Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda 2025-2026.
The 2025–2026 Gorilla Trekking Safari in Uganda: Gorilla trekking is a thrilling and popular activity in Uganda that entails walking through tropical rainforests to find habituated mountain gorilla families and spending an hour with them in their natural habitat.
Where to go in Uganda in 2025–2026 for a gorilla trekking safari
The two locations for gorilla trekking in Uganda are Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, both of which are in the country’s southwest. Because it is home to the greatest number of mountain gorillas—which can be found in four locations: Buhoma sector in the north, Rushaga sector in the south, Ruhiija sector in the east, and Nkuringo sector in the south—Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most popular gorilla destination in Uganda.
The fascinating gorilla habitation experience, which allows people to spend four hours with the mountain gorillas, is another feature of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. During this procedure, the gorillas are educated to get used to human presence for trekking. Other places where gorilla trekking is practiced include the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kahuzi Biega National Park, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, and the Virunga National Park.
Ugandan gorilla hiking experience
The park headquarters provides a training on the laws and regulations to be followed during the remarkable and fascinating activity of gorilla trekking. Following the briefing, you will be split up into groups of eight, each of which will be assigned a habituated gorilla family to travel with and a park guide who is familiar with the jungle’s routes.
Because mountain gorillas are assigned based on factors including age, physical fitness, and personal choice, it is advisable that if you are not physically active, you speak with your driver guide so they can assign you to a nearby gorilla family.
Because mountain gorillas like to roam about in search of food, trekking with them in Uganda may take anywhere from 30 minutes to 7 hours, depending on the gorillas’ location. Great views of various plant and tree types, creatures such as forest elephants, buffaloes, duikers, other primates including chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, and l’hoest monkeys, as well as a variety of forest birds, may all be seen while trekking.
Once the mountain gorilla family has been identified, you will have the opportunity to see them feeding, nursing, playing, grooming, and other activities. You will also be able to snap pictures and document the moments to show your family back home after the safari.
The price of a Ugandan gorilla trekking permit for 2025–2026
Any tourist over the age of 15 who wishes to visit a habituated gorilla family in either Mgahinga Gorilla National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park must have a gorilla trekking permit, which is a legal card or document issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). In Uganda, a single gorilla trekking permit costs 800 USD for non-resident foreigners, 700 USD for locals, and 300,000 UGX for inhabitants of East Africa. Visitors may spend an hour with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat with a one-day gorilla trekking ticket.
The habituation permit costs 1,500 USD per person for foreign non-residents, 1,000 USD per person for foreign residents, and 750,000 UGX per person for East African nationals who want to participate in gorilla habituation. In contrast, tourists may spend four hours with the mountain gorillas if they have a gorilla habituation permit.
How to get permits for gorilla trekking in Uganda in 2025–2026
A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda may be obtained directly from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the government agency responsible for Ugandan tourism, by calling or emailing the main office in Kampala. Maseke Adventure Co.Ltd, a local tour company, is another way to get gorilla trekking permits in Uganda. You will get in touch with us with the dates, month, year, and place you want to visit when making a reservation via a tour operator.
We will verify if permits are available for your dates, and if they are, you will be required to pay a deposit. We will buy the gorilla trekking permit on your behalf as soon as we get the money, and we will confirm with a scanned copy of the receipt. The best option is to book through Maseke Adventure Co.Ltd because it is less taxing and we will not only obtain the gorilla trekking permit but also organize your entire safari, including lodging, transportation, meals, other activities, and other interesting places to see while in Uganda.
However, since gorilla trekking permits in Uganda are competitive and often sell out fast, particularly during the dry season, which runs from June to September and December to February, it is best to get them three to six months before to the trekking date. Therefore, it is recommended that you reserve the permits in advance to prevent last-minute hassles.
The best time to visit Uganda for a gorilla trekking safari is between 2025 and 2026.
Although gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda are possible throughout the year, the ideal time to go is in June, July, August, September, December, January, and February, which is also known as the peak season. Access roads and gorilla trekking paths will be dry and practicable during the dry season since the gorilla locations get less rainfall than during the rainy season, when the pathways are muddy, slippery, and damp, making walking challenging.
In Uganda, the wet season, sometimes referred to as the low season, which runs from March to May and November, is another time to go on a gorilla trekking safari. Even though the rainy season is marked by a lot of rain, there are some benefits, such as less tourists at gorilla locations and cheaper lodging, which appeals to those on a tight budget.
Things to bring on your 2025–2026 gorilla trekking expedition in Uganda
During your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda in 2025–2026, you should bring a variety of supplies, like as
Because mountain gorillas are susceptible to human infections, wearing a face mask and using hand sanitizer will both protect you from the fatal COVID-19 virus and prevent the mountain gorillas from contracting it.
When traveling in tropical rainforests, use hiking shoes to keep your feet dry and shield them from dirt, sharp items, and crawling insects.
If you handle plants while hiking, use garden gloves to protect your hands from prickly, itchy plants and bacteria.
Wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants will keep you warm in the morning and shield your skin from mosquitoes and scrapes.
Energy drinks, such as a packed lunch from the lodge, and plenty of water to stay hydrated while walking.
Wearing a waterproof jacket can protect you from rain since both Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are tropical rainforests, meaning that rain may occur at any time of year.
After the safari, a camera and additional batteries will be needed to capture the amazing experiences and shoot pictures to show folks back home.
A pair of binoculars offers a good view of various animals in the national park, including mammals, birds, black and white colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, and l’hoest monkeys.
Use insect repellent to shield your body from tsetse flies and mosquito bites.
Your gorilla trekking gear, including energy bars, a camera, binoculars, insect repellent, and facemasks, should be carried in a waterproof backpack to remain dry in the event of rain.
For more information on a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda in 2025–2026, please get in touch with Maseke Adventure Co.Ltd. You can also visit our website to find reasonably priced gorilla trekking safari packages in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda.
