Gorilla trekking is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that every traveler should do. Seeing these intelligent primates up close as they tend to their families and play with each other, just like us humans play with our children, is a surreal moment. It was like looking into a mirror.
There are not many wild mountain gorillas left in the world, and only in certain countries in Africa will you be able to see these animals roam freely while allowing you to observe them sustainably from afar.
Within this guide, you will find all the information you need to go gorilla trekking in Uganda, one of the most affordable places to see these wild mountain gorillas roam free. Without further ado, here's a complete travel guide to gorilla trekking in Uganda.
- Gorilla Tracking in Uganda Itinerary Map
- Where To See Gorillas in Africa?
- Gorilla Trekking Itinerary in Uganda
- Other Uganda Activities
- Uganda Travel Video
- What are Things To Know Before Going Gorilla Trekking?
- How to Get a Gorilla Trekking Permit?
- How Much Does It Cost To Go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
- Which Gorilla Trekking Tour Companies To Pick?
- How Difficult Is Gorilla Trekking?
- Is It Safe To Go Gorilla Trekking?
- When to go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
Gorilla Tracking in Uganda Itinerary Map
| ☀️ Day 1: | A Drive From Entebbe To Bwindi Impenetrable Forest |
| ☀️ Day 2: | Tracking The Gorillas |
| ☀️ Day 3: | Exploring Lake Bunyonyi |
Where To See Gorillas in Africa?
Mountain gorillas are an endangered species with only around 1,009 individuals left in the wild, most of whom are living in the forests between three East African countries: Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo.
Out of all three countries, Uganda is the cheapest place to go gorilla trekking, with the gorilla trekking permit costing around 800 USD per person, while the permits in Rwanda cost around 1,500 USD.
Congo, despite having the cheapest gorilla trekking permit costing only 400 USD per person, traveling there can be extremely expensive due to how remote it is and the ongoing conflicts, which make it more difficult and expensive to travel to.
If you are wondering in which country you want to do gorilla trekking, I highly recommend Uganda. The country has a relatively good tourist infrastructure. There are also more things to do in the country, such as Lake Bunyonyi, Murchison Falls, and many other tourist attractions that are easily accessible and provide you with a greater variety of things to do after your gorilla trekking trip.
Gorilla Trekking Itinerary in Uganda
Day 1: A Drive From Entebbe To Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Your journey to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest begins with an early morning pick up at your accommodation in Entebbe, and you will be traveling on a 9-hour journey to the western border of the country where the gorillas are.
On your way, you will be stopping at the Equator Monument where the equator line runs through. It is a great stop for a few photos and to enjoy a little interesting demonstration of the equator's magnetic field that affects how the water flows depending on which side you are on at the equator.
I know this in theory, but to see it with my own eyes was another story. They will show you how differently the water spins a floating flower in both the northern and southern hemispheres, as well as how the flower flows in the water if you stand right on the equator line. It was very interesting and definitely a great way to start a trip.
- 9-Day Customized Uganda Holiday and Tour to See Gorillas ($3,061 pp USD)
- 3-Day Safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park ($880 pp USD)
- 3-Day Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi & Community Batwa Walk ($1,430 to $1,650 pp USD)
After the equator, you will continue west to Bwindi for another 8-9 hours. It is a long drive, but the scenery you will be seeing along the way should help make the trip a little more interesting.
One of the first things I realized when I was traveling along this road was how hilly and green Uganda is. I had been traveling for more than a month in Tanzania and Kenya before arriving in Uganda, and I was expecting to see stretches of dry, flat savannas as I had seen elsewhere.
It was the complete opposite in Uganda. Wherever I looked, I saw hills upon hills, all covered in forests. It was a welcome change from all the plains I saw in Kenya and Tanzania. Now, I know why Churchill called Uganda the Pearl of Africa.
After a 9-hour ride, you should arrive at your accommodation inside Bwindi Impenetrable Forest before nightfall, and you will be able to get a glimpse of the kind of environment you will be trekking in the next day.
Where to Stay in Entebbe?
Day 2: Tracking the Gorillas
After a night in Bwindi, it's time to go gorilla trekking. First, you will be taken to the ranger headquarters where you will be welcomed by the local communities with welcome performances.
The performance was actually very entertaining for me. Some of the locals weren't as young, yet they danced more furiously than any younger people around; it was amazing.
After the performance, you will be briefed by the ranger on what to expect during the gorilla trek. He will first introduce you to the gorilla family you will be encountering today, all labeled with really cool badass names like Rukumu and Mugisha.
How do they know where the gorillas will reside? Well, they base their information on the last sighting from the previous day and estimate where they will likely reside.
They will then manage your expectations by telling you that it can take between 2 to 7 hours to trek into the forest and find the gorillas, depending on how far they travel during the night.
After that, you will be briefed on how to behave around the silverback gorillas, which are the largest primates in the world. They can attack you if you do not follow the ranger's guidelines. Usually, they are quite habituated, but it's always good to know how to behave if the gorillas approach you.
Once they are done briefing, you will be taken to the place where they last found them and start trekking into the forest to see them in person.
You will be given the opportunity to hire a porter for $15 USD per person before you begin the trek, and a bamboo trekking pole will be provided to help you navigate the trails.
The trail is, in fact, not a trail at all, as the ranger will often take you through thick bushes and bushwhack their way to create a "trail" for us to trek. It can get really muddy and slippery, so be sure to wear good shoes for gorilla trekking.
Once you find the gorilla, you will be allowed to take photos and be with them for a maximum of one hour only. Then, the ranger will be obligated to take you back so as not to overstress the mountain gorillas. That is how you do sustainable travel!
It took our group a few hours to finally track them down, and they were just off the main road, eating dry leaves. When we found them, they were trekking deeper into the forest, so we had to follow them on some very treacherous trails while keeping our distance.
They ended up stopping somewhere deep in the forest, and once we got to them, they allowed us to hang out with them while they continued eating dry leaves and taking naps.
It was a surreal experience to be able to look these primates in the eyes and see a reflection of us humans in their appearances and behaviors. Gorilla trekking is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and one that I will not forget for a long time. Despite the tour costing 1,600 USD, it was definitely worth every dime in my opinion.
After spending the first half of the day trekking to see the gorillas, you can then have time to explore the local communities in Bwindi before heading to Lake Bunyonyi and relaxing by the lake for the rest of the day.
Where to Stay in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest?
Day 3: Exploring Lake Bunyonyi
On your fourth day, you will be exploring the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi, one of the deepest lakes in the region and home to over 29 islands, with 2 large islands within its boundaries.
At Lake Bunyonyi, you will have the opportunity to go canoeing in traditional wooden canoes, visit some of the islands where local communities strive, see how they live their lives, and go hiking up to some of the many viewpoints where you will be able to see just how pretty Lake Bunyonyi really is from above.
My guide took me to the top of one of the islands, walking through local villages, until we arrived at an open area where I was greeted with an incredible view of the lake and its islands spreading out over the horizon, as far as the eye can see.
After spending the first half of the day exploring Lake Bunyonyi, you will then have to travel back to Entebbe or Kampala on another 9-hour ride and spend the night there before heading back home or traveling to other tourist attractions in Uganda.
Where to Stay in Lake Bunyonyi?
Other Uganda Activities
What are Things To Know Before Going Gorilla Trekking?
What To Wear and Carry While Gorilla Trekking?
If you are going on a gorilla trekking trip in Uganda, you will most likely end up at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where the gorillas reside. You will have to prepare for the forever-changing weather of the mountains accordingly. Here is what you should wear while gorilla trekking:
- Hiking Shoes (for women): Since you will be bushwhacking through a forest where the trail can get muddy and slippery, especially after rain, it is essential that you wear a pair of shoes that will keep your feet dry and comfortable while trekking.
- Easy-to-Dry Lightweight Shirts: It can rain quite heavily in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, so it is always a good idea to wear an easy-to-dry lightweight shirt that allows you to move around comfortably while gorilla trekking.
- Fleece Jacket (for women): Since you will be in the mountains, it can get extremely cold when it rains, so be sure to bring a fleece jacket to wear as your second layer.
- Waterproof Outer Shell Jacket (for women): There is a high chance that it might rain while you are gorilla trekking, so be sure to pack a waterproof outer shell jacket in your daypack to wear over your first or second layer to help keep you dry.
- Long Hiking Pants (for women): Since you will be trekking through thick bushes most of the time to see these gorillas, it is best that you wear long hiking pants to protect you from scratches and insects.
- Hiking Socks (for women): You might be trekking for as long as 5 hours in wet conditions, so be sure to wear comfortable hiking socks during your gorilla trek.
- A Daypack (non-camera backpack): Be sure to carry a good daypack that can store all your travel essentials, such as jackets, a water bottle, cameras, a lunchbox, and more, while you go gorilla trekking. You never know how long you will have to trek to find these animals.
What To Pack For Gorilla Trekking Trip?
Now that you know what to wear when you go gorilla trekking, here are some of the items you should consider packing for your gorilla trekking trip in Uganda.
- Good Low-light Camera: Gorillas have dark fur and they often live in thick forests where natural light doesn't shine through very well. So, if you want to take good photos of them, you need a camera that can handle low-light situations well, like the Sony a7C.
- Fast Telephoto Lens: You can only be so close to the gorillas until they feel threatened by you, so if you are looking to get nice close-up shots of gorillas, be sure to pair a low-light camera with a fast telephoto lens like the Sony 70-200mm F2.8 lens, which will allow you to capture sharp images of the gorillas in their habitat.
- Binoculars: If you are not into photography and just want to observe animals, you can also pack a good pair of binoculars for your trip instead.
- Insect Repellent: Forests in Africa can be quite unforgiving when it comes to insects and mosquitoes, so be sure to pack a DEET insect repellent and cover yourself with it when you are out and about in Uganda.
- A Water Bottle: You can be trekking for hours to find the gorillas, so be sure to carry a water bottle with enough water to last you at least 2-3 hours.
- Snack Bars: Snack bars are a lifesaver, especially for a trek where you do not know how long you will be trekking. Be sure to pack a few CLIF BARS for gorilla trekking in case you get hungry.
- Power Bank: The last thing you need is to have your phone and camera die on you while you finally get to meet the gorillas, so be sure to pack a power bank with you as well.
How to Get a Gorilla Trekking Permit?
For gorilla trekking in Uganda, the permit for non-resident foreigners is 700 USD, 600 USD for foreign residents of East African countries (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania), and 250,000 UGX for locals per person.
Usually, the tour price should already include the permit price, but sometimes they might want to make it seem like the tour is cheaper. So be sure to inquire about the permit before you book any tours.
The gorilla trekking permit has to be done in advance, and it can take quite a long time if there are a lot of applications to process. So, be sure to contact your tour company as soon as you can and tell them to prepare your permit before you arrive.
Usually, how this is done is they will ask you for a copy of your passport and upfront payment of 700 USD, the price of the permit, as a guarantee, and you will have to wire transfer the money to them to start your permit application.
You should get the permit when you arrive at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. For me, it took less than 3 days for them to manage everything, but there weren't a lot of tourists when I was there because of COVID. Things might be different post-COVID, so be sure to plan ahead of time.
How Much Does It Cost To Go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
As you can see, the gorilla permit is already $700 USD per person, and due to how far and remote Bwindi is from Kampala and Entebbe, the best way to do gorilla trekking is through a tour company.
The price for a gorilla trekking tour can range from budget-friendly at around 1,400 USD, including the permit, all the way to luxury with a price of more than 3,000+ USD per person.
These prices should include everything from the permit to accommodation to all the meals for every day you are with them. So, I'd say gorilla trekking in Uganda should cost between 1,400 USD and 3,000+ USD in total, excluding flight costs.
Which Gorilla Trekking Tour Companies To Pick?
As mentioned earlier, the gorilla trekking tour price can range from 1,400 USD to north of 3,000 USD depending on the type of accommodation you are looking for.
I found a gorilla trekking tour company that costs around 1,400 USD, and the accommodation I got was an extremely comfortable tented camp equipped with a bathtub, 2 comfortable beds with heating pads. They serve delicious 3-course meals every morning and evening, with unlimited access to coffee and cocoa.
The location is also great, right in the middle of the forest, with trees and mountains surrounding the tented camps. Friendly monkeys and birds always greeted me every morning.
May I remind you that it was the most affordable tour I found, and they have treated me so well? One could only imagine what the experience would be like on more expensive tours.
No matter what price range you are going for, you won't be disappointed by it. Below are some of the gorilla trekking tours you might like:
- 3 Days Gorilla Trekking in Uganda - 1,456 USD
- 4-Day Gorilla Trekking Package - 1,561 USD
- 5-Day Short Holiday Package to Uganda – Gorilla Trekking - 1,862 USD
- 4-Day LUXURY Uganda Gorilla Safari - 3,385 USD
- 5-Day LUXURY Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife Safari Experience - 4,445 USD
If you are looking for more tours available for gorilla trekking in Uganda, you should also browse through SafariBookings.com. They have some of the best safari listings in the world, all from reputable tour agencies with varying price points for you to choose from, so be sure to check out the website.
How Difficult Is Gorilla Trekking?
The difficulty of gorilla trekking will depend entirely on where the gorillas are located on the day you are doing the trek. Usually, there are a few gorilla families that like to be near populated areas, which makes them easy to trek to. Sometimes, they might even be right near the main road, stealthily chomping on leaves, and you won't have to hike very far to see them.
But sometimes, if they get spooked by something during the night, they might embark on a long trek deep into the forest, and that is when it becomes more challenging to trek to see them.
The gorillas do not follow trails made by humans, so in order for you to get to where they are, you are going to have to go through the bushes, scramble your way through thick forests, and walk through muddy terrains. This can take anywhere from one to five hours.
A bushwalk can be a little difficult, especially if you are not used to hiking in thick forests, but it's not something regular people couldn't do. There were a few not super active people in my group, and they were able to do gorilla trekking just fine, albeit a little slower than other people.
So, even if you are not in shape, you can still do gorilla trekking as long as you go slowly and make sure you are stepping on steady ground. You will also have the option to hire a porter for 15 USD if you do not want to accidentally lose balance while carrying your backpack.
Trekking poles are also provided by the ranger to help you navigate the forest more confidently. This means that even if you do not have experience hiking, you can still go gorilla trekking.
Is It Safe To Go Gorilla Trekking?
There are certain precautions you have to take before you go gorilla trekking. For one, you have to dress appropriately, wearing good hiking shoes, jackets in case it rains, and long trousers to protect you from insects.
Secondly, when bushwhacking your way into the forest, be sure to step on steady ground before putting your entire weight on it, especially when dealing with muddy trails and slopes.
Finally, there are certain behaviors you have to take into consideration when you come face-to-face with the gorillas, especially the silverbacks. They can be aggressive towards you if they feel intimidated by you. So, when gorillas approach you, be sure to avoid eye contact and move out of their way slowly.
Keep a safe distance at all costs when observing the gorillas. Do not get close to them, even if you want to take a photo with them. They are wild animals, and they can be unpredictable.
Also, since they share 99% of our DNA, they can also contract human diseases like COVID-19. So, be sure to wear your mask at all times when you are around them, even when you are taking photos with them.
The rangers will brief you on all of this and more before you meet the gorillas, so you should be more than prepared when you're there. The rangers will also help warn you when gorillas are getting closer to you, and they will tell you what to do.
All in all, I felt extremely safe while we were trekking and observing the gorillas. The rangers are professionals, and they accommodated us in almost every way to make our experiences with these primates the best ones possible. So, as long as you know the precautions to take, you should feel pretty safe on your trek with the gorillas.
When to go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda?
The best time to go gorilla trekking is during its two annual dry seasons from June to August and December to February. Heavy rainfalls are rare during these periods which, in turn, provide you with the best conditions for gorilla trekking and other outdoor activities.
Gorilla trekking requires you to bush-whack your way through a thick forest to find the gorillas in their habitat. The time it takes to find one can range from 2 to 7 hours, depending on how deep they are in the forest. And the last thing you want is for it to rain on you.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.