You can only get a chance to enjoy a trek with Uganda’s endangered mountain gorillas if you have a valid gorilla permit. The current gorilla permit fees are at USD 800 per person and you can book your permit through our reservation team.

Some of the top accommodation options for visitors on gorilla trekking tour in Uganda include Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla leisure Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Lake Mulehe Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Lake Mutanda resort, Bakiga Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Silverback Lodge Bwindi, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Rushaga gorilla havens lodge, Mount. Gahinga lodge, Travelers Rest hotel and more.

Other experiences to add on your Virunga gorilla trek include birding, landscape viewing, Nyiragongo volcano hike, chimpanzee tracking, nature walks, Senkwekwe orphanage visit and more.

Visitor overnight stay is possible in any of the budget, midrange or luxury accommodation options. The available lodges in and around Virunga NP include Kibumba Tented Camp, Lulimbi Tented Camp, Mikeno Lodge, Tchegera Island Camp and Bukima Tented Camp.

Kahuzi-Biega National Park –this happens to be the only location for tourists to enjoy a trek to see Eastern lowland gorillas. This park lies in the Eastern Province of D.R. Congo and holds up to 5 habituated gorilla families. Kahuzi-Biega Park expands up to 6000sq.km and has families like Nganwe, Bonnani gorilla family, Mugaruka group, Chimanuka group and Mpungwe group.

Visitor overnight stay is possible in the accommodation around the park including Orchid’s Safari Club, Mont Kahuzi Hotel, Hotel Begonias, Exodus Bukavu Camp, Lakeside Hotel and more. Note, the cost of gorilla permits for lowland gorilla safaris is same as that of mountain gorilla adventures that is USD 400 per person.

Mountain gorilla trekking is specifically done in the 4 parks where the massive mountain gorillas survive from. That is in the Virunga National Park in the D.R. Congo, Uganda’s Bwindi and Mgahinga NP, then Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. The Eastern lowland gorilla trekking takes place only in Kahuzi-Biega National Park in the D.R. Congo.

The lowland gorilla trekking involves searching for already habituated Eastern lowland gorilla families and mountain gorilla treks entirely take you on a close interaction with the rare mountain gorillas.

All gorilla families (whether mountain gorillas or eastern lowland gorillas) are led by dominant male silverbacks. These are huge mature male gorillas with silver like hair grown on their backs up to the hips. They are popular for their physical strength and they take charge of the entire group, defending the rest of the members from attacks or enemies, responsible for mating and also search for areas for feeding in the course of the day.

• About 1063 mountain gorillas still live in the wild.
• Mountain gorillas exist in the 2 isolated groups –the Virunga Conservation Area and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
• They share about 98% of their DNA with humans.
• They have 16 distinct types of call.
• Mountain gorillas stay in families each led by a mature silverback.
• They are found only in the 4 parks and 3 countries.
• Scientifically, mountain gorillas are referred to as Gorilla beringei beringei and as of 2018, IUCN listed them as endangered.

• Like mountain gorillas, the Eastern lowland gorillas are a sub-species of Eastern gorilla.
• The Eastern lowland gorillas is famed as Grauer’s gorilla.
• They are notably the biggest of the 4 sub-species of gorillas
• They have stocky bodies, huge hands and shorter muzzles.
• They can be trekked in the D.R. Congo’s Kahuzi-Biega National Park (KBNP).
• About 6000 individuals of Eastern lowland gorillas are left on earth today.

Visits to interact with Uganda gorillas or in the D.R. Congo and Rwanda can be done at any time of the year. But the dry season is incredibly the most preferred thanks to its favorable weather conditions characterized by low or completely no rains. The best months of the year to go gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and D.R. Congo is around June, July, August and December to February.

Regardless of the month or period that you intend to visit gorillas, packing right should be considered. The essentials that you may require for a successful gorilla trek in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC include waterproof hiking boots, camera free of flashlight, waterproof daypack, long-sleeved shirts, a rain jacket, a sweater, trousers, a tin of an insect repellent, first aid kit, snacks and bottled water, etc.

If you intend to engage in a gorilla trekking adventure, then be ready for active hike because this is not the ordinary town or city walks you have had. The trek with gorillas takes 2-6 hours involving winding via the lush rainforest and at times steep slopes. These apes often spend their time in high altitudes of 1160 to 2607m and the entire adventure requires moderate level of fitness.

Different gorilla families offer varying gorilla trekking experiences from easy to hard thus presenting guests a choice. In case you desire a family that provides trekking challenge, the park official can still allocate one for you.

The cost of a gorilla trekking tour varies depending on a number of factors including the length of stay in the destination, means of transportation, accommodation type, the destination choice as each has a set rates for gorilla permits; and others. But a Uganda gorilla tour may cost around USD 1250 to 2900 per person sharing.