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Luxury gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda
Rwanda & Uganda

Luxury gorilla trekking safaris

Stand a few meters from a family of mountain gorillas in the misty forests of the Virungas and Bwindi — for most people, it's the best hour they've ever spent watching wildlife.

Overview

Gorilla trekking is about as rare and moving as wildlife travel gets.

Fewer than 1,100 mountain gorillas remain, and they live only in the volcanic forests where Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC meet. On a luxury gorilla trekking safari, an expert guide leads you on foot to a habituated family, where you spend one unforgettable hour in their company — infants tumbling, a silverback watching calmly a few meters away.

We take care of everything — permits, private guides and great lodges — and fit your trek into a wider East Africa safari.

Where to trek

Rwanda or Uganda?

Both are exceptional. The right choice depends on your budget, fitness and how you want to combine your trek with the rest of your safari.

Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park

The easiest and most refined option — roughly 2–3 hours by road from Kigali, with the most luxurious lodges. Permits are USD 1,500 per person.

· Quickest access from an international airport · Exceptional luxury lodges on the park edge · Pairs with Big Five at Akagera & chimps at Nyungwe
Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

More gorilla families, lower-cost permits at USD 800 per person, and a natural pairing with a broader wildlife safari and chimpanzee tracking.

· Most gorilla families & permit availability · Gorilla-habituation experience (up to 4 hours) · Combine with Big Five & tree-climbing lions
Know before you go

Permits, fitness & the essentials

$1,500 / $800

Permit cost

Per person — USD 1,500 in Rwanda, USD 800 in Uganda. One hour with the gorilla family.

15+

Minimum age

Trekkers must be at least 15 years old — strictly enforced in both countries.

1–6 hrs

Trek length

Hiking time to the gorillas varies daily with their movements and the terrain.

8

Group size

A maximum of eight trekkers visit each habituated family per day, keeping it intimate.

Permit prices and regulations are set by the national park authorities and can change; we confirm current rates and secure your permits at the time of booking.

When to go

Best time to trek

Trekking is possible all year, but the drier months make the forest trails easier and the gorillas easier to reach. Permits for peak months sell out far ahead.

Jun–Sep

The long dry season — the most popular and easiest time to trek. Book permits 4–9 months ahead.

Dec–Feb

A second drier window — excellent conditions and slightly easier permit availability.

Mar–May, Nov

Wetter "green" season — muddier trails but lush forest, fewer trekkers and lower-season permit discounts in Uganda.

The primates

Who you'll meet in the forest

Gorillas are the headline act, but the forests of Rwanda and Uganda hold three extraordinary primate encounters — each with its own trek, permit and season.

01

Mountain gorilla

Around 1,000 remain, all in the wild. An hour with a habituated family — silverback, mothers, tumbling infants — is widely called the greatest wildlife encounter on earth. Treks run from 1 to 6+ hours; groups are capped at 8 guests per family.

Best places

Volcanoes NP (Rwanda), Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda)

Best time

Jun–Sep & Dec–Feb (drier trails); possible year-round

02

Chimpanzee

Fast, loud and thrillingly close to us — chimp trekking is a completely different energy from the gorillas' calm. Kibale holds East Africa's highest density, with sighting success above 90%.

Best places

Kibale Forest (Uganda), Nyungwe Forest (Rwanda)

Best time

Year-round; dry seasons for easier walking

03

Golden monkey

Found only in the Virunga volcanoes' bamboo forests — playful, photogenic troops that make a gentle half-day trek, and the perfect add-on the day before or after your gorilla permit.

Best places

Volcanoes NP (Rwanda), Mgahinga (Uganda)

Best time

Year-round; drier months for clearer trails

Where to stay

Recommended gorilla lodges

A handful of lodges sit moments from the park gates in Rwanda and Uganda — so you reach your gorilla trek rested, with the forest on your doorstep. These are the properties we book most, chosen for location, comfort and conservation.

Ultra-luxury Volcanoes NP, Rwanda

Singita Kwitonda Lodge

Eight suites on the edge of Volcanoes National Park, with volcano views, a spa and a reforestation project restoring the gorillas’ habitat — Rwanda at its most refined.

Experiences offered
Gorilla trekking Golden monkeys Spa Reforestation walks
Explore this lodge
Design & reforestation Volcanoes NP, Rwanda

Bisate Lodge

Wilderness’s dramatic forest-pod villas set in a reforested amphitheater below the Bisoke and Karisimbi volcanoes — architecture and conservation in equal measure.

Experiences offered
Gorilla trekking Tree planting Nature walks Birding
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Style & spa Volcanoes NP, Rwanda

One&Only Gorilla's Nest

Set in a eucalyptus forest at the foot of the Virunga volcanoes, with a destination spa and easy access to the trekking start points — polished and family-friendly.

Experiences offered
Gorilla trekking Spa Guided walks Cultural visits
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Community-owned Volcanoes NP, Rwanda

Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge

A warm, lodge-style base owned by the local community — every stay channels funds directly into conservation and surrounding villages.

Experiences offered
Gorilla trekking Golden monkeys Community visits Fireside dining
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Forest's edge Bwindi, Uganda

Bwindi Lodge

Volcanoes Safaris’ banda-style lodge right on the boundary of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest — gorillas sometimes wander through camp, and treks begin from the doorstep.

Experiences offered
Gorilla trekking Batwa cultural trail Forest walks Birding
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Inside the park Bwindi, Uganda

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp

The only camp set deep within Bwindi itself — a handful of tents under the canopy where you fall asleep to the sounds of the forest and the gorillas are never far.

Experiences offered
Gorilla trekking Forest walks Birding Bush dining
Explore this lodge

These are a few of our favorites — we work with many more across Volcanoes, Bwindi and Mgahinga. Have a specific lodge in mind? Tell us in your enquiry and we'll secure it.

The gateway city

A day in Kigali

Africa’s cleanest, safest capital — and the start of every gorilla journey. Arrive a day early; Kigali rewards it.

01

Kigali Genocide Memorial

A profoundly moving memorial and museum honoring the victims of 1994 — essential to understanding modern Rwanda’s remarkable story.

02

Inema Arts Center

The heart of Kigali’s thriving contemporary art scene — studios, galleries and works by East Africa’s rising painters.

03

Nyamirambo walking tour

Explore Kigali’s liveliest neighborhood with guides from the Nyamirambo Women’s Center — markets, tailors, street food and daily life.

04

Rwandan coffee culture

Rwanda grows some of the world’s finest bourbon arabica — taste it at specialty roasters where every cup supports women farmers.

05

Kimironko Market

Kigali’s biggest market — a sensory feast of fabrics, fruit and flowers, best explored with a local guide.

Pair your trek with a safari

Good to know

Gorilla trekking FAQs

A gorilla permit costs USD 1,500 per person in Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park) and USD 800 per person in Uganda (Bwindi and Mgahinga). The permit covers one hour with a habituated gorilla family. Permit prices are set by the park authorities and we confirm current rates at booking.

The drier months of June to September and December to February offer the easiest trekking and best availability, though trekking is possible year-round. These are tropical rainforests, so some rain is always possible.

Treks can take from one to several hours over steep, muddy, high-altitude terrain, so a reasonable level of fitness helps — though porters are available to assist. The minimum age is 15 years, strictly enforced in both Rwanda and Uganda.

Rwanda offers the easiest access (about 2–3 hours from Kigali) and the most luxurious lodges. Uganda has more gorilla families, lower-cost permits and pairs naturally with a broader wildlife safari. We advise on the best fit for your trip.

Permits are strictly limited — Volcanoes National Park issues only a small number each day — so we recommend booking 6–12 months ahead, especially for the peak June–September and December–February seasons.

Yes, and most travelers do. A gorilla trek combines beautifully with the Serengeti and Maasai Mara, or with Big Five game viewing and chimpanzee tracking within Rwanda and Uganda themselves.

Let's plan your
gorilla trek.

Permits are limited and book out months ahead. Tell us your dates and we'll secure yours and build the journey around it.

Enquire now