An Independent Travel Guide to mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the best place to see mountain gorillas up close in the wild.
Perfect and less marketed, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of the most affordable destinations where travelers can meet the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Tracking gorillas in the impenetrable Bwindi forest is one of the lifetime adventures that will never fade from your memory. The activity involves a hike through the lush rain forest that is characterized with different tree species and interesting fauna, an amazing experience full of life time memories. You can easily get a gorilla permit at only US$800 per day, a fee that includes park entrance fees, park rangers, and great memories in general. Food, transport and accommodation can’t cost much as long as you have the main park gate pass at hand.
The park retains much of its rich treasures through conservation and local community support so whoever tracks mountain gorillas support the community and the park mountain gorilla conservation. You may be surprised to find free coffee at the Buhoma Tourism Center, a welcome prize prepared using Uganda locally made coffee for every guest to park as a way of saying thank you for supporting mountain gorilla conservation.
Why Go Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi
This is the finest park for tracking gorillas twice at a pocket friendly price that you won’t find anywhere in the region. Experience rural ancient life by meeting up with the gorillas twice in a unique gorilla habitat -Bwindi Forest and later mix with locals for updates on Uganda traditions and culture. The amazing adventure offers opportunities to be with mountain gorillas for one hour of photography and observation a thing every primate tourist will love. Besides Bwindi impenetrable forest is a home to one of the richest ecosystems in Africa and one of the most populated gorilla destinations for mountain gorillas.
Go Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Mountain gorillas are the major draw to Uganda’s tourism. Meeting these great apes in their natural wild is an experience that is of a lifetime. Within the Bwindi Forest, gorilla trekking is conducted in four sectors; Buhoma and Ruhija in the north as well as Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south. This adventure activity is done all year round and gorilla permits are prebooked well in advance. The activity is conducted along ecotourism guidelines and tourists are given up one hour to watch the great apes.
Some of the important gorilla trekking guidelines that you need to know are;
- Tourists must maintain a distance of 7 meters from the mountain gorillas. Though at times, the apes can get very close to you, it is important to take advice of the rangers on duty on how you should behave whilst gorilla trekking.
- During the gorilla trekking session, it is important to keep in your small group and endeavor to maintain your voices low.
Where to Go Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is an exceptional destination with a checklist of up to 120 species of mammals. Bwindi features four main well-established visitor centers where briefing for gorilla watching and allocation of park ranger guides is done by the park official. The four main sectors/regions/information centers in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include Ruhija, Buhoma sector, Rushaga, and Nkuringo region.
These four tourism information centers in Bwindi National Park are found in the different parts of the park. Visitors on gorilla trekking safaris must choose their tourism/gorilla trekking center right from the initial stages of booking gorilla permits. The region/center you choose to spend your Uganda holiday in Bwindi should be guided by what you intend to do or gorilla families you want to track. Here is a detailed guide to each of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park tourism information centres (sectors/regions/areas).
Buhoma Sector
Buhoma sector is located in the Northern end of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is known for gorilla trekking and visitors can explore gorilla families such as Rushegura, Mubare, Habinyanja, and Katwe gorilla family.
Visitors with plans to start their activities at Buhoma can consider booking the lodges that are close to the starting point of the gorilla trek. Popular Buhoma lodges include Engagi Lodge, Silverback Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, and Volcanoes Safari Bwindi Lodge.
Ruhija Sector
The Ruhija tourism information centre is located in the Eastern side of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Visitors with plans to explore different gorilla families/groups in the Eastern section of Bwindi assemble at Ruhija trailhead to begin their day with briefing.
Rushaga Sector
In the far Southern edge, there is Rushaga sector, a region with highest gorilla groups already habituated and open to trekkers. Rushaga is one of the tourism information centers located in the southern end of Bwindi National Park. Unlike other gorilla sectors/regions, Rushaga features the highest number of already habituated gorilla families for tourists to track.
Nkuringo Sector
Nkuringo region is another popular gorilla trekking area in the Southern end of Bwindi National Park. Like other tourism information centres, Nkuringo is an ideal location for tourists to kick-start their gorilla trekking adventures in Bwindi.
Visitors can book lodges/accommodation choices in and around Nkuringo for overnight stay. They include Nkuringo Gorilla Campsite, Nkuringo Gorilla Camp, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, and others.
All About Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Gorilla trekking is undoubtedly the highlight of any visit to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. It combines adventure, wildlife observation, and the thrill of encountering one of the world’s most endangered species in its natural habitat. However, this activity requires preparation and a clear understanding of what to expect.
Gorilla trekking is a unique, thrilling and fulfilling experience! It is a journey leading one to appreciate the hidden treasures of Uganda. There are over 40 gorilla families within Bwindi Forest but only 25 families have been habituated for gorilla tourism. The remaining gorilla families are still wild though some are still undergoing the gorilla habituation process. Visiting one or more habituated gorilla groups in Bwindi National Park is worth as each of them tells different stories. At the end you will be rewarded with unforgettable experience of a lifetime that will never fade out of your memory. The habituated gorillas are now used to humans but they are still wild. So anything unexpected can happen! Always follow the guide’s rules so that you can rest assured of safety. Normally you do not have to eat or drink when you’re with the mountain gorillas.
Visit Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and experience gorilla trekking in the world’s largest colony of mountain gorillas. Meet the gorillas eye to eye in the wild and spend a full hour watching, photographing and learning about these great apes that are only found in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Gorilla Trekking Experience
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi can be physically demanding but immensely rewarding. Treks typically begin early in the morning, with visitors gathering at park headquarters for a briefing led by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. The rangers provide essential information on safety, gorilla behaviour, and what to expect during the trek. Visitors are divided into small groups, each assigned to track one of Bwindi’s habituated gorilla families.
The duration of the trek can vary significantly, lasting anywhere from 2 to 8 hours, depending on the location of the gorillas. The terrain in Bwindi is rugged, with steep slopes, dense vegetation, and uneven forest floors, making the hike challenging, especially after rainfall. However, the journey through the forest is part of the adventure, offering chances to spot other wildlife, birds, and scenic views.
When you finally reach the gorilla family, the reward is beyond words. Rangers will help guide your interactions, ensuring you maintain a respectful distance (typically 7 meters) from the gorillas. The encounter lasts about one hour, during which you can observe these incredible animals as they go about their day—feeding, grooming, and playing. The sheer proximity to these gentle giants, the deep connection they share with their family groups, and the chance to witness their behaviour up close are transformative experiences for many visitors.
The D-Day for Gorilla Trekking
The D-Day for gorilla trekking in Uganda starts very early in the morning. You need to have breakfast by at least 7AM and get a transfer to the briefing point. Briefing is done at tourism centres within the four sectors where gorilla trekking is done. Bwindi Park officials will give you guidelines and instructions on dos and don’ts while tracking the mountain gorillas.
Tips for Trekkers / Hikers
- Carry enough bottled mineral water to keep yourself hydrated. Other carryovers in your backpack should be sun screen and insect repellent.
- You need to put on the right clothing. Long pants are advised. Some hikers also come with socking for both legs and hands.
- Upon meeting the great apes, you need to keep calm!
- During the trek, you can ask the ranger guides questions about these great apes and how they survive in the wild.
After the gorilla trek return to the lodge for a relaxing evening! If you still have some energy there are lots of other activities that you can engage in. Bwindi provides other perfect activities eligible to adventurous travelers like the community walk which leads you to the local healer, the popular Batwa Cultural Experience, local villagers making banana wine, craft shops or take the Nkuringo walk or visit the Manyanga River falls.
Therefore we recommend our visitors to stay more days longer and do the gorilla tracking, nature walks or community walk which are much fun and educational conservation criteria, through benefit sharing hence protecting the habitats of mountain gorilla.
Plan & Book Your Gorilla Trek
For a traveler to enjoy this adventure, there are three important factors (accommodation, booking agent and guide services) that should be in your minds. While planning your gorilla safari to any of the gorilla parks, it is advisable to plan in time given that the gorilla permits are always prebooked in time. For Bwindi and Volcanoes Park, it is advisable to book gorilla permits at least 3 months to your tracking date most especially if you are looking to take your trip during the peak months of June – September.
Most gorilla tours offered by tour operators are tailor made safaris guided by professional guides within spacious trucks. For independent travelers it is advisable to arrange for your accommodation through a local travel agency. There are several safari lodges within the perfect locations that offer travelers overnight accommodation. These lodges are found in strategic sectors near the different habituated gorilla groups to trek the gorillas.
Permits and Regulations
To manage the number of visitors and ensure the safety of the gorillas, gorilla trekking permits are required for each visitor. The Uganda Wildlife Authority issues these permits, which must be secured well in advance, especially during peak seasons when demand is high. Each permit allows for one hour of interaction with a specific gorilla family, and the funds from these permits contribute directly to the conservation of the gorillas and their habitat.
As of 2024, a gorilla trekking permit for international travelers costs US$800 per person. For residents of East Africa, the gorilla permit costs US$700, East African Nationals at UGX300000 and the Rest of African Nationals at US$500. These fees may seem high, but they are critical in funding conservation efforts and supporting the livelihoods of communities living near the park.
What are the Best Months to Go Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi forest
To enjoy cheap budget gorilla trekking tours, book your trip in the months of April, May and November when Uganda gorilla permit prices are lower than the usual $600.Save $300 on the two gorilla permits that can cater for transport, meals and accommodation on your gorilla trek. You can also use the same cash to engage in other park tourists activities like a community tour to the Batwa people known as people of the forest, nature walk to the park or even support the Bwindi community charity projects for children, women, community Education, health at Bwindi hospital and many others.
After tracking mountain gorillas in the jungle, you free to explore other nearby attractions like Lake Bunyonyi Island, Queen Elizabeth national park and also add memories on your primate safari. Booking a gorilla safari featuring two treks is just like any other tour holiday though in this case you buy two gorilla permits instead of one. Usually tour agents ask for trip deposit just enough to clear your permits and the rest is paid upon arrival but in this case you make a deposit that covers two gorilla permits for your trek.
Gorilla Tracking is Done in Habituated Gorilla Families
Since Bwindi Forest has multiple gorilla trekking families and sectors, tracking gorillas twice depends on ones interest since all gorilla families and sectors are open for trackers each day. One can chose to track different gorilla families in different park sectors or different gorilla families in the same park sector. Each gorilla family is unique with several attractive features including multiples members, baby gorillas and slow forest movement. However, tourists make different choices of different gorilla families according to their favorite interest. Some tourists love trekking for long distances while others love the opposite, some love seeing many baby gorillas and their mother and experience the true family behaviors of primates in the jungle unlike others. Early booking for both permits provide greater opportunities for one to book their favorite gorilla families. Spare two days for the two treks since each starts in the morning with a briefing from park rangers and ends at any time that ranges between 2- 6 hours. However, you can check out some other mountain gorilla destinations in Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Frequently Asked Questions on Gorilla Trekking
What physical fitness level is required for gorilla trekking?
All visitors intending to come for this lifetime experience, you need to ensure that you are physically well. The trek involves hiking through the thick forests and steep terrains or even the muddy slopes. The treks to see a group of mountain gorillas are usually at the higher altitude. Mountain gorillas live within altitude 3000 to 4300 meters above sea level.
Are visitors guaranteed to see mountain gorillas while in the park?
Mountain gorilla trekking is conducted within the natural environment and not in the zoo. This means that you do not have 100 percent chances of viewing them but at least you get 95 percent chances. To enhance the process, trackers are sent to the forest to ascertain the location of mountain gorillas before the next group of visitors are set off for their trek. They are aided by use of radio and GPS coordinates. Even on a single day gorilla trek, the chances to see the mountain gorillas are over 98% in any of the four gorilla parks.
How long will I take to be with a group mountain gorilla?
Magical encounters with a group of mountain gorillas is only one hour but for habituation experience visitors have all the four hours to be with gorillas. The one hour magical hour allows you to explore more about the apes as well as take as many photos as possible.
How close do I need to be from the gorillas?
While you are in the forest with the group of gorillas, you are advised to keep a distance of about 8 meters from the gorillas. The rule applies to all visitors to any gorilla destination. The mountain gorillas share about 98.7% of their DNA with humans and they are very susceptible to human infectious diseases. To avoid body contact and spread of human diseases to these endangered creatures, a distance of eight meters should be observed.
How best can I visit gorillas?
To track mountain gorillas in Africa, you have only 3 options and these include Uganda, Rwanda and the DR Congo. To take part on this adventure you have to be physically fit as the hike takes you through thick rain forest and steep slopes. The best way for you to explore these rare creatures is by booking your trip with a recognized tour operator.
How long does the trek last?
The treks to see mountain gorillas involves you getting up early enough then join others at the park headquarters for briefing. This adventure may take you about 2 to 8 hours depending on your hiking speed, nature of gorilla habitat and location of gorillas.
How are gorilla trekking permits?
The cost of permits differ from country to country. In Uganda, you can obtain a permit at $600, in Rwanda at $1500 per person while in DR Congo at $400. The revenue that is collected from gorilla permits is used to aid a number of conservation works.
What are the major threats to mountain gorillas?
There are many threats that have affected the lives of mountain gorillas. They include poaching, habitat loss, spread of human infectious diseases and others. These creatures have a very low reproductive rate compared to any kind of creatures.
Do I need a porter for my gorilla trek?
Hiring a porter isn’t a bad thing but depending on how much luggage you have, a porter service may be of use. He will help carry heavy baggage especially camera equipment, rain gear, snacks, bottled water and others. You will then simply concentrate on your adventure with less weight. You can hire one at $10 to $15 and usually found at the park headquarters!
Do I need to be fit for gorilla trek?
Gorilla trekking is a strenuous primate adventure that demands some physical wellness in you. Therefore, you have to be prepared not only gear wise but also physically fit to hike through the steep slopes and dense vegetation in search of these amazing creatures. Note that mountain gorillas live at altitude of about 2200 to 3000 meters and hiking through the jungles of Africa to see them may take you about 2 to 8 hours.
Is it a guarantee that you will see mountain gorillas?
The fact that these are wild creatures, they are never in the same point and so, they move from one place to another. This means that, it is not a hundred percent that you can see them but your permit gives you 98 percent chance.