GORILLA TREKKING IN AFRICA: RWANDA UGANDA AFFORDABLE & LUXURY SAFARIS 2026.
Gorilla trekking is a tourist activity in Uganda and Rwanda that involves hiking through dense forest jungle, thick vegetation and valleys to see gorillas. Trekking wild gorillas in Africa is one of the main reason to why most travelers choose to take vacation trips to Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. Gorilla trekking in Africa can be exciting unique adventure tour activity your should not miss and probably the only experience to enjoy Wildlife encounters of a lifetime.
What are gorillas?
Gorillas are the largest of the primates, ground dwelling great apes that live in sub-Saharan Africa. Gorillas share over 95% of their DNA to that of human beings and are the next closest living relative of humans after the Chimpanzee and Bonobos. These gorillas are divided into two species, the eastern gorillas and the western gorillas. Eastern lowland gorillas (grauer’s gorillas) are distinguished from the western lowland gorillas by having dark fur on their body and other minor morphological differences. Like human beings, gorillas live in the wild for 35 – 40 years. The two species are. Western gorilla and Eastern gorilla.
Are Mountain gorillas critically endangered?
Mountain gorillas are subspecies known as (Gorilla beringei beringei) and are listed as critically endangered species on IUCN red list over the past decades. Conservation organizations in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo have put up programs where travelers can trek gorillas in their natural habitats in company of a ranger guide to enable visitors get face to face experience with a habituated gorilla family.
Today, this has seen Mountain gorilla population increasing steadily, changing their status from the list of critically endangered species to endangered Mountain gorilla. These endangered mountain gorillas still need a lot of protection and good monitoring in order to continue surviving. Therefore, we still need to conserve them because they might not be there for other generation to come.
How many Mountain gorillas are in the whole world?
Africa’s conservationist generate money from visits and use them to pay rangers who take care of gorillas as well as increasing gorilla habitat. Today, its estimated that 1,063 mountain gorillas exist in the whole world sharing two home ranges, the slopes of the Virunga Volcanic Mountains bordering Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo and in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park of Uganda which host more than a half of the total population. Your visit through a gorilla trek therefore could help them survive.
In Uganda, mountain gorillas are found in two national parks, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park while in Rwanda gorillas can be visited in Volcanoes National Park. Mountain gorilla trekking in DR Congo happens on the mountain slopes of the Virunga National Park. Given that these are endangered animals, several rules were put in place for their protection against diseases from humans and behavioral disturbances.
Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Uganda: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Uganda “the Pearl of Africa” now stands as a renowned best destination especially for travellers interested in doing gorilla trekking in Africa and wildlife Safaris. The truth is that Bwindi Impenetrable forest in Uganda is an ideal home base for trekking the vanishing endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Having a Safari in Uganda is like no any other. Are you having interest in Uganda gorilla and wildlife safaris? Take a once in life-time gorilla tour in Uganda that will combine well with other Safari experiences such as Chimpanzee tracking, game drive, boat cruise, city tour and others.
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Gorilla Trekking adventure in Uganda takes place at 5 places and these are Ntebeko in Mghahinga National Park and Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, Nkuringo in Bwindi forest. There are only 22 gorilla families in Uganda habituated for tourism purposes and 8 people are only allowed to visit one of these gorilla families in a day. This makes gorilla trekking permit to be on competitive demand because of these regulations.
Can i trek gorillas any time of the year?
Gorilla tracking/ trekking happen throughout the year but most travelers choose to trek gorillas in the dry season between the month of June to September and December to February. During this period photography is always good and trails are not so slipperly.
However, trekking gorillas in wet season has advantages too. During the the so called rain season, between March and May and September to November, most visitors who choose to visit gorillas enjoy easy trek as gorillas don’t have to move very far looking for food.
There are always fresh food for them, secondly the gorilla families are not always congested by visitors so you may enjoy almost exclusive trekking. Therefore, you are free to choose the period that match your interests.
Trekking gorillas during the rainy season is also possible and with advantages that some lodge prices can go low and gorillas may get close to some of the lodges where you book your stay. You need to book a gorilla permit in advance through a trusted tour company to avoid inconvenience on a gorilla trekking day.
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Our Gorilla tours in Africa are tailor-made to your style of travel and are all inclusive package. A gorilla tour includes Accommodation, transfers, meals and activity. Gorilla Safari Experts team will help you process the gorilla permit, so you don’t have to go through the hustle of getting one.
Generally, we go through the hustle and bustle of arranging an all-inclusive Uganda gorilla trekking Safari for you and so you just bring yourself to the experience.
Rules for Trekking gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.
The Mountain gorilla trekking rules apply on your way to see the gorillas, when you are with gorillas and during the general experience for any visitor doing gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda & Congo.
- Respect the limit of 8 visitors per group of habituated gorillas in a day to reduce exposure of diseases and minimize behavioral disturbances.
- Wash your hands before starting your trek to the gorillas.
- DO NOT leave rubbish in the park. Make sure to carry back everything you take to the forest.
- Follow the instructions of the guide: He will inform you when to bring out cameras once you approach the gorillas.
- Keep your voices low at all times.
- Be friendly. Respect each member in the group regardless of race, and origin.
- Stay in tight group. When near the gorillas you must stay in company of your group members in other wards do not scatter.
- It’s okay to ask the guide questions but keep your voices low always.
- DO NOT smoke, eat or drink while you are near the gorillas, the droppings and left overs may increase the disease transmission.
- Occasionally gorillas charge, don’t panic just follow the guides example; Do not attempt to run, crouch down slowly, do not look the gorillas in the eye and you must wait for them to pass.
- Do not touch or point at the gorillas, they are still wild animals though habituated.
- No flash photography allowed, just have use of the right camera settings.
- As you return from the visit keep you voices low until you are at least 200 meters away from the gorillas.
- Respect the limit imposed on the time for visitors to be with the gorillas each day. This minimizes the risk of disease transmission and stress to the group.