Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
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One of the main reasons people head to Uganda is to go Gorilla Trekking. It is a once in a lifetime experience that should be added to any African itinerary. Keep reading to find out exactly what this is, what it involves and how the gorillas are protected.
A silverback gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park taking in his natural environment
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THE EXPERIENCE
Gorilla trekking is a truly once in a lifetime experience! I (Stacey) did this way back in 2014 in Uganda, but you can also go gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Congo as well. Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park are widely considered to be the best two places to undertake this experience.
The numbers of African Mountain Gorillas are incredibly small. In fact, their numbers are so small that often the trackers can recognise each gorilla and give them individual names. As of 2024, the numbers recorded are just over 1,000. Fortunately, through the income earned through gorilla trekking tourism, as well as the increased awareness provided, poaching has decreased and their numbers have been on a slow increase over the last few years.
An African mountain gorilla having a snack
Getting up and close with these magnificent animals in their natural habitat is a truly transformative experience and is largely considered the most up-close (ethical) wildlife experience in Africa.
This will give you an idea of how close we were. Our guides were constantly aware of the gorillas and their behaviour and would move us around based on this.
While it all sounds like a positive experience, gorilla trekking can actually be quite a difficult experience, involving trekking for an unknown amount of time, sometimes up to hours. In fact, it is often quoted it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours. The trekking is also through dense jungle and in intense heats. The reason the duration is unknown is due to the movements of the gorilla families. Sometimes they may be close to the beginning of the trek, other times they may be deep into the jungle.
In addition to this, there is no absolute guarantee you will see the gorillas. While they are closely monitored and tracked, they are still wild animals that move around the jungle, and if a family can’t be located by an appropriate time, the trek may be called off, although this is very rare.
On the day of my trek, we were told the trackers had already set off to try and follow the trail of a family prior to us leaving, but had not yet located them. Fortunately for us, they were located after roughly one hour of us trekking.
Once you have located the family, you will be asked to leave all your belongings except your camera, and your guide will take you closer to the family, obviously always staying at an appropriate distance. Given the occurrence of gorilla trekking, they are relatively adapted to the presence of humans and will just continue to go about their business. Your guide is trained to observe any unusual behaviours and will continuously keep track of your proximity to the gorillas.
A huge silverback gorilla moving about the jungle
Getting up a close with these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat is a once in a lifetime experience
While you’re instructed to not go up to the gorillas, this doesn’t always stop them coming up to you! We had a particular gorilla that decided to mess around with us a little bit. The first time he just walked past us, the second time he walked past us, he gave me a bit of a shove, and a playful kick to the stomach of a fellow trekker! Both of us were fine - despite their intense strength, our guide confirmed this was definitely a playful nudge as he went about his day.
Once you’re with the gorillas you will only be allowed one hour with them to preserve the species and allow them to live as naturally as possible. Take some photos, but also take some time to just soak in one of the most unique experiences of your lifetime.
The baby of the family hanging out in a tree. They were curious, but kept their distance.
HOW TO GO GORILLA TREKKING
If you’re looking to do a gorilla trek in Uganda, there are plenty of tours that will pick you up from Kampala and return you back after the trek. The positive of doing this is that it will generally include your gorilla trekking permit, saving you the hassling from having to organise this yourself.
Otherwise, if you transport yourself from Kampala, you can check out some accommodation options here! The drive is roughly 9 hours to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, so we’d highly recommend allowing a few nights for this adventure. You will also need to organise your gorilla permit in advance and it is generally recommended to organise this 6 months before you plan to trek due to the popularity of the experience, and the limited spaces available. As of 2024, a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda will set you back $800 USD per person.
BEST TIME TO GO
While gorilla trekking is largely a year-round activity, the best time to go is during the dry seasons, from June to September and December to February.
We were lucky enough to see a baby gorilla, just minding it’s own business in a tree
WHAT TO BRING
Pack light for your trek because remember, while you might only trek for 30 minutes, you could also be trekking for 4 hours in dense jungle, high heats and at high altitude. Given this, it is recommend you pack a couple litres of water, as well as a packed lunch and/or snacks. If you book a tour, generally your accommodation/tour will provide you with a packed lunch to bring along with you.
Given the weather and environment, it’s best to pack a hat, sunscreen, insect repellant and sunglasses. In case the weather takes a turn for the worse, we’d also recommend packing a rain jacket and a waterproof backpack cover.
You should also pack your camera, but leave behind any external flash as you’re not able to use any flash at all around the gorillas.
NOTE: It is generally recommended that you hire a porter to carry your bag. They can be hired at the park headquarters and will not only carry your bag, but will help you navigate through the hike (aka keep you from falling on your butt!)
WHAT TO WEAR
It is recommended that you wear long pants and long sleeves as you will be traversing through some dense shrubbery. It is also recommended, similar to on a safari, to wear more neutral colours and avoid anything too bright.
So, are you going to add gorilla trekking to your bucket list? We hope you found this article useful! If you haven’t already, make sure you check us out on YouTube, where we post videos twice a week!
