Everything you’ve been wondering about gorilla trekking.

Reasonably fit. The trek is 2–8 hours through hilly, often muddy forest at 1,500–2,500m altitude. We pair you with a gorilla family that suits your fitness — easier families live closer to the trailhead, harder ones deeper in. Hiring a porter ($20) is highly recommended.

Anywhere from 1 to 7 hours of walking, plus exactly one hour with the gorilla family once they’re found. Most travellers are back at the lodge by mid-afternoon. The trackers radio your guide as soon as they’ve located the family.

You trek anyway — it’s a rainforest, the rain is the point. Light showers are normal. We supply gardening gloves, and a good rain jacket and hiking boots are on the pack list. Gorillas don’t care about the weather.

Drier months are June–September and December–February. Trails are firmer, but permits sell out 4–6 months ahead. The green season (March–May, October–November) is lush, quieter, and lodges are softer on price — sightings are equally common.

Yes. The Uganda Wildlife Authority requires trekkers to be 15 or older. There’s no upper limit — we regularly trek with travellers in their 70s.

Most travellers go to Bwindi — more habituated families, more trail variety, and more lodges. Mgahinga has only one habituated family but feels intimate and the Virunga volcano scenery is spectacular. We can do either, or both in one trip.

$800 per person sounds steep, but the bulk of it funds ranger salaries, anti-poaching patrols, and community-revenue sharing schemes around the parks. Mountain gorilla numbers are now rising — that progress is paid for by your permit.

No. Rangers enforce a 7-metre distance. Gorillas share 98% of human DNA and are vulnerable to our respiratory infections. If a young gorilla approaches you out of curiosity, the ranger will guide you to step back gently.

Phones and cameras are allowed — flash is not. There’s plenty of natural light in the forest gaps where families typically rest. We recommend a fast lens (f/2.8 or wider) and a high-ISO-capable body.

Sturdy waterproof boots (broken in), long trousers, a rain jacket, a daypack, gardening gloves, sunscreen, insect repellent, and 2L of water. We send a complete pack list when you book — and you can rent gloves and gaiters at the trailhead if you forget.

Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory and you must show the certificate at the park gate. Anti-malarial prophylaxis is strongly recommended. You cannot trek if you’re visibly unwell — bring a backup day if you’re flying in tight.

Children under 15 cannot trek gorillas (UWA rule). For families, we run trips that combine a gorilla trek for the eligible adults with a community visit, lake activities, or a non-gorilla park day for the kids. Tell us your group structure and we’ll design around it.

Not at all. We run private departures for groups of 1–8. Solo travellers do pay a small single supplement on accommodation, but the trek itself is the same price.

It’s welcome but never required. Standard practice: $10–20/day for your driver-guide, $5–10 for the trekking ranger, $10 for the porter. We send a full tipping guide before you fly out.

Permits are non-refundable once issued by UWA — that’s our cost, not a markup. Lodges and transport components are refundable up to 60 days out, partially refundable up to 30 days. Trip insurance with cancellation cover is required.