Gorilla Trekking FAQ: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

In Rwanda, a standard permit costs $1,500 per person for foreign non-residents, issued by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) for treks in Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda occasionally runs a promotional low-season discount (roughly 30%, bringing it to about $1,050) for travelers combining a gorilla trek with visits to two other Rwandan parks, though this discount is suspended during the June–October peak.

In Uganda, the standard permit is $800 per person through the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Uganda introduced a low-season discount of $600 per person for April, May, and November 2026 — but these discounted permits cannot be rescheduled if your plans change.

Rwanda deliberately prices high to keep visitor numbers low, protect the gorillas, and maximize conservation funding — it markets itself as a premium, high-value, low-volume experience. Uganda takes a more accessible pricing approach while still keeping strict daily quotas. Rwanda also has the advantage of being just 2.5–3 hours from Kigali International Airport, versus Bwindi’s 8–10 hour drive (or a shorter charter flight) from Entebbe.

In both countries, it covers one guided trek with trained trackers and armed park rangers, park entry for the day, and exactly one hour with your assigned gorilla family once located. It does not cover accommodation, transport, meals, or porters.

3–6 months ahead for peak season in either country (June–September and December–February). For the busiest weeks, or for Uganda’s limited gorilla habituation experience (GHEX) permits, book as early as possible — sometimes 6–12 months out.

Yes, in Uganda’s Rushaga sector only. It lets you spend up to four hours with a gorilla family still being habituated to humans, alongside researchers and trackers. It currently costs around $1,800 per person, with an increase to $1,800 planned from mid-2026/2027.

Rwanda allows direct booking through RDB’s Irembo platform or via a licensed tour operator. Uganda now requires foreign travelers to book through a licensed Ugandan tour operator — as of March 2026, UWA no longer accepts direct individual bookings, and permits must be paid in full at time of booking (the old 7-day reservation hold has been scrapped).

In Rwanda, you’re typically assigned a family on the morning of your trek based on fitness and preference. In Uganda, you book a sector (Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, or Nkuringo in Bwindi, or Mgahinga) rather than a specific family — so it’s important your lodge is near the gate of the sector on your permit, since sectors can be hours apart.

Rwanda’s permits are generally non-refundable and non-transferable once issued for a specific person and date. Uganda offers partial refunds in some cases: around 50% if illness is confirmed by a park warden, 75% if trackers fail to locate the gorillas after a full day’s search, and 100% if the sole Mgahinga family crosses into Rwanda or DRC before your trek.

Anywhere from 1–2 hours to 7–8 hours of hiking, depending on where the gorilla family happens to be that day — it’s unpredictable since gorillas move daily in search of food. You get exactly one hour with them once found.

Both treks involve hiking at altitude (roughly 1,500–2,600m/5,000–8,500ft) on uneven, sometimes steep and muddy terrain. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park terrain is generally more open; Uganda’s Bwindi (“Impenetrable” isn’t just marketing) is denser rainforest with no clear trails — you follow trackers through thick vegetation. Reasonable fitness helps, but most healthy adults manage it at their own pace.

Both parks offer porters to carry your bag and assist on tough sections — a good way to support local livelihoods, too. Uganda also offers a “sedan chair” service (several porters carry you in a chair) for those with mobility limitations, usually $300–500.

15 years old in both Rwanda and Uganda — a firm rule with no exceptions.

A minimum distance rule applies to protect the gorillas from human disease (they share roughly 98% of human DNA, so even a cold can be dangerous to them). Historically this was 7 meters; some operators note stricter 10-meter enforcement in 2026. Rangers manage this actively during your visit.

Success rates are consistently reported above 95–98%, since trackers head out at dawn to locate the families before visitors arrive. On the rare occasion a family isn’t found, Uganda offers a partial refund or a second attempt if permits are available.

You should not trek if you’re feeling unwell (cold, flu, etc.) — rangers can and do turn away visibly sick visitors to protect the gorillas. Check current requirements for yellow fever vaccination and routine travel vaccines with a travel clinic, since these can change.

Sturdy waterproof hiking boots, gardening-style gloves (for gripping vegetation), long trousers and long sleeves (both for scratches and biting safari ants, which are common but harmless), a rain jacket, and a daypack with water and snacks. Layering matters — mornings are cool, but you’ll warm up fast while hiking.

Rwanda suits travelers prioritizing convenience, shorter travel times from the airport, more open terrain, and luxury lodges — at a premium price. Uganda suits those prioritizing value, since permits cost roughly half, and it also offers the more immersive (if physically demanding) Bwindi rainforest experience, plus the unique habituation option. Many travelers also combine both countries, or add Rwanda’s Nyungwe/Akagera parks or Uganda’s chimp trekking for a fuller itinerary.

Yes — some itineraries combine Rwanda and Uganda gorilla treks, or pair gorilla trekking with chimpanzee tracking, given the parks sit near each other in the Virunga region.