Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and Rwanda

Imagine yourself in a rare moment, crouched on the forest floor, respectfully avoiding eye contact while observing some of the last remaining eastern and mountain gorillas up close.

These majestic creatures are found only in three countries – Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo – and live in four national parks, including Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Volcanoes National Park, and Virunga National Park. Our gorilla trekking tours offer an exclusive opportunity, a privilege, to witness them in their natural habitat, often in tropical or subtropical forests.

Gorillas live in family groups led by a dominant silverback male and are majestic, highly intelligent, and social creatures. They communicate through a repertoire of up to 25 distinct sounds. They share strong family bonds and are known to create and use tools. It’s fascinating to see them building nests on the ground or in trees using branches and leaves, which they use both during the day and at night. Sadly, they are critically endangered, according to the IUCN Red List. 

A gorilla family divides its day between rest periods and travelling or feeding, covering a small home range on any given day. Tracking them is, therefore, reasonably manageable. Join us on gorilla trekking adventures of a lifetime. Let them leave an indelible mark on your conscience, inspiring a deeper connection with nature and a renewed commitment to conservation. This experience is not just a journey but a soul-stirring connection with these magnificent creatures and the natural world. 

Where To Go Gorilla Trekking

1. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

Uganda is arguably the best destination for a gorilla trekking adventure, home to more than half the world’s population of mountain gorillas. The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the southwest of the country covers hills and valleys and is home to 18 families of mountain gorilla which are habituated for tourist visits. Trek in small groups of up to eight people to spend an hour with these gentle giants, a once-in-a-lifetime experience that is top of most safari goers bucket lists.

2. Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Rwanda is another popular destination for an unforgettable mountain gorilla trekking adventure. You’ll join an expert guide and a small group of up to eight people to visit one of the habituated gorilla families in the Volcanoes National Park. During your permitted one-hour stop, you can observe and photograph these gentle giants in their unspoilt environment as they interact with each other, feed, play, and rest. 

3. Mgahinga National Park, Uganda

Mgahinga National Park, Uganda’s smallest national park, offers a unique adventure. The park has one habituated gorilla group which can be visited, whose home range covers Mgahinga and the neighbouring Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. The group has remained in Uganda for the past three years, making gorilla trekking from here another good option.  

When To Go Gorilla Trekking

July to October and late-December to February are the optimal dry seasons in Rwanda and Uganda. The trails are less muddy, the vegetation is sparser, and the gorillas tend to stay in the lower altitudes, making them easier to spot. The dry seasons also offer clear views and favourable photography conditions. Peak-season gorilla trekking means higher trekking permits and lodge costs.

The wet seasons, from March to May and October to November, are more challenging but possible. The trails can be more slippery and trekking more challenging as a result. However, the wet seasons have advantages, such as reduced prices and fewer crowds, while the forests are lush and green.

Good To Know

Fitness And Etiquette

Gorilla trekking is a physically demanding adventure that can take one to eight hours. You will be hiking up and down steep slopes, on muddy trails, and through thick vegetation, often at high altitudes. It is essential to start exercising at least six months before your trip to prepare for gorilla trekking, by hiking with a backpack and getting used to the shoes you plan to wear. During gorilla encounters, keep a minimum distance of 7 meters (23 feet) from gorillas, do not touch, feed, or provoke them, and avoid making eye contact, pointing, or using flash photography. (Whether you’re a beginner or a more seasoned photographer, we’ve covered some handy gorilla trekking photography tips.) Due to our close genetic relationship, gorillas are vulnerable to human diseases, and visitors with colds or infections will not be allowed. Speak softly and refrain from making sudden movements or noises. By following these guidelines, you can enjoy a memorable encounter and contribute to their conservation and protection. Remember, you are a guest in their forest.

What To Expect

After an early breakfast at your lodge, you’ll be driven to the park headquarters to meet your park ranger and the team accompanying your trek. Here, you will be provided with a briefing about the gorilla group you will be going to see and how to behave when you are with the group. You then depart, often by road but sometimes on foot, for the start of your trek. Your trek can take anywhere from a couple of hours upwards, through varying vegetation levels, often including bamboo forests, giant stinging nettle zones and some steep muddy slopes.

Once your group finds the first gorilla, you are permitted to spend a maximum of one hour with the gorilla family. Sometimes they will be in small sub-groups, with sub-adults playing in a forest clearing, or lounging and feeding as a family, and sometimes they will be on the move. As with any kind of wildlife experience, this is impossible to predict, but we have never had guests report anything other than absolute delight and amazement at the experience.

The hour passes quickly and your park ranger will signal when it is time to depart. You will trek back to the starting point where your guide and vehicle will await. Return to your lodge for a well-earned hot shower and rest, before a celebratory dinner recalling the day’s incredible encounter.

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