Gorilla Trekking FAQ, tips and Tricks.
With only about 1,100 gorillas left on earth, trekking through the misty rainforests is the only way to see these critically endangered primates, as they cannot survive in captivity. Gorilla trekking is arguably one of life changing wildlife experiences allowing visitors to follow gorilla families as they go about their daily lives. Observe the mothers tenderly feeding her young while being cautious of the attentive start from the dominant silverback as he keeps a protective eye over his fail.
Spending time with our distant relative is a profound experience that’s makes gorilla trekking an experience that you need to carefully plan.
While planning a gorilla trekking safari in Africa, there are so many questions asked. In this blog, we provide answers to the most of the gorilla trekking FAQs and provide tips and tricks for a memorable gorilla trekking experience.
Should I book a private guide for my trip?
If your budget allows, we always recommend a private guide. Not only will your guide make sure your journey transpires as smooth as possible, they also help overcome language barriers and offer valuable insights into gorilla behaviors, as well as other local fauna and flora.
All of our guides are experienced in gorilla trekking safaris and can help you navigate the local culture and customs, as well as advice on all other aspects of the trek. Also, they can assist with photography and more technical aspects of your trip, ensuring you will have memories to keep forever and show your family and friends back home.
What Kind of Gorilla Trek should I book?
Generally, trekking in Rwanda is less strenuous compared to trekking in Uganda. The key difference is good to keep in mind based on your fitness levels and physical condition. The places where you start and end your trek have got all the amenities needed including bathrooms, coffee station among others. Facilities in Uganda are more basic than in Rwanda, with only bathrooms.
Always there are different levels of treks, depending on where in the forest and how far the gorilla families are. After a briefing at the park headquarters, you will split into groups and allocated a gorilla family, based on fitness and ability. Before you leave, speak to your guides carefully about the type of trek you are after. Although there is never any guarantee as to how long/short your trek may be, the park rangers know approximately where the various families are as they have trackers on them constantly and are in radio comms with them. This is where your private guide can help tremendously, by ensuring that local guides are aware of your expectations.
If you are traveling on a budget, we recommend to book two treks during your stay so that you can get the best of your gorilla trip. Also you can request to view a different gorilla family on the second trip, which will maximize your time with different gorilla families and individual animals.
Also, Uganda offers habituation treks: the Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park gives you the chance to spend 4 hours in the company of the Mountain Gorillas where you will join rangers and conservationists in the habituation process of two more gorilla families. It is an incredible opportunity for travelers who wish to take a more active role in the protection and understanding of these gorillas. It is an incredibly humbling experience and the habituation process is fundamental to the continued protection of the gorillas.
Tourism is the biggest savior of mountain gorillas, providing the vital funds for their protection and importantly placing value on their survival in the eyes of local communities.
As of 2025, mountain gorilla treks in Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo are not open due to safety concerns. However, if you are interested in seeing the Western Lowland Gorillas in Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of Congo.
How Much Does it Cost
Whether you want to visit gorillas of Rwanda or Uganda, there are strict regulations in place and a trekking permit is a must have. Be sure to book your permit at least a year in advance to avoid missing out as gorilla permits are in limited supply.
Mountain Gorilla Trekking Permit Costs
- Uganda: USD $800
- Rwanda: USD $1500
- Congo: USD $400
How Hard is a Gorilla Trek
The walk is strenuous, expect to hike up and down hillsides (mountainsides), through mud and streams. It is often very slippery, you will like slip and fall at least once – everyone does and forest vegetation can be very thick. The vegetation is definitely thicker on gorilla treks in Uganda, and the forest vegetation can be very thick.
The vegetation is definitely thicker on Ugandan hikes compared to Rwandan hikes, though a lot more beautiful in our opinion.
For your advantage, hire a porter who will help you navigate the more steep parts of the track, avoiding the common hurdles along the way, helping with foot placements and offering a hand over obstacles. The porters are local to the area and this is their source of include. So by hiring them to help you, you are providing them with a living wage and directly aiding in the protection of the forest by preventing illegal activities.
Things to Look out for
- Stinging nettles – Your guide will point these out but be aware and expect them. They are far from deadly and just like the type of stinging nettles you would experience at home, but are an incredible nuisance nonetheless
- Siafu – Red biting ants, you will see these in the forest from time to time. Keep moving, and if you can’t move, march on the spot. Keep calm, check your shoes/legs once you have passed through and brush off any that have climbed on.
How Fast do they Walk on a gorilla trek?
The whole group walks to the pace of the slowest guest (no one gets left behind). A side from a quick water break here and there, it is pretty much a non-stop walk in and out of the forest with the gorillas begin the main and only focus. With the slippery and hilly terrain, it can sometimes be a challenge to keep up with the pace set and there is certainly very little time for birding or seeing other things in the forest.
Your guide is right there to answer any questions you may have and will point out interesting things from time to time, but to manage your expectations, know that the gorilla trek is very different from a normal nature walk and there will be very few stops to talk about the forest and its wonderful inhabitants.
Top Recommended Gorilla Trekking Packages
The 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari customized by Rwanda gorilla trek starts from Kigali airport crossing to Uganda via Katuna Border or Cyanika Border. Learn More
4 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking starts from Kigali international airport drive through the land of thousand hills crossing to the pearl of Africa’s most known national park of Bwindi. Learn More
3 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari takes you to Lake Mburo National Park where you can spot rare wildlife such as lions, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, antelope. Learn More
A 3 Day Uganda Wildlife Safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park can show you the magnificent wildlife of East Africa, such as lions, elephants, buffaloes. Learn More
5 Days Gorilla Trekking & Hiking trip to Mgahinga National Park located in southwestern Uganda. Plan a visit to the mountain gorillas, and golden monkey in Mgahinga. Learn More
6 Days Uganda Gorilla trekking & wildlife safari tour to visit the mountain gorillas, Wildlife animals in Queen Elizabeth national park on a customized Uganda safari. Learn More
9 Days Uganda Safari to enjoy gorilla trekking on an ultimate gorilla safari adventure to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, Wildlife viewing. Learn More
10 Days Uganda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari; Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe international airport, Day 2: Rhino Tracking at Ziwa & transfer to Murchison Falls, Day 3: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise, Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Learn More
5 Days Uganda Primates Safari; Day 1: Arrival at Kigali international airport, Day 2: City tour, Day 3: Golden monkey habituation, Day 4: Gorilla Trekking Mgahinga national park, Day 5: Transfer to the airport. Learn More
Book this 1 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trek and visit the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in the shortest time. Read More
Book a Perfect 1 Day Gorilla tour to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in southern Uganda. The trip starts from Kigali and can depart daily at 3:30 AM. Read More
Book 3 Days Gorilla Safari to Volcanoes. This trip combines gorilla trekking & Golden monkey tracking, a visit to the twine lakes, and a Kigali city tour. Read More
5 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari is perfect for a double gorilla trekking experience with a great chance of comparing gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park & Volcanoes. Read More
5 Days Rwanda Congo Safari is a perfect gorilla trekking & Nyiragongo hike in Congo on a combined multi Country safari to visit the mountain gorillas. Read More
Book 5 Days Rwanda Primate Tour offered by Rwanda gorilla trek the destination expert in Safaris to Rwanda throughout the entire year. Read More
9 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari. Plan for a multi-country Safari to visit Africa? Click here to read about the Gorilla Trek within Rwanda, DR Congo & Uganda for Gorilla trekking. Read More
Get the Best out of 13 Days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari with Active African Vacations that begins from Rwandan Airport Kigali and ends in Uganda. Read More
Book 5 Days Rwanda Primate Tour offered by Rwanda gorilla trek the destination expert in Safaris to Rwanda throughout the entire year. Read More
Plan for a 4 Days Double Gorilla Trekking Rwanda in volcanoes national park to visit the mountain gorillas two times watching the two different silverbacks. Read More
5 Days Uganda Primates Safari; Day 1: Arrival at Kigali international airport, Day 2: City tour, Day 3: Golden monkey habituation, Day 4: Gorilla Trekking Mgahinga national park. Read More
7 Days Rwanda Safari – Gorilla & Golden Monkey Trekking; Day 1: Arrival at Kigali international airport, Day 2: Transfer to volcanoes national park. Read More