Mountain Gorillas: The Facts
Mountain gorillas are critically endangered primates found in only three countries: Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. There are fewer than 1,100 mountain gorillas alive in the wild. The permits funding gorilla trekking directly fund their conservation.
This surprises many travellers. If gorilla trekking is your goal, you must visit Uganda, Rwanda or Congo (DRC). These are the only countries where mountain gorillas live.
Uganda Gorilla Permit Costs (2026)
| Category | Permit Cost |
|---|---|
| Foreign non-resident (peak season) | $800 |
| Foreign non-resident (low season: Apr, May, Nov) | $600 |
| Foreign resident of East Africa | $700 |
| East African citizen | ~$65 (UGX 250,000) |
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest — The Four Sectors
- Buhoma (North): Most accessible from Kampala. 6–8 hour drive or 1 hour charter flight. Good infrastructure. Multiple habituated groups.
- Ruhija (East): High altitude (2,300m+). More challenging trek. Better for experienced hikers. Fewer tourists.
- Rushaga (South): Most gorilla groups and permits. Access route via Rwanda possible. Best combination with Lake Mburo and Kigali.
- Nkuringo (Southwest): Remote, dramatic landscape. Most challenging trek. Spectacular views.
The Gorilla Trek: What to Expect
- Pre-trek briefing: Rangers brief all trekkers at 7–8am. Groups are limited to 8 people per gorilla family per day.
- Trek duration: 1–8 hours depending on where the gorillas are that morning. Average is 2–4 hours.
- Time with gorillas: Exactly 1 hour with the habituated gorilla family. This is strictly enforced.
- What you see: A full family group — silverback, females, juveniles, infants. Average group size 8–25 individuals.
- Photography: No flash. Keep 7 metres distance. The gorillas often approach closer on their own.
Fitness Requirements
The trek involves walking through dense forest on steep, muddy terrain at high altitude (1,160–2,607m). You do not need to be athletic, but you must be able to walk for several hours on uneven ground. Porters are available at $15–$20 to carry bags and assist on difficult sections — strongly recommended.
Spend 4–6 hours (instead of 1 hour) with a semi-habituated gorilla family during the ongoing process of making them comfortable with human presence. Only available in Rushaga sector. A profoundly different and more intimate experience than the standard trek.
How to Book Gorilla Permits
Book through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) directly, or through a reputable local safari operator. Do not leave booking until the last moment — permits for June–September sell out 3–6 months in advance. Low season (April, May, November) permits are more available and $200 cheaper.
You can book the permit directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority, but you will still need accommodation and transport to Bwindi — which is remote. Most travellers use a local operator to handle logistics. The permit itself can be purchased independently.
Yes. Habituated gorilla families are fully accustomed to human presence. Rangers accompany every group and know the gorilla family's behaviour well. Incidents are extremely rare. The gorillas largely ignore trekkers. The bigger physical challenge is the terrain and altitude.
Uganda is cheaper ($800 vs $1,500) and has more gorilla groups. Rwanda is more accessible from Kigali (2 hours vs 6–8 hours to Bwindi). The gorilla experience itself is equivalent. Budget travellers should choose Uganda. See full comparison: Uganda vs Rwanda →