Gorilla trekking:
your questions answered.

Mountain gorilla trekking takes place in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. We specialize in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, where we arrange private, tailor-made gorilla safaris.

Choose around the whole journey, not only the gorilla permit. Rwanda can suit a shorter visit, with Volcanoes National Park reached by road from Kigali. Uganda offers a short fly-in option or a longer route combining Bwindi with chimpanzees and wildlife. In Uganda, matching your lodge, airstrip and trekking sector is particularly important. Your available time, preferred accommodation and wider interests help us recommend the better fit. Compare Rwanda and Uganda →

Yes. We can bring Kigali and the Virunga highlands together with southern Uganda, planning the border crossing, permits and transfers as one journey. Whether the combination makes sense depends on your time and what you want to experience. We will explain the extra travel involved before recommending a route.

Two nights near your trekking area can support one trek, with a stay before trekking and time to rest afterward. Three nights can create a more relaxed pace or allow another activity. International arrival times, lodge location and onward connections affect the complete itinerary. Explore journey ideas →

Gorilla trekking is possible throughout the year. The drier periods are generally popular because trail conditions can be easier, while the wetter and lower-season months can offer advantages of their own. The best time depends on your priorities, itinerary and the other places you want to combine with your gorilla trek.

Yes. In Uganda, a longer journey can combine gorilla trekking with chimpanzees in Kibale. In Rwanda, you can combine gorillas in Volcanoes National Park with chimpanzees in Nyungwe. We allow time for transfers between the trekking areas and check permits, age requirements and the walking involved for your chosen activities. Compare chimpanzee and gorilla trekking →

A standard gorilla permit currently costs US$1,500 per person in Rwanda and US$800 per person in Uganda for foreign non-residents. Reduced permit rates are available during qualifying low-season periods. We arrange the permits as part of every gorilla safari we plan. See permit prices, eligibility and booking guidance →

A standard permit covers entry for your scheduled trek, the park ranger guides and up to one hour with a habituated gorilla family once you reach them. Accommodation, transport and porter services are separate arrangements. We coordinate the permit with the rest of your safari. Read the permit guide →

Start planning as early as you can when your dates are fixed. Permit availability is limited and can become tight in popular travel periods. We check trekking dates alongside accommodation and transport, rather than treating the permit as an isolated booking. Tell us if your dates are flexible so we can explore alternatives.

We first look at whether the trek can move by a day or whether changing the order of your safari would help. In Uganda, a different Bwindi sector or Mgahinga may offer another option, but that can also change your lodge and transfers. We check the whole route and confirm availability before promising a solution.

The permit is one part of the cost. Your country, number of nights, lodge choices, private transfers, internal flights and additional activities all affect the total. Share your approximate budget and priorities, and we can explain the trade-offs and prepare a proposal with its inclusions. Discuss your safari →

It varies considerably. Some treks can be relatively short, while others involve several hours of walking through steep, uneven and sometimes muddy forest terrain. Your fitness, the weather and the location of the gorillas all influence the difficulty on the day. We take this into account when helping you plan where to trek.

The standard minimum age for gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda is 15 years. If you are planning a family safari, we can help design the wider journey around the ages and interests of everyone traveling.

Gorilla trekking is a managed wildlife activity, although gorillas are wild animals and should always be treated with respect. Treks are carefully managed by the national park authorities and visit habituated gorilla families that are accustomed to the presence of people. You are accompanied by trained park ranger guides, with additional ranger support and trackers involved in the trekking operation. Visitors are briefed before entering the forest and must follow the rangers’ instructions throughout the trek and encounter.

On a standard gorilla trek, you normally spend up to one hour with the gorilla family once they have been located. The time spent trekking through the forest to find them varies from day to day. Gorilla habituation experiences in Uganda allow up to four hours with a gorilla family and offer a different, more extended experience.

Standard gorilla trekking groups are normally limited to a maximum of eight visitors per habituated gorilla family. Your safari with us may be completely private, but the gorilla trek itself is normally shared with other permit holders allocated to the same gorilla family.

Your safari can include private transfers, a personal route and accommodation chosen for you. The standard gorilla trek is organized by the park and is normally shared with other permit holders. Your park ranger leads that trekking group; a private safari booking does not by itself make the gorilla encounter exclusive.

Porters can carry your daypack and help you on difficult sections of the trail. Tell us about your fitness and mobility early so we can discuss support and realistic expectations. Porter assistance does not guarantee a short or easy trek: terrain, weather and the gorillas’ location still shape the day. We will confirm the arrangements and current charges when planning your visit.

Tipping is optional and should reflect the service you receive. Plan separately for your safari guide, lodge staff and trekking team, according to your itinerary. A porter’s hire charge pays for their service and is separate from any optional tip. We can help you work out a suitable budget before you travel. Read our safari tipping guide →

Plan for uneven ground, vegetation and changing weather. Bring footwear with good grip, long trousers, a long-sleeved layer, a light waterproof jacket and a small daypack for water and essentials. Gloves and long socks or gaiters can also be useful. We will talk through the current park requirements and a packing list for your particular journey before you travel.

We start with location and the practical route, then consider your preferred comfort and budget. In Uganda, we match your lodge to your trekking sector and arrival route. In Rwanda, the lodge’s position affects your early-morning transfer. Tell us about steps, walking distances or room requirements that matter to you so we can discuss suitable options. Explore places to stay →

We begin with your interests, available time, preferred pace and budget. We then bring the route, permits, accommodation and transport together and prepare a detailed proposal. You do not need a finished itinerary to contact us. Our founder John Harvey first trekked gorillas in Uganda in 1997, and the company was founded in 2008. Meet John → or start a conversation →.