will spend most of your time in the forest where trees will obscure most things.
Many visitors—regardless of age or fitness—find walking poles useful and many upmarket lodges provide wooden poles. In VNP your guide can cut you a custom-made pole from bamboo!
At least one liter of drinking water and your packed lunch.
A basic first aid kit may come in handy: antiseptic wipes, antihistamine cream, insect repellent, plasters, painkillers, and rehydration sachets.
What is the best Time to Visit Gorillas in Uganda
While you can trek mountain gorillas in Uganda throughout the whole year, drier months of June, July, August, early September and from December up to February are the most preferred. There is no guarantee that it won’t rain as Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a tropical rain forest and its climate is influenced by micro conditions of the area.
What is Included in a Gorilla Permit?
A gorilla permit allows you one hour with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Inclusive in the permit cost are park entry fees and ranger services.
Are there Discounted Gorilla Permits in Uganda ?
Most clients ask whether it’s true that Uganda abolished low season discounted gorilla permits in 2017. Yes it’s true Uganda abolished discounted gorilla permits.
Can I trek Uganda Gorillas via Kigali ?
Yes, You can trek Uganda gorillas through Rwanda by flying into Kigali International airport. This will enable you to reduce the drive time to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to 4-5 hours compared to if one is flying into Entebbe International Airport where the drive time is 8-9 and sometimes 10 hours from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The above coupled with the introduction of the East African tourist visa, one can now visit both Uganda and Rwanda smoothly. East African tourist visa costs USD100 and allows you to visit two east African countries of Uganda and Rwanda. Remember also that you can now apply for Rwanda Visa upon arrival.
How many people per gorilla family?
Only a maximum of 8 people are allowed to trek or visit a given gorilla family in Bwindi and Mgahinga National ParkS. Bwindi has about 14 habituated gorilla families and thus each family is allowed only 8 people per day per hour. Sometimes park management is forced to have more than 8 people depending on circumstances on ground. If such happens, the park authorities will explain. When it comes to gorilla habituation, its only 4 people that are allowed to spend four hours with mountain gorillas under habituation.
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