All about Mountain Gorilla Trekking!

Mountain Gorilla trekking or safari is a year-round activity in Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC. Uganda is home to half the world’s Mountain Gorilla population. Seeing these animals up close in their natural habitat is one of the most impressive wildlife encounters in Africa. Visiting the gorillas directly supports conservation efforts and population growth.

Multi-week adventures including gorilla trekking

Gorilla trekking can be done as a standalone adventure, but is usually combined with other safari experiences in the south-west. Below are some examples of what is possible. Our team can help you choose the trip that’s right for you, or build a tailor-made itinerary to get the most out of your time in the country.

How safe is gorilla trekking? is gorilla trekking dangerous?

Where can I trek gorillas in Uganda?

There are two gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Bwindi is by far the more popular choice as the park contains a greater population of gorillas, is better situated for fly-in safaris, and has a greater range of accommodation options.  

Which park you visit will depend on your wider travel plans and the time you have available. There is no difference in permit prices or chances of sightings across the two parks. 

As you’ll notice from the map on the left, both Bwindi and Mgahinga are in the deep southwestern pocket of Uganda, near the border with Rwanda to the south and the DRC to the west. 

Many of Uganda’s safari destinations are also found in the south-west. This makes it easy to combine a savannah safari with gorilla trekking to create a single itinerary bursting with once-in-a-lifetime experiences. 

Uganda Gorilla Permits

Where do mountain gorillas live?

There are only two separate populations of mountain gorillas left in the world, with a total population of over 1,000 gorillas in the wild:

• Virunga Mountains, Central Africa (440km² area)
• Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda (330km² area)

Where to See Gorillas in Africa

When is the best time to go for mountain gorilla trekking in africa?

Mountain Gorilla trekking or safari is a year-round activity in Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC. Peak season is July and August, with “long rains” from March to May and “short rains” in November.

• Dry season from June to September; mid-December to early February
• Rain Season from March to May and from August to November

Why is Gorilla Trekking so Expensive?

How safe is gorilla trekking? is gorilla trekking dangerous?