This guide provides essential insights into planning your trek, understanding the unique experiences each country offers, and ensuring an ethical and sustainable adventure. Whether you’re a seasoned trekker or a first-time visitor, prepare to be mesmerized by the beauty and majesty of gorillas in the wild.
Gorilla trekking is with no doubt Africa’s most iconic adventure after a safari to the BIG 5-game viewing. Trekking to see gorillas in the wild offers a unique adventure hiking through dense tropical rainforests in East Africa to see up close the world’s most endangered apes. The mountain gorilla population is starting to recover due to the continued support from WWF and local governments through financial support from sales of gorilla trekking permits which partly finances gorilla conservation efforts in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.
Gorillas have been threatened to the extent of extinction from human activities, poachers, diseases and fellow gorilla territorial fighting. With gorilla habituation efforts as gorillas are prepared for tourism, many of the threats have gone down when gorillas are monitored 24 hours within their forests.
Today gorilla numbers are consistently raising in Congo, Rwanda and Uganda gorilla tours are well-managed to promote sustainability.
For many tourists, gorilla trekking is a must-do adventure. It requires knowing all you must about gorilla tours in Africa and below we have prepared a guide to help you understand and plan right for your bucket list adventure.
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What is gorilla trekking?
Gorilla trekking is a unique primate adventure involving active participation by visitors in a search for already habituated gorilla family group. Unlike most African safaris, trekking with gorillas involves foot walk through the dense tropical forest-dominated areas in Uganda, Rwanda and the D.R. Congo where gorillas are found.
The trek is done with the lead of experienced park guides who are employed by Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rwanda Development Board in respective countries. You can only trek fully habituated gorilla families for one hour per day or semi- habituated gorilla groups under the instruction of researchers who have been habituating this particular groups with the aim of fully habituating the families. This is how they initiated to get used to human presence and usually takes a period of 2 years.
Seeing mountain gorillas for 1 hour is done under the observation of park guides directing you on how to behave following guidelines which apply across all the gorilla safari parks. The ideal locations for gorilla tracking in Africa include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda; Volcanoes National Park for visitors on Rwanda safaris and Virunga National Park in Congo. Still in the D.R. Congo, there is Kahuzi-Biega National Park offering memorable Eastern lowland gorilla trekking experiences.
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How difficult is trekking gorillas?
Some level of fitness is required to help you trek comfortably through the rainforest and enjoy the hike without pressure. This primate adventure is done in the montane forest areas also characterized by steep slopes and if you happen to visit during the wet season, some routes can be slippery and muddy. Its important to practice long walks months before arriving for your lifetime adventure.
Gorilla parks have easy – nearby groups that are prioritized to those not able to trek far like the disabled, seniors, those with health and medical issues, and those not strong enough to go far. At the briefing, the guides will explain to you how gorilla trekking happens and distribute you in groups of 8 people. Ask for the nature of hike you can manage and be fit in the best group of your ability.
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Gorilla trekking minimum age
To be allowed to engage in the guided gorilla trekking adventure, you must be 15 years and above. This is the minimum age requirement if you plan to visit gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda, and D.R. Congo. If your child is able to walk and hike through the forest, the Wildlife Authority is able to offer permits when the parent writes a letter consenting to the ability and strength of the child to hike to and back to the gorillas in good health.
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Best time to visit gorillas of Uganda & Rwanda
Gorilla trekking is always considered to be an all-year-round experience but first, you need to understand the most ideal time to get there for your up close with the great apes. The best time for tourists to have a Uganda gorilla tour to Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga to view mountain gorillas is from December, January to February- this is one phase of the dry season also regarded as the peak season. The other phase of dry season | the peak season starts from June, July, and August to September.
Also, take note of the wet or rainy season also referred to as the low or off season of the year. This is usually experienced from March, April, May and October, November –the months of the year when heavy rains are experienced. The disadvantage about this season is that some routes tend to be muddy and challenging to trek through the forest in search of a gorilla family.
In Rwanda, February to March is the best time for you to have the most of gorilla trekking adventure in Volcanoes National Park. These months fall within the dry season/peak months of the year and come with favorable weather conditions for gorilla trekking.
Like Uganda, Rwanda gorilla trekking periods can be divided into low and high seasons –the high season runs from mid-May to October, and December till mid-March. The low/wet season is experienced from mid-March to mid-May, and the other phase starts from October to November.
Note that Rwanda enjoys tropical kind of climatic conditions and by far it is an all-year-round destination. In the lowland areas in Rwanda, the temperature average record of 30 degrees celsius is experienced and in the lowland areas, it is 14 degrees Celsius.
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How do I get a gorilla permit for Uganda or Rwanda?
A gorilla permit is a special document every trekker must have and on actual day of visiting the park, it is among the documents to be presented before the park authorities. It is a relevant document for gorilla trekkers and the cost includes the park entrance fees, community contribution and guide fee. About 75 percent of the fee collection from gorilla permits goes back to support the different conservation initiatives.
The cost of a gorilla permit in Uganda for a foreign non-resident is USD 700 and USD 600 foreign residents and East African residents. Ugandans, East Afrian citizens pay shs. 250,000 per person for the trekking permit all year round. The tour operator on ground is in position to secure for you the permit early enough before your actual trek.
Rwanda gorilla permits are issued to trekkers at USD 1500 per visitor. These can be obtained through your reliable tour operator or directly via the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
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What are the best gorilla safaris lodges to stay in?
There are plenty of accommodation options to book but here are the best choices to consider while in Uganda or Rwanda. In Uganda: Gorilla Safari Lodge (USD233 per person), Mahogany Springs (USD240 per person), Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge (USD173 per person), Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Lodge (USD760 per person), and Gorilla Height Lodge (USD600 per person). Best lodges in Rwanda; Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge (USD140 per person), Rushel Kivu Lodge (USD70 per person), Nirvana Heights Resort and Spa (USD171 per person), Hakuna Matata Lodge (USD60 per person) and Amata n’Ubuki Boutique Hotel (USD73 per person).
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What gear do I need for gorilla trekking 2024?
Gorilla trekking requires you to pack all essential items for your gorilla adventure to go smoothly. It’s can rain any time of the day, which requires you to be ready for any occurrence. The essentials to consider on your gorilla trekking list; waterproof hiking boots (should be lightweight), long socks protecting you from insect bites and thorns, gardening gloves because of the forest nestles, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, rain jacket or poncho, bottled water, a pair of binoculars, insect repellents, a good camera with no flashlight, a sweater, energy giving snacks, basic first kit, and daypack.
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What is the cost of a gorilla tour?
The cost of a gorilla tour varies on the number of days you would like to spend on tour and level of hotels you will sleep at as discussed below.
A 3-day Uganda gorilla trek for 2 people costs USD 1270 per person on a budget hotel, deluxe hotels cost usd1300 and luxury accommodations cost USD 1680 per person based on 2 people.
1 Day gorilla trek is the cheapest package costing usd970 per person based on 2 people visiting together
From Rwanda to Uganda on 2-day gorilla tour, this tour costs 1100 per person with 1 night overlooking the Bwindi impenetrable forest and return back to Rwanda.
For group gorilla tours, the price of gorilla trekking goes down due to shared costs of other logistics like fuel, vehicles and your local guides.
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What to expect when Gorilla trekking in Rwanda
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park starts with briefing at Kinigi head offices. Coffee is available and beautiful Rwandan cultural performance. Gorilla families will be allocated to every group comprising of 8 visitors and at exactly 8:00am, the actual gorilla trek begins.
The gorilla permits in Rwanda cost $1500 and Rwanda had 10 habituated gorilla families which can be trekked by 8 tourists each day each gorilla family. Hence there are 80 gorilla permits available daily. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda offers easy, moderate and tough hiking depending on the location of each gorilla family. Some families don’t walk far and close by to the starting point. Its 1 hour with the gorillas as they go about doing their daily activities without caring about the tourists.
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What should I expect on a gorilla trek in Bwindi National Park Uganda?
Over 510 of the world’s 1063 mountain gorillas survive within Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. The park hosts 20 habituated gorilla families and treks begin from the 4 sectors of Bwindi forest each with an independent head office –Ruhija, Rushaga, Buhoma and Nkuringo. Briefing is done as early as 7:00am and this also includes clearing with the park authorities, allocation of gorilla families, and park guides. The actual search for Bwindi gorillas begins at 8:00am and runs for 2-6 hours which also include an hour for up close and personal with these apes.
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What should I expect on a gorilla trek in Mgahinga National Park?
Mgahinga National Park is part of the Virunga region which cuts across boundaries of Rwanda to make Volcanoes national park Rwanda. Unlike its counterpart Bwindi, Mgahinga has only one habituated gorilla group –Nyakagezi. This means only 8 visitors can go trek this family on a single day. The trek begins from Ntebeko area with briefing on gorilla trekking regulation and allocation of park guide.
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Is gorilla trekking ethical?
Gorilla tourism is a well-managed conservation project which is helping gorilla numbers bounce ack yet had been at a point of eviction. Without sustainable tourism, mountain gorillas would be no more today hence gorilla trekking being ethical and a God sent plan to save the few gorillas surviving at the time.
Gorilla tourism has been fundamental in changing the lives of Ex poachers, the poor local communities who were a threat to the gorillas are now gorilla defenders.
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How many habituated gorilla families are there?
Each destination has fully habituated gorilla families open for trekking. In Uganda, there are over 20 families distributed in the 5 sectors –Ntebeko in Mgahinga NP, Rushaga, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Buhoma sectors of Bwindi.
The gorilla families in Bwindi; Kyaguriro, Habinyanja, Nkuringo, Kahungye, Busingye, Bweza, Nshongi, Bitukura, Mishaya, Mubare, Oruzogo, Katwe, Christmas, Mucunguzi, and Nyakagezi in Mgahinga NP. Rwanda gorilla families –Umubano, Hirwa, Amahoro, Sabyinyo, Susa, Titus, Group 13, Kwitonda, Pablo, and more.
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What are the safety tips for gorilla trekking?
Before actual gorilla trek begins, briefing is done on gorilla trekking regulations. These include keeping a distance of 8-10m away from gorillas, avoid direct eye contact, no making loud noise, do not eat or smoke in the present of gorillas, cover the mouth when coughing or nose if you are sneezing, all human waste should be buried 2 ft or as directed by the park guide.
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Where should I go for gorilla trekking; Uganda or Rwanda?
Uganda and Rwanda all offer unforgettable gorilla trekking experiences and often, choosing between the two can be challenging.
Here are some key factors to consider when choosing the best place to visit for gorilla trekking;
Uganda gorilla permit is affordable costing USD700 while Rwanda gorilla permit costs USD1500. With such a big difference one wonders if Uganda actually has gorillas and what chances it is to see them.
Uganda offers 99% chance to see gorillas as Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. The price difference comes from the governments of the different states due their marketing strategies.
Ease to access the gorilla parks is another key decision maker. When you arrive in Entebbe, Uganda’s largest airport, the drive to Bwindi is 8 – 10 hours why the drive from Kigali International Airport to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is 3 hours.
With Bwindi Forest placed at the far bottom of Uganda much closer to the Rwanda border, this makes driving from Kigali to Bwindi forest much closer!!
Drive time is no longer a point to worry about when visiting gorillas in Uganda from Rwanda.
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