The most profound wildlife encounter on earth. 1,063 mountain gorillas remain — spend an hour with a family in their rainforest home.
Uganda permit
$800/person
Rwanda permit
$1,500/person
Wild gorillas left
~1,063
Time with gorillas
1 hour
Gorilla trekking is a guided hike through dense mountain rainforest to find a habituated family of mountain gorillas — primates that share 98.3% of their DNA with humans. Once located, visitors spend exactly one hour observing them at close range: watching mothers nurse infants, juveniles play-fight, and the silverback male patrol his family.
Only two countries offer mountain gorilla trekking: Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable Forest) and Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park). The Democratic Republic of Congo also has gorillas but is not recommended for tourism due to security concerns.
Amber dot = winner for that category. Based on 2026 permit prices and current infrastructure.
Pre-trek briefing
6:30am at the park gate. Rangers assign you to a gorilla family based on fitness and age. Briefing covers rules: 7m distance, no flash, no eating, cover your face if you cough.
The trek
Follow trackers who located the gorillas at dawn. Trek duration: 1–8 hours depending on where the gorillas slept. Porters carry your bag and can physically assist you on steep sections.
The encounter
One magical hour with the gorilla family. No fence, no vehicle — just you, a few other visitors, and wild mountain gorillas. Silverbacks, mothers with babies, juveniles tumbling through undergrowth.
Trek back
Return to the park gate, collect your gorilla trekking certificate, and tip your guide and porter. Most lodges serve lunch on return.
Gorilla trekking permits cost $800 per person in Uganda and $1,500 per person in Rwanda. This is in addition to accommodation, park fees, and transfers. A complete gorilla trekking trip typically costs $1,500–$3,500 per person for 3–5 days including all logistics.
Uganda is better value ($800 permit vs $1,500) and has more habituated gorilla families (12+ in Bwindi). Rwanda offers easier logistics from Kigali, better lodge infrastructure, shorter average treks, and a more luxury experience. Both offer extraordinary encounters. Choose Uganda for budget, Rwanda for luxury.
Difficulty varies from 1–8 hours depending on gorilla family location. The terrain involves steep hillsides, dense vegetation, and muddy paths. Reasonable fitness is required — you should be able to walk 4–6 hours on uneven ground. Porters are available in both Uganda and Rwanda for hire at the trailhead and are highly recommended.
The best time is during dry seasons: June–September and December–February. These months have firmer trails and easier trekking conditions. However, gorilla trekking is available year-round. The green season (March–May, October–November) has fewer tourists and lower lodge rates despite slightly harder conditions.
There are approximately 1,063 mountain gorillas remaining in the wild (2023 census), making them one of the most endangered great apes. They live only in the Virunga Massif (shared by Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC) and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. Gorilla trekking permit fees directly fund conservation and have helped the population grow from under 700 in 2010.
Trekking rules require visitors to stay at least 7 metres from the gorillas. However, gorillas do not read the rulebook — it is common for them to approach much closer. You spend exactly 1 hour with the gorilla family, guided by expert trackers who know each animal individually.
The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years old in both Uganda and Rwanda. This rule protects the gorillas from human diseases to which young children may be more susceptible.
Gorilla trekking is very safe. The gorillas are habituated to human presence and rarely show aggression. You are accompanied by experienced armed park rangers and trackers at all times. The main safety consideration is physical fitness for the trek itself. Both Bwindi (Uganda) and Volcanoes (Rwanda) are secure parks with well-established tourist infrastructure.
Browse verified Uganda and Rwanda gorilla trekking packages from expert operators.