Into the Mist: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Cynthia Esquieres
- Mar 6
- 5 min read
So you want to do a gorilla trek in Uganda?
We can tell you firsthand, that it is one of the most extraordinary wildlife experiences in the world — an intimate encounter with nature’s gentle giants deep in the misty forests of East Africa. Each trek will be different but here is a glimpse of what our experience was like:
We started our trek briefing with a park ranger at 8:30am in Bwindi National Forest. Bwindi has 4 areas you can start your trek from, all of which are based on availability during your booking. At the time of writing, there are roughly 480 mountain gorillas in Bwindi (nearly half of the world’s population), consisting of 26 family groups or “troops”. Permits are limited to 8 people for each group of gorillas a day, so it is considered a privilege to experience this since only a little over 200 people a day are allowed to trek. Each trekking group will travel with a ranger, and 2 armed guards (not so much for the gorillas but for the mountain elephants that can be aggressive), and porters if needed (it costs $20 a porter to carry your items and help push or pull you up the mountain).
Treks vary from moderate to difficult, it is all dependent on the gorillas location from the night before. But the great thing in Uganda is that even if you are not physically fit to hike or if you have medical disabilities, they can still take you! You have the option of what they call a “Ugandan helicopter”, which is a specialized "carriage" system, known as a sedan chair. A team of local porters carries the person in this chair through the forest to the location of the gorillas and back. It isn’t cheap, prices starts at $300 depending on the weight of the person and how far they have to actually carry you.
Most gorilla treks take place in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, in southwestern Uganda. These ancient rainforests are mist-covered, lush, and alive. We trekked in the North entrance of Bwindi. Every morning groups of experienced trackers go out at 630am and start to look for their assigned gorilla group. A group is identified by their leader (usually a silverback). They look for droppings, paths, leftover food & gorilla nests. Trekking can take anywhere from 3-6 hours, depending where your assigned gorilla troop has moved overnight. The terrain is steep and muddy at times — you’re moving through thick vegetation, sometimes on narrow trails cut through the forest.
The forest is wild and untamed, a world that feels ancient and sacred. After hours of climbing and winding through the mist, we wait for the signal from the trackers. Sometimes it's simply a waiting game until our trackers can confirm which directions the gorillas are heading. We used this down time to eat our lunches. For those wondering where the bathroom is, it's anywhere in the forest! But beware of fire ants climbing up your legs, they encourage us to wear our socks over our pants to help prevent this.
Once the gorillas are located they will radio your lead ranger so they know which direction to take us. Despite the excitement, everyone moves quietly. Then, in a small clearing you see them. A huge silverback sits watching over his group, while a female nurses their baby, and juveniles climb trees nearby. For one hour, time disappears and you’re part of their world, observing and photographing from a safe distance (about 7 meters). Our specific silverback was quite playful, he observed us as much as we did him. He loved to pretend to charge towards us (giving us mini heart attacks), just to roll over in front of our feet as if asking for a tummy rub. Gorillas are gentle giants and will not attack unless provoked. Another thing to consider is to watch where you are standing, many times we didn’t notice other gorillas in the trees above us. Although it makes for a funny story, I wouldn’t want to be that unlucky trekker that gets pee’d or poo’d on by a gorilla! Rangers and guides will remind you to maintain the distance throughout the viewing period. Occasionally, a curious gorilla may approach you — if that happens, the rule is to stay still and let them pass without reaching out or making sudden movements.
After this magical experience, you’ll trek back to where you started and receive your certificate of your successful completion!
Some gorilla rules to consider:
Masks are required since Covid, we share 98% of our DNA with them and don't want them to get sick or vice versa. You are not allowed to remove them even for pictures (please don’t try this because the rangers will be the ones that get in trouble, don’t risk their jobs or livelihood for a maskless selfie).
Your hair has to be hidden as much as possible, the curious juveniles love pulling on it.
The gorillas can touch you but you can't touch them.
So how much will this cost me?
In Uganda, gorilla permits are $800. Honestly, I thought it was an outrageous price at first. But after doing the actual trek I felt the fees were more than reasonable and here’s why:
1. Conservation Comes FirstMountain gorillas are critically endangered — fewer than 1,100 remain in the wild (found only in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo). The cost of your permit directly supports protecting them:
Funding for rangers and anti-poaching patrols
Maintaining park infrastructure
Medical monitoring and research to keep the gorillas healthy
2. Limited Permits Protect the GorillasOnly a small number of visitors are allowed to see gorillas each day — typically 8 people per gorilla family. This strict limit prevents stress on the animals and preserves their natural behavior. Because spaces are so limited, the experience stays exclusive — and the permits hold high value.
3. Supporting Local CommunitiesA significant portion of trekking fees goes toward community development in nearby villages. This helps locals benefit directly from conservation through:
Jobs as guides, porters, and trackers
School and healthcare funding
Sustainable tourism initiatives
4. Challenging LogisticsThe trekking experience takes place deep in remote mountain rainforests, which require constant upkeep:
Maintaining rugged trails and ranger stations
Supplying and training skilled staff
Providing emergency and medical support in isolated areas
Every trek involves a coordinated effort between rangers, trackers, guides, and park authorities to make it safe and seamless.
5. It’s a Once-in-a-Lifetime EncounterFinally, gorilla trekking isn’t just a tour — it’s an intimate experience with one of the rarest species on Earth. Few wildlife moments are this raw, emotional, and exclusive. Your fee ensures that these encounters remain ethical, safe, and sustainable, so travelers in the future can experience them too.
Ready to Experience It for Yourself? It’s worth every etep (and every dollar).
At LBE Travel and Tours, we believe in journeys that move you — experiences that go beyond sightseeing to touch the soul, that allows you Live Beyond Expectations. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is one of those rare adventures that reminds you what travel is truly about: wonder, respect, and the beauty of the wild. Join us on our next Gorilla Trekking Expedition and step into Uganda’s misty forests to meet the gentle giants of Bwindi.
🌍 Uganda has more to offer than just gorilla trekking, discover our full itinerary of the Pearl of Africa, and reserve your spot today with LBE Travel and Tours. Next group tour is set for Jan 2027, private tours available all year round.
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