What is gorilla trekking?

Gorilla trekking is a tourist activity in which travelers hike through the thick tropical rainforests of Bwindi forest national park, Volcanoes, Mgahinga and or Virunga national parks in search of the endangered mountain gorillas.  There are only three countries in Africa where you can go mountain gorilla trekking that is Uganda, Rwanda and the democratic republic of Congo. In order to go gorilla trekking, a gorilla permit is required, which should be secured in advance. Gorilla trekking starts early in the morning with briefing by the ranger guides about the Gorilla trekking rules, after which you grouped into trekking parties of 8 and assigned a specific mountain gorilla family to trek. You then head into the thick forests guided by the parks ranger guides, following the mountain gorilla family based on its last known location or where the gorilla group spent the night. The gorilla trek lasts from 30 minutes to 3 quarters of the day, and you should therefore be ready for any experience. After you finally meet your mountain gorilla family, you will be allowed a maximum of 1 hour with the Gorillas, in which you will take photos, observe the mountain gorillas and also ask the ranger guides any question about the gorillas. Gorilla trekking has been described by some travelers as “a once in a lifetime experience” and it should be on your bucket list of things to do in Africa. 

When is the best time of the year to trek the Mountain Gorillas?

Many times travelers ask the question “when is the best time for Gorilla trekking?”  The Mountain Gorillas can be trekked all year round in Rwanda or Uganda however given the cost of the Gorilla trekking permit (Rwanda $1500, Uganda $600) everyone would want to travel during the time of the year where they can get the best value for money and best gorilla trekking experience. It is therefore important to note that the drier months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February are the best for gorilla trekking.  During this period the trek is very enjoyable as it’s very easy to navigate through the dense forests of the Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and the volcanoes national park, the forests are not dump and wet, there is less mist, and it is not very cold. However it is also good to note that since these are tropical rain forests, once in a while even in these dry months, there can be little rain.

On the other hand, if you are looking to travel in months where there are discount, Rwanda offers their gorilla trekking permits at $1050 for low season months. As for Uganda, note that the low season discounts where scrapped off recently. Read more about the best time to trek gorillas

How much is the gorilla trekking permit in Uganda or Rwanda?

In order to see the mountain gorillas, you are required to secure the gorilla trekking permit. The tour operator usually secures for you this trekking permit after you book your trip, and is also able to tell you availability of the gorilla trekking permits before you book the trip for your intended travel dates.

The Uganda Gorilla trekking permit costs $600 for foreign nonresidents, $500 for foreign residents, and 250,000 shillings for East African citizens.  The Rwanda Gorilla trekking permit on the other hand costs $1500, and is available for a discounted fee of $1050 for low season months, and also if you visit several parks in Rwanda.

Each country has an issuing body, in Uganda it is the Uganda wildlife Authority (UWA) that issues the gorilla trekking permit, while in Rwanda it is the Rwanda Development board. The Gorilla permits in Uganda allow you trek the gorillas in Bwindi Forest national park or Mghahinga gorilla national park while for Rwanda allows you trek the gorillas in volcanoes national park. Note that the gorilla trekking permit is valid for the booked date only.

When should I book my gorilla trekking permit / tour?

If you intend to visit the gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda or Congo, it’s important to book your gorilla trekking tour or gorilla trekking permit at least 3 months prior to the gorilla trekking date. This is because of the demand for gorilla trekking permits especially in the high season months.  If you therefore don’t book your Gorilla trekking tour on time, it’s common for you to find the permits for your desired gorilla trekking dates unavailable.  However note, if you find yourself in a position where you have to book a last minute trek, do not hesitate to contact us, we usually have some reserve permits and also you can be lucky to find permits for your desired travel dates still available. Find out more about booking gorilla trekking permits

 About Bwindi national park, Location and tracking sectors

The Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is home to half of the world’s mountain gorilla population, making it a great destination for your gorilla trekking tour.  Located in south western Uganda, the Bwindi national park is sub divided into for sectors, each having several habituated gorilla families available for you to trek. The for sectors of Bwindi are, Buhoma sector located in the north of the park (also the first sector to be opened for gorilla trekking), the Ruhija setor in the east, the Rushaga sector in the south, and the Nkuringo sector also in the south.  The choice of sector to track the gorillas in Bwindi is determined by several factors including availability of the gorilla trekking permits, choice of lodge, desired gorilla trekking experience etc.

What is included in a Gorilla Permit?

The gorilla permit allows you trek the mountain gorillas in the Bwindi forest national park or Mgahinga gorilla park or volcanoes national park. The trek in search of the mountain gorillas lasts from 1 to 8 hours depending on several factors including but not limited to location of the trek, altitude of the sector, physical ability of the trekkers, movement of the mountain gorillas etc. However upon meeting the mountain gorillas, the gorilla trekking permit allows you spend a maximum of 1 hour with the mountain gorillas.  It is also important to note, that part of the gorilla trekking permit fee is used to do gorilla conservation work, park is used to build infrastructure around the parks, and a portion is used to develop the local communities. Therefore when booking your gorilla tour, you are directly participating in the conservation of these endangered species!

What age is allowed to trek the mountain gorillas?

The lower age limit for gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda is 15 years. However under exceptional circumstances, we can secure for your child the gorilla trekking permit if their physical appearance can pass for fit, even if they are below the permitted age for gorilla trekking.

There is no upper age limit for gorilla trekking, and it’s important to note that we at Adventure in the wild safaris can arrange for you to trek the shortest/ easiest trekking group lasting between 30 minutes to 1 hour of trek, before seeing the mountain gorillas for 1 hour.  Therefore don’t worry about not being able to track the mountain gorillas, contact us and basing on the details you give us, we shall plan the best gorilla trekking trip for you!

How long is a gorilla trek in Uganda or Rwanda?

The trek in the thick tropical rain forest of Bwindi, Mgahinga and volcanoes national park in search for the mountain gorillas can last from 30 minutes up to 8 hours! The length of the gorilla trek depends on several factors including but not limited to the movement of the mountain gorillas, physical abilities of the trekkers, the altitude and location of the trekking sector, the last known location of the specific mountain gorilla group being tracked etc. The pace of the group is determined by the slowest member in the trekking party as no one is left behind. It is also important to note that we can help you plan the ideal gorilla trekking tour by helping you chose the best sector depending on your desired length of trek and experience.

What is the cost of a gorilla trekking tour in Uganda?

The price of a Gorilla trekking tour in Uganda is determined by three main factors – The choice of lodge, Means of transport, and the gorilla trekking permit fee.  At Adventure in the wild safaris, we offer several Gorilla trekking Packages, ranging from Budget, mid-range to Luxury.  The price of the budget gorilla safari in Uganda ranges from $490 US dollars to $550 US dollars per person sharing (without the Gorilla Permit).  Check our Gorilla trekking Uganda tour packages or contact us to help customize your gorilla safari.

What to pack for your gorilla trekking tour?

Many times clients ask us “what should I pack for the gorilla trek?” The answer is simple, you need everything that can make your gorilla trekking experience enjoyable and therefore your packing list should include: Trousers, long sleeved shirts and or blouses, thick and long socks which you can tack in your trousers, hiking boots, insect repellants, a hat if available, sun glasses if available, garden gloves if available, and you may carry some energy giving foods (but note that you should not eat when with the mountain gorillas)

What are the chances of seeing the mountain gorillas during the gorilla trek?

Many times tourists ask about the chances of seeing the mountain gorillas during their gorilla trekking tour.  It should be noted there is about 99% chance of seeing the mountain gorillas during your gorilla trek in Uganda or Rwanda. This is because the habituated gorilla families are closely monitored, and the ranger guides are always in the know of the whereabouts of each gorilla family. Therefore even before you go out for the gorilla trek in the morning, the ranger guides always track the gorillas beforehand and you track them based on their last known location and or movement.  Please contact us at Adventure in the wild safaris if you are interested in finding out more information about the chances of seeing the gorillas.