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Gorilla trekking
There are roughly 1,000 mountain gorillas left, all of them in three countries, and you can sit an hour from a family of them for the price of a permit and a hard morning's walk.
One hour, measured
The hour starts when the trackers hand you over and it is enforced to the minute. You keep seven metres back, which the gorillas ignore entirely. A silverback will walk past close enough that you feel the air move and your guide will put a hand on your shoulder to stop you stepping back into the nettles.
Getting there is the hard part
Bwindi is steep, wet and trackless. Treks run two to six hours each way at altitudes between 1,160 and 2,600 metres, on ground that gives way. Porters wait at every trailhead and we book one for every guest by default. Rwanda's Virunga slopes are shorter, better drained and more open.
Habituation, if an hour is not enough
Uganda sells four permits a day in the Rushaga sector for the habituation experience: four hours with researchers and a family still learning to tolerate people. It costs the same as a Rwandan permit and it is the closest a visitor gets to the work itself.
Is gorilla trekking cheaper in Uganda or Rwanda?
Uganda. A permit for a foreign non-resident is USD 800 in Uganda against USD 1,500 in Rwanda, a difference of USD 700 per person per trek. Uganda also runs USD 600 low-season permits in April, May and November. Rwanda's advantage is access, not price: Volcanoes National Park is a two to three hour drive from Kigali.
| Permit, foreign non-resident | USD 800 | USD 1,500 |
| Low-season permit | USD 600 in Apr, May, Nov | None published |
| Habituation permit | USD 1,500, Rushaga only | Not offered |
| From the arrival airport | Flight or long drive from Entebbe | 2 to 3 hours by road from Kigali |
| Typical trek length | 2 to 6 hours, steep and wet | 1 to 4 hours, better drained |
| Minimum age | 15 | 15 |
How fit do you need to be to trek gorillas?
Moderately fit, and honest about it. Treks last two to six hours on steep forest terrain with no formed path, at altitude. Rangers allocate groups by fitness at the briefing, so tell them the truth. Porters are available at every trailhead and are worth taking. Sedan chairs can be arranged in advance for travellers with limited mobility.
Can I book a Uganda gorilla permit myself?
Not as a foreign visitor. Since 2026 the Uganda Wildlife Authority requires foreign non-residents to book gorilla permits through a licensed Ugandan tour operator rather than direct. UWA also abolished the seven-day unpaid hold on 1 March 2026, so permits must be paid in full at the moment of booking. Check any operator's licence on the Uganda Tourism Board register before you send money.
What happens if you do not see the gorillas?
In practice you will. Trackers locate each habituated family from their previous night's nest before your group leaves the briefing point, and sighting rates run very close to 100 per cent. Both authorities operate a partial refund policy in the rare event of a failed trek, but no operator can promise a refund on your behalf, and neither park guarantees one.
Common questions
Prices and rules here were checked against the park authorities in August 2026. We reconfirm every figure before it goes on a quotation.
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Is gorilla trekking cheaper in Uganda or Rwanda?
Uganda. A gorilla trekking permit for a foreign non-resident costs USD 800 in Uganda against USD 1,500 in Rwanda, a difference of USD 700 per person. Uganda also runs a USD 600 low-season permit in April, May and November. Rwanda's advantage is access rather than price: Volcanoes National Park is a two to three hour drive from Kigali, while Uganda's Bwindi needs a flight or a long drive from Entebbe.
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How fit do you need to be to trek gorillas?
Moderately fit. Treks in Bwindi typically last two to six hours at altitudes between 1,160 and 2,600 metres, on steep, muddy forest terrain with no formed path. Rangers allocate trekking groups by fitness at the morning briefing. Porters are available at every trailhead and are strongly recommended. Sedan chairs can be arranged in advance for travellers with limited mobility.
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What is the minimum age for gorilla trekking?
Fifteen years, in both Uganda and Rwanda. This is a park authority rule rather than an operator preference, and it is enforced with passport checks at the briefing point.
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How far in advance should I book a gorilla permit?
Nine to twelve months for June to September and December to February in either country. Rwanda caps capacity at 96 permits a day and Uganda releases 152 a day across 19 habituated families in Bwindi. Uganda's four daily habituation permits in Rushaga are the scarcest of all. Permits are name-locked and non-transferable.
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Can I book a Uganda gorilla permit myself?
Not as a foreign visitor. Since 2026 the Uganda Wildlife Authority requires foreign non-residents to book through a licensed Ugandan tour operator. Full payment is required at the time of booking, as UWA abolished the seven-day unpaid hold on 1 March 2026.
Build it into a real route.
This is one part of a trip, not the whole of it. Tell us your dates and we will place it inside a route that works around the permits and the seasons.