Travel Guide for gorilla trekking in Uganda 2025.
The most popular activity that draws large numbers of tourists to Uganda is gorilla trekking, which entails walking through the tropical rainforest in search of endangered mountain gorillas and spending an hour with them in their natural habitat. This is the travel guide for gorilla trekking in Uganda in 2025. This travel guide will help you plan a successful gorilla trekking tour in Uganda in 2025.
There are several things to think about when organizing your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda, such as the gorilla destination to visit, the cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda, how to book a gorilla trekking permit, which tour company to use, the best time to go on your gorilla trekking safari, and what to pack for your gorilla trekking adventure.
Where to go in Uganda in 2025 for a gorilla trekking safari
Uganda is the most popular gorilla destination since it is home to half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. Two locations in the southwest of Uganda are used for gorilla trekking: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. More than 21 habituated gorilla families can be found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, whereas just one habituated gorilla family can be found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Gorilla trekking in both locations begins with a briefing on the laws and regulations to bring to the park headquarters. Following the briefing, you will be split up into groups of eight, and each group will be paired with a park guide who is familiar with the gorilla trekking paths and a habituated gorilla family to hike.
Because gorillas like to roam about in search of food, hiking with them in Uganda might take anything from thirty minutes to seven hours, depending on the location. While trekking, you will have the chance to see other primate species, birds, plants, and trees.
After you locate the mountain gorillas, you will be able to spend an hour with them in their natural habitat, where you can observe their daily activities, such as feeding, nursing, and grooming their young, take pictures, and document the amazing moments to share with people back home.
The price of a Ugandan gorilla trekking permit in 2022
Any tourist over the age of 15 who wishes to visit any habituated gorilla family in either the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park or the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park must have a gorilla trekking permit, which is a legal card or document issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is 300,000 UGX per person for East African nationals, 800 USD per person for international non-residents, and 700 USD per person for foreign residents.
How to reserve permits for gorilla trekking in Uganda in 2025
In Uganda 2025, gorilla trekking permits may be reserved directly from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) by calling or emailing the main office. By emailing us with the dates and location you want to visit, you can also reserve gorilla trekking permits in Uganda via a reputable tour operator like Maseke Adventure Co.Ltd.
After getting in touch with us, we will verify if permits are available for your dates. If they are, you will be required to pay a deposit. We will buy the permits on your behalf as soon as we receive the funds, and we will confirm with a scanned copy of the receipt.
However, gorilla trekking permits in Uganda are competitive and sell out quickly, especially during the dry season from June to September and December to February. Therefore, it is recommended that you book three to six months prior to the trekking date to avoid last-minute disappointments.
Which tour operator to choose for your Ugandan gorilla trekking safari
There are several things to look for when selecting a tour operator for your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda, such as how quickly they respond to your emails, whether they are affiliated with any travel associations, visiting their website, and reading Trip Advisor or Safari Booking reviews, among other things. The Travel Guide for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda 2025 lists many reliable tour operators that you can choose from for your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda, such as Maseke Adventure Co.Ltd, Explore Rwanda Tours, and Focus East Africa Tours.
Things to bring on your Ugandan gorilla trekking expedition
Ugandan gorilla trekking takes place in tropical jungles, and you need bring a variety of supplies for your safari, such as
Wearing hiking boots when climbing up steep hills can help keep your feet dry and support your ankles.
Wearing a long-sleeved shirt and pants can keep you warm in the morning and shield you from ants.
Gorilla trekking takes around seven hours, so you’ll need energy food and drinks to stay hydrated.
Since gorilla trekking is conducted in tropical rainforests, rain may fall at any time of day, regardless of the season, thus you should wear a waterproof rain jacket to protect yourself from it.
For the hour spent with the mountain gorillas, a camera and additional batteries are needed to capture pictures and film movies using a flash-less camera.
Because the gorilla sites are home to a range of bird species, a pair of binoculars is necessary for good observation of other animals and bird species.
Use insect repellent to keep mosquitoes and tsetse flies away from you.
Your gorilla trekking necessities, including energy bars, drinking water, bug repellant, a camera, and hand sanitizer, should be carried in a waterproof backpack.
For safety and protection against the hazardous Covid-19 virus, use hand sanitizer and wear a face mask. Because mountain gorillas are susceptible to human illnesses, the virus may readily infect them.
The ideal year to go gorilla trekking in Uganda.
Although gorilla trekking in Uganda is possible throughout the year, the ideal time to go is in the dry season, which runs from June to February. Access roads and gorilla trekking paths in the forest will be dry and navigable during the dry season since gorilla locations get less rainfall than during the rainy season, when the pathways are muddy, slippery, and damp, making walking challenging.
