Have you ever looked into the eyes of a gorilla? You should, it's beautiful. These incredible creatures are deep, complex, and nearly human. After all, scientists have recently discovered that we share about 98% of our DNA with them.
Seeing these great apes in a zoo is one thing, but nothing compares to seeing them in their natural habitat. If you’ve ever wanted to come face-to-face with a gorilla family, gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda just might be for you.
Gorilla trekking involves hiking through forests to find and observe habituated gorillas. Habituated gorillas have been gradually trained to accept the presence of humans, so they won’t be too bothered by a group of people watching them.
Gorilla treks are led by an experienced guide or park ranger. Guides know how to find gorilla families, but just as importantly, they’ll make sure you don’t find yourself lost in a vast forest in a foreign country!
Seeing gorillas on a trek is especially exciting because you can’t see these particular gorillas in a zoo. On a trek, you’ll see mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei). The mountain gorilla is an endangered subspecies of the eastern gorilla.
Mountain gorillas can only be found in the wild in parts of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda is more popular than trekking in DRC, which often experiences civil unrest and high crime rates.
Getting to hang out with endangered great apes is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so you might be worrying about a trip being prohibitively expensive.
The most important cost is that of a gorilla trekking permit, as you aren’t allowed to search for gorillas without one! Permit costs are different for each country.
A permit for gorilla trekking is EUR650, $700 or £585 in Uganda. This permit allows you one hour with the gorillas once your group locates a family. You also have the option of a habituation experience permit that allows you four hours with the gorillas. This one costs EUR1400, $1500 or £1253.
In Rwanda, there’s only one type of permit available. For EUR1400, $1500 or £1253, you’ll get an hour with the gorillas.
Keep in mind that the above expenses only include the permit cost. Tourilla Tours will charge a bit more on top of that, especially if you’re looking for a luxury tour. In many cases, your tour company will include the cost of the permit in the total cost.
Having said that, Tourilla Tours has all-inclusive packages available for you. What does that mean? We handle all the tedious work of booking lodges for you, arranging transportation, and providing meals.
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Male mountain gorillas are imposing in size—they can reach up to 181 kg! So it’s no wonder that plenty of would-be gorilla trekkers are concerned about safety.
Luckily, there’s no need to be afraid. Gorilla treks take you to see gorilla families who are used to having humans in their midst. Your guide will also be knowledgeable about gorillas and can tell you how to behave around them.
That said, there are strict rules you need to follow when spending time with gorillas. Touching them is absolutely forbidden, and you’ll need to move slowly to avoid being perceived as a threat.
Some people also worry about political unrest in Uganda and Rwanda. Much of the world remembers Rwanda for its 1994 genocide, but since then the country has focused on rebuilding and maintaining peace. If you have safety concerns about Rwanda or Uganda, you’ll be glad to hear that both countries are widely considered to be safe travel destinations.
Now that we've outlined what goes into gorilla trekking, you likely have a sense of whether it’s right for you. Here are some helpful details about trekking in Uganda:
Gorilla trekking is one of the best things to do in Uganda, and there are two national parks where you can do it: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Both parks are in the southwestern part of the country. Bwindi has an area of about 321 km2. Mgahinga is much smaller at only 33.9 km2 .
When you visit Uganda, you’ll likely need a tourist visa to get into the country. Uganda makes applying for a visa relatively easy: you can even apply online!
Costs Visa Uganda: EUR46, USD50
Costs East African Tourist Visa: EUR93, USD100
Is Uganda a Safe Country to Visit?
As of now, traveling to Uganda is relatively safe, but it wasn’t always that way. Uganda officially gained independence from Britain in 1962, but its brief history as an independent country has been marred by political and civil unrest. First, it was ruled by military dictator Idi Amin from 1971 to 1979.
After that regime ended, there was a five-year civil war, but the country reached a level of peace when Yoweri Museveni became president in 1986. By 2006, Ugandan forces had dismantled Joseph Kony’s violent Lord’s Resistance Army as well, leading to a period of peace that remains today.
It hasn’t been easy, but the Ugandan government has transformed the country. There’s a greater police presence in tourist areas, and the country even has a Tourism Police force to protect tourists in Kampala and elsewhere in Uganda.
That said, there are a couple of dangerous areas in Uganda you should avoid at all costs. The Karamoja region in northeastern Uganda often sees violent clashes between tribes (as well as other forms of violent crime), although the Ugandan government is actively trying to stop this. The other area to avoid is the border between Uganda and South Sudan. The area within 30 km of the border is known for tribal skirmishes and violent crime as well.
Female would-be travelers may (understandably) have some trepidation about visiting Uganda. However, visiting is generally safe as long as you take precautions and stay vigilant. It’s wise to avoid going out at night if at all possible, although that’s good advice for any tourist.
Currently, Travel Safe gives Uganda a safety index of 49. Travel Safe’s algorithm analyses data on various types of crime and other risk factors. Countries with an index of 0-33 are most dangerous, those with an index of 33-66 are somewhat safe/dangerous, and those with an index of 66-100 are considered safest.
You can technically go trekking in Uganda at any time of year. However, if you want to avoid slipping and sliding in the mud, go during the dry season. Uganda has the least rain from June to September and from mid-December to mid-February.
If you arrive in Uganda by plane, you’ll be flying into Entebbe Airport, the only international airport in the country. Once arriving at Entebbe, you’ll have an 8-9 hour drive ahead of you. This might sound like a long time, but it’s a beautiful drive that lets you see the country’s varied terrain, local merchants, and much more.
Gorilla trekking can be beautiful and transformative, but it’s not for the faint of heart. As you hike, you’ll move through thick brush, across bodies of water, and up hills. The hikes aren’t usually short either: depending on where gorilla families are located on any given day, you can expect to hike from less than an hour to seven hours before spotting them. After that, you’ll still need to hike back!
Obviously, you need to be physically fit before attempting your trip as they can be demanding. Wearing appropriate clothing during a hike (like thicker fabrics to protect you from thorns) is also advisable. Your tour company can offer valuable advice on what to wear.
If you don’t quite trust your level of fitness or just want a little extra help, you can hire a porter. Porters carry your gear and can help you through difficult parts of the hike. They often only charge £12-£15. When you hire one, you’ll be helping out a local family, too.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to about 459 mountain gorillas. This population is split into several family groups. Some families of gorillas are habituated and others are not. But don’t worry; your guide will know which families are safe to approach.
The Bwindi population might sound small, but it has grown considerably over the past several decades. In the 1960s, there were an estimated 130 gorillas in Bwindi. By 2006, that number had risen to 340. Thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, the population of gorillas in the park continues to increase.
There are about 80 gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. However, the park only has one habituated gorilla family. When monitoring gorilla numbers throughout the years, conservationists usually combine the gorillas in Mgahinga, Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda), and Virunga National Park (DRC), as they are considered to be one population.
In both Bwindi and Mgahinga, the trekking experience can seem like a full-on Uganda safari! You’ll often see rare and colourful birds and several monkey species. On rare occasions, you might even spot an elephant.
Generally speaking, the possibility of gorilla trekking and not seeing any gorillas is rare. Most guides are park rangers who see gorilla families on a daily or near-daily basis. They’re familiar with the movements of each gorilla family and can almost always find them.
In Uganda, gorilla trekkers need to be at least 15 years old. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park will sometimes make an exception for 14-year-old children who will turn 15 in the same year of the trek. Groups are limited to eight people.
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The general process of gorilla trekking in Rwanda is similar to that in Uganda, but there are a few important differences:
Just about all gorilla treks in Rwanda are in the beautiful Volcanoes National Park. The park is home to five volcanoes and is located in northwestern Rwanda. It’s about 160 km2.
When travelling to Rwanda, you may need a tourist visa. However, if you intend to visit Uganda or Kenya as well, you may be interested in an East African Tourist Visa. It’s slightly more expensive, but it allows you to travel to all three countries.
Costs Visa Rwanda: EUR46, USD50
Costs East African Tourist Visa: EUR93, USD100
Is Rwanda a Safe Country to Visit?
Unfortunately, most people outside of the country still associate Rwanda with the infamous genocide of 1994. The genocide erupted after the assassination of Rwandan President Habyarimana. It was the boiling point of a long-standing conflict between the Tutsi and Hutu ethnic groups. Though the genocide lasted only about 100 days, 500,000-1,000,000 Tutsis (as well as moderate Hutus) were killed.
However, since the genocide, Rwanda has worked to promote peace and right the wrongs of the past. Government officials arrested and tried the main perpetrators of the genocide and allocated substantial resources to the rebuilding of the country’s infrastructure, and the Tutsis and Hutus moved toward reconciliation.
Rwanda has been relatively politically stable for quite some time, but there is some tension between it and neighboring countries Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It’s a good idea to stay at least 10 km from these borders.
Like Uganda, Rwanda is also fairly safe for women. As always, stay alert and avoid going out at night, especially alone. Rwanda is actually Africa’s most gender-equal country.
Rwanda is relatively safe to visit. Travel Safe gives it a safety index of 37. But another ranking system named it the safest country in Africa and the sixth safest country in the world for solo travelers.
Rwanda and Uganda have similar weather patterns, and their dry seasons generally line up. The best time to go trekking is from June to September or mid-December to mid-February.
Rwanda has a few different airports, but you will probably fly into Kigali National Airport in the country’s capital. The drive from the airport to Volcanoes National Park is only a few hours.
You probably already guessed that Volcanoes National Park is home to some pretty steep terrain, so hiking through is not easy. Just like in Uganda, Rwanda’s forests are full of thick vegetation that can be challenging to move through.
You may hike anywhere from a half an hour to seven hours before spotting any gorillas, so it’s essential to dress appropriately and bring water and snacks. In Rwanda, you also have the option to hire a porter if required.
Volcanoes National Park is home to about 320 gorillas. Though Rwanda's gorilla population may seem relatively small, the park has nine habituated gorilla families, offering plenty of opportunities to see them in their natural habitat.
As you saw above, conservationists consider the gorillas in Mgahinga National Park, Volcanoes National Park, and Virunga National Park to be one population. A 2010 census estimated this population to be 480. By 2018, that number had grown to 604!
How Likely is Seeing Gorillas?
Like guides in Uganda, guides in Rwanda have years of experience finding and working with the country’s gorillas. Going on a trek and seeing no gorillas at all is virtually unheard of!
In Rwanda, you must be at least 15 years old to go on a gorilla trek. Just like Uganda, Rwanda allows a maximum of eight people in each group.
If you want a Rwanda or Uganda safari like no other, make a plan to visit endangered gorillas in their natural habitat.
Organising your trip and finalising the details can get overwhelming, but at Tourilla Tours, we take pride in guiding you through the once-in-a-lifetime experience of gorilla trekking in Uganda.
If you’re ready to book a tour or have any questions, please reach out as we would be delighted to help!
Don't hesitate to contact us anytime!
