Quick answer
Reviewed · 4 min read
Mountain gorillas live only in the Virunga volcanoes shared by Rwanda, Uganda and the DR Congo, and in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You need a permit for a guided trek, which can take from under an hour to several hours each way, and you spend one hour with a habituated gorilla family. Rwanda’s permits cost more but access is quicker; Uganda’s cost less.
Researched and maintained by Empyrean Travel · How we research
- Where
- Rwanda and Uganda (also DR Congo)
- Rwanda permit
- $1,500 per person (as of 2026; confirm)
- Time with gorillas
- One hour
- Minimum age
- 15
- Book
- 6–12 months ahead for peak months
Rwanda vs Uganda, side by side
- Main park
- RwandaVolcanoes National ParkUgandaBwindi Impenetrable (also Mgahinga)
- Permit cost
- Rwanda$1,500 (as of 2026)UgandaLower than Rwanda; confirm current rate
- Access
- RwandaAbout 2–3 hours by road from KigaliUgandaLonger drives or domestic flights
- Terrain
- RwandaVolcanic slopes and bamboo at altitudeUgandaSteep, dense rainforest, often muddy
- Also see
- RwandaGolden monkeys; chimpanzees in NyungweUgandaChimpanzees in Kibale; classic savanna safari
- Best for
- RwandaShort trips and smooth logisticsUgandaLonger trips, value and wilder adventure
| Compare | Rwanda | Uganda |
|---|---|---|
| Main park | Volcanoes National Park | Bwindi Impenetrable (also Mgahinga) |
| Permit cost | $1,500 (as of 2026) | Lower than Rwanda; confirm current rate |
| Access | About 2–3 hours by road from Kigali | Longer drives or domestic flights |
| Terrain | Volcanic slopes and bamboo at altitude | Steep, dense rainforest, often muddy |
| Also see | Golden monkeys; chimpanzees in Nyungwe | Chimpanzees in Kibale; classic savanna safari |
| Best for | Short trips and smooth logistics | Longer trips, value and wilder adventure |
The verdict: Choose Rwanda if time is short and you want the smoothest logistics. Choose Uganda if you have more days, want to combine gorillas with chimpanzees and a savanna safari, or prefer a lower permit cost.
Where can you go gorilla trekking?
Mountain gorillas, an endangered subspecies numbering just over a thousand, live in two areas: the Virunga Massif, shared by Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the DR Congo’s Virunga National Park, and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Most travelers trek in Rwanda or Uganda.
Conservation has worked: careful protection, funded in large part by permit fees, has helped numbers grow over recent decades. Your permit directly supports that effort and the communities around the parks.
How do gorilla trekking permits work?
Every trek requires a permit for a specific date and park, and numbers are strictly limited: each habituated gorilla family can be visited by one small group of up to eight people a day. In Rwanda, permits are issued by the Rwanda Development Board and cost $1,500 per person as of 2026; Uganda’s, issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, cost less. Prices and policies change, so confirm current rates with the official authority.
Permits for the busiest months, roughly June to September and December to February, sell out early, so book six to twelve months ahead and build the rest of the trip around your permit dates.
What is a gorilla trek actually like?
You gather at park headquarters early in the morning for a briefing and are assigned to a gorilla family, partly based on fitness. Trackers go ahead to find the group, and the trek can take from under an hour to several hours each way, through farmland, bamboo and forest, often on steep, muddy slopes at altitude.
Once you reach the gorillas, you have one hour with them, keeping a distance of about seven meters and following your guide. The silverback, mothers and playful youngsters go about their day just meters away. Because gorillas are vulnerable to human illnesses, you may be asked to wear a mask, and visitors who are unwell may be turned away.
How fit do you need to be for gorilla trekking?
Reasonably fit, but not an athlete. Treks are unpredictable: a family may be near the trailhead one day and hours away the next. Hiking at altitude on uneven, muddy ground is the real challenge, so regular walking or hiking in the months beforehand helps. Tell the park staff your fitness level at the briefing.
Hire a porter. For a modest fee, porters carry your daypack and lend a hand on steep sections, and the income supports local families. Walking sticks are usually provided.
What should you wear and bring?
Our adventure trek packing list covers the details; these are the essentials.
- Waterproof hiking boots with good grip, already broken in.
- Long trousers tucked into socks or gaiters, and long sleeves, against nettles and ants.
- Gardening gloves for grabbing vines and nettles.
- A light rain jacket, even in the drier months.
- Water, snacks and a packed lunch.
- A camera with the flash turned off; flash photography isn’t allowed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a gorilla trekking permit cost?
What is the minimum age for gorilla trekking?
Is Rwanda or Uganda better for gorilla trekking?
When is the best time to go gorilla trekking?
Can you go gorilla trekking if you have a cold?
Official sources
Rules, fees and schedules change — confirm the latest details at the source before you travel.