Is gorilla trekking safe in Uganda?

Yes. Trekking is extremely safe thanks to armed rangers, strict conservation rules and professional guides. The Uganda Wildlife Authority ensures full security across every trekking region.

Is gorilla trekking difficult?

It's moderately challenging. Trails can be steep, muddy and thickly vegetated, and treks last two to six hours depending on the gorillas' movements. Porters are available and highly recommended.

What is the best time for gorilla trekking?

June to September and December to February are best — drier weather makes for easier trekking and better photography, though gorillas are tracked year-round.

How close can I get to the gorillas?

You view the gorillas from seven metres, though they may approach you of their own accord — in which case you stay calm and follow your ranger's instructions.

What is included in a gorilla permit?

A permit covers one gorilla trek, park entry, ranger guides, conservation fees and security. Transport, meals and accommodation are arranged separately — we bundle them into your package.

How early should I book a permit?

Three to six months in advance, especially for the June–September peak. Daily allocations are limited and permits sell out fast.

Bwindi or Mgahinga — which is better?

Bwindi has more gorilla families and far better permit availability; Mgahinga offers beautiful scenery and fewer crowds. Both deliver excellent sightings — we'll advise based on your dates.

How long do I spend with the gorillas?

One full, strictly protected hour with a habituated family once you've located them — both far too short and, somehow, completely sufficient.

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Mountain gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda

Uganda gorilla
trekking.

A face-to-face hour with a wild mountain gorilla in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga — one of Africa's most powerful wildlife encounters.

50%+

World's mountain gorillas

98%

Sighting success rate

$800

Permit · vs $1,500 Rwanda

Why Uganda is the best place to trek

More gorillas, more access, better value.

Uganda holds more habituated gorilla families than Rwanda or the DR Congo, spread across several trekking regions — which means better permit availability and an experience that feels wild rather than crowded.

i
Over half the world's mountain gorillas · live in Uganda's forests
ii
Four Bwindi trekking sectors · Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo — plus Mgahinga
iii
A 98% sighting success rate · across varied, gorilla-rich environments
iv
Permits cost $800 · against roughly $1,500 in neighbouring Rwanda
v
Flexible itineraries · from Entebbe or Kigali — ideal for short 2–3 day treks

Gorilla trekking regions

Where you'll trek.

Two national parks in Uganda's far south-west protect the mountain gorillas — one vast and famous, one small and scenic. We secure permits in whichever suits your trip.

01 · Bwindi

19+ habituated families · 4 sectors

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The heart of Uganda gorilla trekking — a dense, ancient rainforest holding more than nineteen habituated families across four trekking sectors. The name is not marketing: the terrain is steep and tangled, and the reward is an hour you will never forget.

Northern sectors

Buhoma — the original, most established sector
Ruhija — high-altitude, fewer crowds

Southern sectors

Rushaga — the most gorilla families
Nkuringo — dramatic, demanding descents

Best forChoice & permit availability

The Nyakagezi family · Golden monkeys

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Smaller and strikingly scenic, set against the Virunga volcanoes. Mgahinga is home to the single habituated Nyakagezi family and far fewer visitors — and it pairs gorilla trekking with golden monkey tracking and volcano hikes.

›The habituated Nyakagezi gorilla family
›Golden monkey trekking
›Dramatic Virunga volcano backdrop
›Quiet trails and few other groups

Best forScenery & solitude

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park with Virunga volcanoes

02 · Mgahinga

What happens on a trek

A morning in the forest.

Every trek follows the same rhythm — an early briefing, a walk of anywhere from one to five hours, and a single, strictly protected hour with the family once you find them.

Step 01

7:00 AM

Briefing

Rangers explain the trekking rules and assign you to a gorilla family at the park headquarters.

Step 02

8:00 AM

Start trek

You set off into the rainforest with guides and trackers who are already locating the family.

Step 03

1–5 hrs

The search

Trekking time depends on where the gorillas have moved — terrain includes hills, dense growth and streams.

Step 04

One hour

With the gorillas

Observe them feeding, nesting, playing and grooming — exactly sixty protected minutes, no chasing.

Step 05

Certificate

Awarded at the end

You return with a trekking certificate — and one of the most emotional wildlife experiences of your life.

Gorilla trekking permits

The permit,
explained.

A permit is required for every trek and the daily allocation is strictly limited — so book three to six months ahead, especially for the June–September peak. We secure them for you.

Foreign non-residents
The standard permit
$800
Foreign residents
Holders of a valid permit
$700
East African citizens
EAC nationals
UGX 300k

✓ Gorilla tracking✓ Ranger guides✓ Park entry✓ Conservation fees✓ Security

Have us secure your permit →

Booked 3–6 months ahead

Fitness, difficulty & tips

What to expect
& pack.

Trekking is moderately challenging — reasonable fitness helps, and porters are available and worth every shilling. Here's the honest measure of it, and what to carry.

DifficultyModerate

TerrainHills, forest & rivers

Distance2–7 km

Trekking time2–6 hours

Viewing distance7 metres

Time with gorillasOne full hour

What to carry

Hiking bootsLong trousersLong-sleeved shirtRain jacketGardening glovesGaiters (optional)Reusable water bottleEnergy snacksHat & sunscreenCamera — no flash

Best time to trek

June – September · dryDecember – February · dry

Where to stay

Lodges for every budget.

From community cottages at the forest edge to some of the most celebrated lodges in East Africa — we match your trek to your preferred level of comfort.

Budget

$250–$350

per person · per day

›Rushaga Haven Lodge
›Buhoma Community Cottages
›Simple, warm and well-placed for the trailhead

Mid-range

$350–$600

per person · per day

›Bakiga Lodge
›Gorilla Mist Camp
›Comfortable rooms, good food, forest views

Luxury

$700–$1,500

per person · per day

›Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
›Buhoma Lodge · Volcanoes Safaris
›Exclusive lodges, private decks, fireside dinners

Best Uganda gorilla trekking tours

Gorilla itineraries.

Tailor-made trips built around your permit — combine gorillas with chimps, golden monkeys, a Big-game park or the scenic calm of Lake Bunyonyi.

Gorilla★ 5.0