Gorilla Trekking in Uganda: Where to Go & When to Go
When it comes to gorilla safaris, Uganda is hard to beat. This East African nation is home to over half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Learn more about these incredible destinations as you plan your safari and discover the best times to go gorilla trekking.
An Unforgettable Experience
High in the mountains of Bwindi, the air is filled with the sights and sounds of jungle life. The sun’s rays filter through the forest canopy. Birds call in the distance. And just a few feet away, a gorilla ambles towards a low-hanging vine, plucking leaves one by one as a baby gorilla clings to her back. This is the once-in-a-lifetime experience that so many travelers have been waiting for: spending an hour with the habituated, endangered mountain gorillas of Uganda.
There are currently over 1,065 mountain gorillas in the wild, and the majority of them live in the mountain forests of Uganda, making it one of the best locations for gorilla trekking in East Africa.
Where to Go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Gorilla trekking is done in two national parks in Uganda: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These parks offer a 90% success rate for gorilla sightings.
Regardless of where you trek in Uganda, it’s advised to book your safari early, as permits can sell out quickly–even a year in advance. The majority of fees collected by the government go directly back to conservation efforts of these endangered animals.
A gorilla trek can take between 3-8 hours, but once you find the gorillas, you get to spend an unforgettable hour with them in their natural habitat.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is home to over half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. A UNESCO world heritage site, it consists of a verdant stretch of tropical forest along the edge of the Albertine Right Valley. In addition to gorillas, the ancient forest boasts 90 different mammal species, including black-and-white colobus monkeys. Bwindi also offers incredible bird life and other wildlife, home to over 360 bird species and 200 butterfly species.
There are 17 different gorilla families habituated in Bwindi, and trekking in the park is done in any of the four different regions: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. If you’re wondering where to begin, we often recommend trekking in the Buhoma or Rushaga sector. They offer spectacular views, broader choices in accommodations, numerous activities, and—like all of Bwindi—excellent gorilla tracking.
Permits are required for trekking and are available by region. For ease of travel, we recommend basing your accommodation on the region in which you’ll be trekking.
BUHOMA
Buhoma is the most popular trekking site in Bwindi. The Buhoma sector is home to gorilla families including Mubare, Rushegura, and Habinyanja. The region also offers several trailheads for excellent nature walks, including the waterfall trail, which leads visitors to three stunning waterfalls. Community visits and mountain biking are also available.
Accommodations in Buhoma include Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp (high-end), Buhoma Lodge (luxury), and Mahogany Springs (mid-range).
RUHIJA
Located on the eastern side of the park, Ruhija is home to gorilla families including Bitukura, Oruzogo, and Kyaguriro. Ruhija is also a popular destination for birdwatching, nature walks, and hikes in the region.
Accommodations in Ruhija are more limited and include Ruhija Safari Lodge (mid-range) and Broadbill Forest Camp (mid-range).
NKURINGO
Nkuringo offers the most challenging hikes within Bwindi, with particularly steep and hilly climbs. But you’ll be well-rewarded with stunning views of the Virunga Volcanoes along the Uganda-Rwanda border.
After your trek, enjoy a cultural visit with the local Batwa or Bakiga communities, explore the trails on a nature walk, or go birding in the area with a pair of binoculars in hand. Accommodations in the Nkuringo region include Clouds Gorilla Lodge (high-end) and Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge (luxury).
RUSHAGA
This sector has the highest number of gorilla families in Bwindi, and includes the Mishaya, Busingye, Kahungye, and Bweza families. Rushaga also offers a gorilla habituation experience for travelers.
The high hills of Rushaga offer spectacular views, even giving visitors a chance to see the Virunga ranges of Uganda and Rwanda. After gorilla trekking, visitors can opt to take a canoe ride on the calm waters of nearby Lake Mutanda (about an hour away) or enjoy a nature walk through the forest.
Rushaga offers numerous accommodations, including Rushaga Gorilla Lodge (mid-range), Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge (luxury), and Clouds Gorilla Lodge (high-end).
GETTING TO BWINDI
Getting to Bwindi can be a long drive, depending where you’re traveling from in Uganda. The following are approximate travel times to Bwindi.
- Kampala or Entebbe: 8-10 hours (full day)
- Southern Ishasha Region of Queen Elizabeth National Park: 3-4 hours
- Northern regions of Queen Elizabeth National Park: 5-6 hours
- Lake Mburo: 5-7 hours
- Lake Bunyonyi: 3-4 hours
If you’re looking to break up the drive between Bwindi and Kampala/Entebbe, Lake Mburo and Lake Bunyonyi make excellent stopovers for the night.
If possible, many travelers opt to fly if they’re planning on traveling directly between the two regions. Scheduled flights are typically available from the Kihihi airstrip (to Buhoma & Ruhija) and Kisoro airstrip (for Rushaga & Nkuringo). Interesting in flying? Just as your Hornbill Travel Consultant during the planning process.
BWINDI AT-A-GLANCE
- Home to half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, including 17 habituated families for trekking
- Four different regions for excellent trekking in Bwindi: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo
- Buhoma and Rushaga sectors offer wider range of accommodations as well as great trekking
- Early booking of permits is recommended
- Scheduled flights typically available
- Bwindi also offers cultural visits with members of the local Batwa tribe, birdwatching, and scenic hikes
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Tucked into the southwestern corner of Uganda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park stretches across the northern slopes of three Virunga Volcanoes: Mt. Gahinga (3,474 m), Mt. Muhavura (4,127 m) and Mt. Sabinyo (3,645 m). The park is bordered by Rwanda (to the south) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (to the west).
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is less visited than Bwindi, as it only offers one habituated gorilla family for trekking. However, the experience is just as remarkable. And trekking in Mgahinga offers particularly stunning views, as you’ll be looking at the cloud-ringed Virunga Volcanoes in distance.
Because Mgahinga is less frequented than Bwindi, visitors have a better chance of obtaining last-minute gorilla trekking permits here than in Bwindi. That said, we still recommend planning in advance, as permits are limited throughout Uganda.
The park is also the only destination in Uganda to offer Golden Monkey trekking—an opportunity that’s worth staying an extra night in the region.
When it comes to accommodations in Mgahinga National Park, visitors often choose Mount Gahinga Lodge (high-end). Mutanda Lake also offers an excellent range of accommodations and is about an hour away. Accommodations there include Chameleon Hill Lodge (semi-luxe) and Mutanda Lake Resort (mid-range).
GETTING TO MGAHINGA
Driving to Mgahinga from Kampala takes a full day (at least 9-10 hours). Alternatively, scheduled flights are available from Kisoro to Entebbe. Flights from Kisoro-Entebbe take about 1.5 hours, followed by an 1-hour drive from Kisoro Airport to Mgahinga. Whenever feasible, we recommend skipping the drive in favor of flying.
Other approximate driving times include:
- Lake Mburo: 5-7 hours
- Queen Elizabeth National Park: 6-7 hours
Visitors can anticipate a rough access road for the final ascent into Mgahinga, but the views—and the wildlife experiences—are worth every moment.
MGAHINGA AT-A-GLANCE
- Home to one habituated gorilla family for trekking
- Scenic views of Virunga Volcanoes along the Uganda-Rwanda border
- Last-minute permits can sometimes be easier to obtain here
- Scheduled flights are typically available
- Mgahinga also offers scenic hikes, cultural visits with the local Batwa tribe, and Golden Monkey trekking
Best Times to Go Gorilla Trekking
Although it’s considered a year-round activity, the best time to go gorilla trekking is during Uganda’s two dry seasons: January to February and June to September. Rain is always a possibility in the country’s equatorial forests, but trekking during these months is likely to be less slippery and muddy.
Again, it’s always best to book a gorilla safari in advance to guarantee availability of trekking permits, especially when traveling during the high season.
No matter what destination you choose for your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda, the experience is sure to be a memorable one. To talk with a travel expert and start planning your gorilla trek, contact us.