3 days · Uganda
Bwindi gorilla trek
The shortest way into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to around half of the world's mountain gorillas.
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Uganda and Rwanda · Mountain gorillas
Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda
We are the licensed team that buys your permit, books your lodge and puts a guide beside you on the trail. One office, one point of contact, from your first message to the forest.
3Gorilla parks: Bwindi and Mgahinga in Uganda, Volcanoes in Rwanda
1 hourwith a habituated gorilla family once you find them
8visitors at most per gorilla family each day
15+minimum age to track gorillas
Who runs your trek
One licensed team from permit to trail
Book Gorilla Treks is run by Paramount Expeditions Tours and Travel Uganda Limited, based in Wakiso District. We hold the permit, the lodge, the vehicle and the guide in one hand, so nothing is passed between agents.
We buy your permit
Permits are issued through a portal that only licensed operators can see. We confirm your dates, then buy the permit on your behalf.
Advice that fits your dates
We tell you which park suits your month, your fitness and your budget, including when Rwanda is the better choice for you.
Priced to your trip
Every trek is quoted to your dates, group size and lodge level. Ask for your quote and you get one clear figure.
Reachable on WhatsApp
A named member of our office replies, normally within 24 hours, and stays with you until you are back from the forest.
Gorilla trips we run
Choose your forest
Every trip includes your gorilla permit, bought by us for your chosen date. Ask for your quote and we price it to your group.
3 days · Uganda
Mgahinga gorilla trek
A quiet corner of the Virunga volcanoes on the Rwanda and Congo border, with fewer visitors and golden monkeys nearby.
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2 days · Rwanda
Volcanoes gorilla trek
A short transfer from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park and back, for travellers with limited time.
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4 days · Uganda
Bwindi, taken slowly
An extra day in the forest for a rest day or a second encounter, with time to settle into the lodge.
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5 days · Uganda
Gorillas and game
Gorillas in Bwindi combined with a game drive safari, so you see forest and savannah in one trip.
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5 days · Rwanda
Rwanda gorilla trek
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park with time in Kigali and the Rwandan countryside.
View the tripTell us your month and we will tell you where to trek.
Uganda or Rwanda
Which country for your gorillas?
The encounter is the same in both: one hour with a habituated family, at a distance of several metres. What changes is the journey around it.
| Uganda | Rwanda | |
|---|---|---|
| Parks | Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga | Volcanoes National Park |
| Choice of families | Many, across several Bwindi sectors | Several, in one park |
| Getting there | A full day by road from Kampala or Entebbe, or a short domestic flight | About two to three hours by road from Kigali |
| Best for | Longer trips that add chimpanzees, game drives or lakes | Shorter trips, or a stop in Kigali |
| Extra option | Gorilla habituation experience in the Rushaga sector | Golden monkeys and the Dian Fossey trail |
How it works
From your dates to the forest
Step one
Send your dates
Tell us when you want to travel, how many of you there are and your passport country.
Step two
We check your dates
Our office looks at the permit portal for you and replies, normally within 24 hours.
Step three
We secure your permit
We collect passport details, buy your permit and plan the lodge, transport and guide around it.
Step four
Trek with your guide
Your driver-guide takes you to the park briefing, and park trackers lead you to the gorillas.
Plan with confidence
Read before you book
PermitsHow gorilla permits are booked
SeasonsThe best time to see gorillas
FitnessHow difficult is gorilla tracking?
PackingWhat to pack for the forest
ExperiencesHabituation or standard trek?
Complete guideUganda gorilla trekking in 2026
WildlifeMountain gorillas: the complete guide
SectorsGorilla families in Uganda
SafetyRules and etiquette
Questions
The answers people ask first
How does a gorilla trek work?
After a briefing at the park, trackers lead a small group into the forest to a habituated gorilla family. The walk can take from about an hour to most of a day. Once you find the family you spend one hour with them.
Should I trek gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda?
Uganda offers Bwindi and Mgahinga, more families to choose from and easy pairing with chimpanzees and safari parks. Rwanda offers Volcanoes National Park, a short transfer from Kigali and the shortest trip. Both give the same one-hour encounter.
When is the best time to see gorillas?
Trekking runs all year. June to September and December to February are the drier months with firmer trails. March to May and October to November are wetter and quieter. Permits for the dry months go first, so ask early.
Can I check permit availability myself?
No. Permits are issued through a portal that only licensed operators can see. Send us your dates and a named member of our team checks for you, normally within 24 hours.
How fit do I need to be?
You need to be able to walk for several hours on steep, muddy ground at altitude. Porters are available at each park and we arrange one for you.
What is the minimum age for gorilla trekking?
Visitors must be at least 15 years old to track gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda.
How many people visit a gorilla family each day?
A maximum of eight visitors may spend time with each habituated gorilla family per day.