For many travellers, standing a few metres from a wild mountain gorilla is the single most memorable hour of their lives. Uganda is one of only three countries on Earth where you can do it — and it is widely regarded as the best value of the three. If a gorilla trek is the reason you are coming to Uganda, here is what a first-timer really needs to know, from permits to fitness to how it all connects with your arrival in Entebbe.
Where you trek: Bwindi and Mgahinga
Uganda's mountain gorillas live in two parks in the far south-west. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the main destination, a UNESCO World Heritage rainforest home to roughly half the world's remaining mountain gorillas. It has four trekking sectors — Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo — spread around the forest. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, in the volcanic Virunga range, is smaller and offers a single habituated family. Both give you the same core experience; Bwindi simply has more permits and gorilla groups.
Permits and cost
Every trekker needs a gorilla trekking permit issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. It currently costs USD 800 for foreign non-residents, and that fee is a major reason the gorillas still exist — it funds ranger patrols, veterinary care and community projects around the parks. Permits are strictly limited: only eight visitors may visit each habituated gorilla family per day, so they sell out months ahead for peak dates. Book through the Uganda Wildlife Authority or a reputable tour operator, and reserve early — especially for June–September and December–February.
What a trekking day is actually like
You start early. After a briefing at the park headquarters — where you are assigned a gorilla family and a ranger guide — you set off on foot into the forest. Trackers who have gone ahead radio back the gorillas' location. The hike can take anywhere from 30 minutes to six hours or more, over steep, muddy, root-tangled terrain; "Impenetrable" is not just a poetic name. Then, suddenly, you are there. Rules allow one hour with the family, at a distance of about seven metres, no flash photography, and no visiting if you are unwell. That hour — watching a silverback rest while youngsters tumble through the undergrowth — passes in a heartbeat.
How fit do I need to be?
You do not need to be an athlete, but a reasonable level of fitness helps enormously, because the trek is unpredictable and the altitude (around 1,500–2,600m) makes hills harder. If you have mobility concerns, porters can be hired at the trailhead to carry your bag and give a helping hand on tough sections — hiring one also puts money directly into the local community, so it is worth doing regardless. For those who genuinely cannot hike, a "sedan chair" carrying service can be arranged in advance at some sectors.
What to bring
Sturdy waterproof hiking boots, long trousers and long sleeves (against nettles and insects), gardening gloves for grabbing vegetation, a rain jacket whatever the season, a hat, plenty of water and some energy snacks. Tuck trousers into your socks, bring a walking pole, and pack your camera in a dry bag. Gaiters are a small luxury your legs will thank you for.
Getting there from Entebbe
Bwindi is a long way from Entebbe — roughly 8–10 hours by road, or a scenic scheduled flight to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips followed by a shorter drive. Most itineraries build in an overnight near the airport at the start and end of the trip, both to recover from international flights and to guarantee you make an early domestic departure. That is exactly where a stay with us fits in.
The perfect first and last night
Airport View Hotel Entebbe is minutes from the terminal, so you can land, sleep, and set off refreshed for the south-west — then return for a comfortable final night before flying home. We offer en-suite rooms from $85 including breakfast, secure parking, early breakfasts on request and airport transfers. Planning a gorilla trip? Talk to our team and we will make sure the Entebbe end of your journey runs smoothly. You might also enjoy our guide to the best time to visit Uganda.