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How it works

Gorilla trekking in Uganda

A ranger-led day in Bwindi or Mgahinga: briefing, a hike of unpredictable length, then one hour with a habituated family.

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$800
Tracking permit

Foreign non-resident · UWA tariff

8
Group size

Visitors per gorilla family / day

1 h
With the family

After the trek through the forest

15
Minimum age

Enforced at Bwindi and Mgahinga

Mountain gorillas live in two Ugandan parks: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. You do not wander in. The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) issues a limited number of permits, rangers assign you to a family, and the forest decides how long the walk takes.

Expect a 05:00–06:00 start at the sector headquarters, a conservation briefing, then a trek that can be 30 minutes or many hours. Once the family is reached, the clock for the viewing hour starts. Photography is welcome; flash is not.

Permit prices follow the Uganda Wildlife Authority Conservation Tariff (July 2024–June 2026). Confirm before you pay. Official PDF: UWA tariff PDF. Last editorial check: August 2026.

The day, in order

  1. Arrive the afternoon before. Night at the sector (Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, Nkuringo, or Mgahinga).
  2. Morning briefing: health, distance, photography, what to do if a gorilla approaches.
  3. Assignment to a ranger team and a habituated family.
  4. Trek. Porters are strongly recommended on steep, muddy ground.
  5. One hour with the family. Then walk out and lodge or continue a safari.

Rules that protect the apes

  • Minimum age 15.
  • Stay 7–10 metres back (Uganda is often briefed at 10 m). If a gorilla closes the gap, step back slowly.
  • No trek if you have a contagious illness — gorillas catch human respiratory viruses.
  • Speak quietly. No food among the family. No drones.
  • Maximum eight visitors per family per day.
UWA permits and pricesWhat to pack and fitnessLicensed operators

FAQ

Questions travellers ask first

How hard is the trek?

Bwindi is steep, rooty, and often wet. Fitness helps; porters and walking sticks help more. Rangers can sometimes match families to ability, but there is no guarantee of a short walk.

Can I buy a permit at the gate?

Foreign visitors should not plan on walk-up permits. Book through a licensed Ugandan operator. Park gates are cashless.

Next step

Ready to book a gorilla safari?

Tell us dates, party size, and park preference. We qualify the request and match you with a licensed operator — you are not auto-sold to a list.

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