A privilege, not a performance
Mountain gorillas live in the Afromontane forests of Uganda (Bwindi, Mgahinga) and Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park). They are critically endangered, and their protection depends on careful management and on the behaviour of every visitor.
Permits and limits
Trekking requires a permit, issued in limited numbers each day. A permit grants one hour with a habituated family. These limits exist to protect the gorillas from stress, disease and disturbance — not simply to manage crowds. Book well in advance; permits sell out.
Health rules matter
Because gorillas share so much of our biology, they are vulnerable to human illnesses. If you are unwell — even with a cold — you should not trek. Masks may be required near the family. Keep the required distance. These rules are conservation, not bureaucracy.
On the mountain
You walk in small groups with armed rangers and trackers. The trek can be long and is over uneven, steep, wet terrain. You may wait, and you may walk for hours. When the family is reached, you observe quietly, briefly, and on their terms.
What we cannot promise
We cannot promise a particular family, a short trek, or a close, calm encounter. Gorillas are wild. They move, they react, and they decide how near they come. The encounter is extraordinary precisely because it is not staged.
The deeper reward
Gorilla trekking funds conservation and community programmes around the parks. A journey built around it supports the protection of one of the rarest animals on earth — if it is done with respect.
If you would like to plan a gorilla journey, tell us which country interests you and how much time you have.
Continue the Journey
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