Introduction
Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is one of the most rewarding and unforgettable safari experiences you can have.
Beyond being home to the iconic mountain gorillas, the forest is alive with so much more. Bwindi is a sanctuary for colobus monkeys and chimpanzees, and a paradise for bird lovers, with flashes of color from hornbills, turacos and countless other species hidden among the trees.
As you follow the mountain gorilla trails through the forest, you’ll discover this rich world along the way — every sound, movement and encounter adding another layer to the experience. It’s not just about meeting the gorillas; it’s about immersing yourself in the living, breathing heart of Bwindi.
Destination
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Day 1 - 3
Located in southwestern Uganda, the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is said to be Africa’s oldest rainforest. It is world-renowned for its excellent gorilla-sighting opportunities - the forest is home to half of the remaining mountain gorillas on earth. This gorilla experience takes place among a rugged landscape of dense jungle, cascading waterfalls, sparkling mountain streams, deep valleys, and steep ridges. The untouched forest has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its breathtaking natural beauty and unique ecological significance. Aside from the amazing gorilla interactions, there are other drawcards such as a network of forest walks, over 340 species of bird to spot, and a variety of brightly colored butterflies to identify.
Experiences
Day 1
Nshongi Camp • Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Day Notes
Your driver-guide picks you up from your preferred location or from Entebbe International Airport, and the journey begins. You travel across Uganda towards the lush, mist-covered hills of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
It’s a full day on the road — but never a dull one. Along the way, the landscape shifts, villages pass by, and the rhythm of everyday life unfolds outside your window. There is plenty to see, hear and feel as you slowly move deeper into the heart of the country.
You’ll stop along the way for a relaxed lunch break, before continuing your journey towards the forest.
Day 2
Day Notes
Wake early and enjoy a hearty breakfast — you’ll need the energy for the adventure ahead. Before 8:00 am, you make your way to the ranger station, where one of the rangers welcomes you and shares essential guidelines and stories from the forest.
Then it’s time to step into the wild. Together with your guides, you disappear into the bush, gently pushing through the undergrowth as you track the gorillas. The trek can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a full 5 to 6 hours, depending on where the gorillas are that day. A reasonable level of fitness and a sturdy pair of walking shoes will serve you well.
And then… you find them.
You sit quietly in the forest among the gorillas, listening as they ‘talk’ to one another, and marvel at the sheer presence of the dominant male — the Silverback.
There is something truly extraordinary about sitting in the dense rainforest, knowing you are sharing this moment with some of the last remaining mountain gorillas on Earth. With only around 650 of these beautiful creatures left, this encounter feels intimate, humbling and unforgettable.
Day 3
Day Notes
After an early breakfast, your guide picks you up from your lodge and you begin the journey back to Kampala. As the landscape slowly passes by, there’s time to reflect on the encounters, the silence of the forest and the unforgettable moments you’ve just experienced.
You arrive at your preferred location in Kampala — carrying memories that will stay with you long after the journey ends.
This marks the end of your gorilla safari, but the story travels on with you.
PACKAGE INCLUDES
National Park entry permits
Gorilla Trekking Permits
Boat / Canoeing Fees
Tour Guides Park fees
Safari Vehicle, Gas & Driver
B&B Accommodation
Airport transfer
Lunch enroutes and mineral water
PACKAGE EXCLUDES
Spirits/alcoholic drinks
Laundry
Tips
And other personal activities are your personal charge
What to wear when gorilla trekking
It’s likely that you’ll be trekking through mud and covered in dirt by the end of your trek so consider bringing clothes that you won’t mind ruining.
Trekking pants.
T-shirt and long-sleeved shirt.
Waterproof or water-resistant jacket.
Fleece or light jacket.
Trekking shoes.
Hat.
Food and Water
What to Expect on the Gorilla Trekking Day
Your Team: Guides, Scouts, Trackers
Don’t forget to bring your passport with you as officials at the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park office will need to verify your trekking permit against your identification. After a quick briefing on safety measures and what to expect during the day, you will be assigned to a group of a maximum of 8 people for your gorilla family search and visit.
Each Bwindi gorilla trekking safari group consists of a main guide and two scouts who carry AK-47 guns and walk before and after the group. You’ll be told that the reason for armed scouts is for protection in the forest against wild elephants or angry, unhabituated gorillas. The scouts are trained to fire shots into the air first in order to scare away the animals. We’ve never heard of anyone coming across these wild animals, but you should understand that the policy of the National Park is to be safe rather than sorry.
Your group will also have a pair of gorilla trackers who will have been sent out in the early morning (prior to your arrival in the park) to find the location of your specific gorilla family and to assess where they may be headed. Trackers communicate the gorilla’s movements to the guide so that he can decide on the best approach to meet the gorilla family.
Recommended Read:
Trekking to Find the Gorillas
The length of your overall experience and the amount of time it will take to actually meet your gorilla family is said to vary widely. It may take as little as 30 minutes to find your family and as long as five to six hours.
The forest is lush, humid and damp and there are no discernible trekking paths. The terrain is full of hills and steep slopes where you will be required to pull yourself up steep jungle grades by grasping onto branches, plant roots, bushes and more. Follow the lead of the guide as to the best path and form to take.
If you need a break, let your Bwindi gorilla trekking safari guide know. The worst thing that can happen is if you overexert yourself or don’t hydrate enough and are forced to leave the park before you find the gorillas.
The moment with the Gorillas
Once your group finds the gorilla family the clock starts: you have an hour to spend with them.
Now is when you want to stay quiet, move slowly and avoid sudden movements. You’ll find that just sitting, enjoying being in the gorillas’ presence is the best experience.
It’s not a problem to look a gorilla in the eye, but if he begins charging you, hold your ground but lower your eyes to indicate that you do not want a confrontation. Photos and videos are fine, but no flash.
Ideally, you’ve found several gorillas together in a clearing on the ground. This provides you easy visibility and you can just sit and observe. In other situations, the gorillas are up and moving around — in the trees, behind bushes, or walking around through dense brush. Follow the lead of the trackers and guides and stay close as they move around to find other gorillas.
The trackers will often clear the brush with their machete so you can get a clearer and closer look at the gorillas. It is incredible how graceful and peaceful these animals are, especially considering their incredible size. You’ll be amazed when you see the silverbacks (mature males) get up and move around.
Sustainability, Respect for the Gorillas
Gorilla trekking permits exist to limit the number of visitors and thereby reduce the stress on the gorillas. Our individual behaviors can also help to reduce the anxiety that our presence may affect, too. Give the gorillas the space they deserve.
Do not aggressively pursue them if it seems as though they are becoming annoyed and constantly moving to higher branches or behind bushes. Some of the most entertaining actions and displays (e.g., peeing or pooing on you from a tree, or chest beating) are usually an indication that a gorilla feels threatened. Good thing is that those displays are also a gorilla’s way of communicating “Keep your distance. You’d like to avoid resolving this with a fight.”
Some travelers may ask: Are Mountain gorilla encounters sustainable and ultimately beneficial to the mountain gorillas? On one hand, the visits are clearly an invasion. Imagine a bunch of photographers coming into your home at approximately the same time every day. You might tire of it, no?
At the same time, to the extent that gorilla treks provide motivation to protect the gorillas and their habitat from encroaching land development and farms, it’s not only worthwhile — it may be the only thing keeping human beings from driving to extinction what few mountain gorillas remain.
With that in mind, respect the gorillas as the wild yet sentient creatures that they are.
As you stare into the eyes of a mountain gorilla, you’ll likely feel a connection, one unlike you’ve ever experienced before. A connection of peering into the eyes of an exotic creature that looks and acts quite a bit like we humans do.
It’s a difficult feeling to articulate.
