Gorilla Trekking in Uganda: What to Expect in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
There is a moment on the Bwindi gorilla trek when your guide raises a hand and everything stops. The undergrowth shifts a few metres ahead, and a silverback looks straight back at you. Nothing prepares you for it, and no photograph does it justice.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is the single most requested experience on our East Africa itinerary, and it is also the one travellers ask us the most questions about. How hard is the hike? How do permits work? Is there an age limit? Here is what actually happens on the ground, based on the tour we run every Sunday from Entebbe.
Where you trek: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in south-western Uganda, and home to roughly half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. The name is earned. This is dense, ancient rainforest layered over steep hills, thick with ferns and vines, alive with birdsong and the noise of the canopy.
On our 13-day Uganda Pioneer tour, you reach Bwindi via Lake Mburo National Park and a long, scenic drive through rolling green hills, banana plantations and villages often shrouded in mist. Depending on where your permits are allocated, you may camp at Lake Bunyonyi or at the edge of the forest itself the night before your trek.
What gorilla trekking in Bwindi actually involves
On trekking morning, the group splits into smaller parties of no more than eight, each led by a local guide, and each heading out in search of a different gorilla family. The permits are strictly controlled to limit the impact on the gorillas, which is precisely why the experience stays as intimate as it does.
Then you walk. The going can be tough. Expect dense forest, steep and muddy paths, and uneven terrain underfoot. The trek can take anywhere from an hour to most of the day, depending on where the family has moved. Porters are available at the trailhead and are worth every cent, both for your knees and for the local livelihoods they support.
When you find them, you sit. Mountain gorillas share around 98% of our DNA, and you feel it immediately: the babies wrestling, the mothers watching, the silverback presiding over the lot with total indifference to your presence. Most people describe it as the closest they have felt to another species.
An hour in the company of a gorilla family — the reason travellers plan an entire trip around a single morning.
How gorilla permits work
This is the part worth understanding before you book. Gorilla permits in Uganda are limited, in high demand, and non-refundable once issued. A few practical points:
- The permit is not included in the tour rate and is paid separately. Drifters facilitates the purchase on your behalf.
- Because gorilla permits are limited, your trekking arrangements are confirmed once the required permit has been secured. Drifters will assist with arranging the permit as part of the booking process.
- Because permits are allocated across different days for different members of the group, not everyone in your party may trek on the same day.
- Travellers not trekking on a given day can visit a local village with a guide, or spend the day birding in the forest, which is exceptional in its own right.
The practical takeaway: book early, and travel with a flexible mindset about which day you trek and from which sector.
Is there an age limit for gorilla trekking in Uganda?
Yes. On our Uganda tours, travellers aged 17 and over are permitted on both the gorilla and chimpanzee treks. Travellers under 17 are considered on request, so speak to us before booking if you are travelling as a family.
The restriction exists to protect the gorillas as much as the trekker. Mountain gorillas are susceptible to human illness, and the rules around minimum age, group size and distance all exist to reduce that risk. There is also the physical reality of the hike, which is genuinely demanding.
When to go
Uganda sits on the equator, but Bwindi itself is high altitude and considerably cooler than the rest of the country. Expect a cooler rainforest climate, with mild days, cooler mornings and evenings, and rain possible throughout the year.
The wetter periods are generally March to May and September/October to November, with cloud building through the morning and breaking into heavy afternoon rain. Trekking is still very possible in the wet season, but the paths get slippery and a second pair of quick-drying shoes becomes essential. Night-time temperatures in June, July and August can be surprisingly cold, so factor that into your sleeping bag choice.
What to pack for the trek
- Lightweight but durable gloves for grabbing at vegetation on steep sections
- Long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt, for nettles and thorns
- Sturdy walking shoes with grip, plus a waterproof windbreaker
- A small daypack with water, snacks and sun cream
- A dry bag or waterproof cover for your camera
- Your own sleeping bag, towel, pillow and torch for the camping nights
What else you see on the 13-day Uganda tour
The gorilla trek is the headline, but it sits inside a fortnight that covers a remarkable amount of the country. From Entebbe you cross the equator and head to Lake Mburo National Park, the smallest park in Uganda and the only place you will find zebra, alongside hippo, crocodile and outstanding birdlife.
Crossing the equator on the road south from Entebbe — the first landmark of the 13-day route.
After Bwindi you descend to Queen Elizabeth National Park for two nights and a full day of game viewing. The Ishasha sector is famous for its tree-climbing lions, draped in the branches of giant fig trees. From there you travel the length of the park through the Maramagambo Forest and over the Kazinga Channel, stopping for lunch beneath the Rwenzori Mountains, the snow-capped “Mountains of the Moon” that rise over 5,000 metres barely a stone’s throw from the equator.
Queen Elizabeth National Park — two nights and a full day of game viewing, including the Ishasha tree-climbing lions.
Murchison Falls National Park delivers two more nights and a lot of activity: chimpanzee trekking on foot, a game drive across open savannah in search of the rare Rothschild’s giraffe, the Murchison Falls viewpoint where the Nile is forced through a narrow gorge, and a boat cruise on the Victoria Nile.
Chimpanzee trekking on foot — the second primate encounter on the itinerary, at Murchison Falls.
The Murchison Falls viewpoint, where the Nile is forced through a gorge just seven metres wide.
The tour finishes near Jinja at Kalagala Falls, on the Nile and the adventure capital of East Africa. White water rafting, bungee jumping over the Nile, horse riding and community project visits are all available before you make the drive back to Entebbe.
What the tour includes
- 12 nights: 11 in two-sleeper canvas dome tents and one in a hotel, with accommodation upgrades available at most stops
- Most meals: 12 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 11 dinners
- National park entrance fees for Lake Mburo, Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls
- One gorilla trek (permit payable separately) and one chimpanzee trek
- Full-day game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, game drive in Murchison Falls and the Victoria Nile boat trip
- Camping equipment, two professional guides and the Drifters adventure truck throughout
The tour departs Entebbe on scheduled Sundays with a maximum of 16 guests, and runs on a participation basis. Everyone lends a hand with cooking, dishes and pitching tents, which is a large part of why groups tend to leave as friends.
Frequently asked questions
Moderately to very difficult, depending on where the gorilla family has moved that morning. You should be comfortable hiking uphill for several hours on muddy, uneven ground. Porters are available to carry your daypack and assist on steep sections.
Viewing time with the family is limited to one hour, to protect the gorillas from human contact and illness. Guests must also maintain a distance of at least 10 metres from the gorillas at all times. Your guide manages this on the day.
Speak to your doctor or a travel-health professional well ahead of travel about recommended vaccinations, yellow fever requirements and malaria prevention.
Permits are tightly controlled and must be secured well in advance. Booking as part of a scheduled tour means the permit, the transport, the park fees and the guiding are handled for you, and your departure is only confirmed once the permit is in hand.
US Dollars are the preferred currency in Uganda. Bring a mix of small and large denominations, all dated 2009 or later and in good condition. Notes older than 2009 will not be accepted.
Ready to meet them?
The 13-day Uganda Pioneer tour departs from Entebbe every Sunday, with a maximum of 16 guests and two guides. Permits are limited and demand is high, so the earlier you enquire, the better your chances of securing the trekking dates you want.
Get in touch to check availability and start planning your Uganda adventure.
