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Bwindi Impenetrable National Park · Uganda

Mountain gorilla trekking

Image credits

Photography: Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Thomas Fuhrmann (CC BY-SA 4.0). Images may be resized or cropped; share-alike licences continue to apply.

Image sources and details

A guided forest trek to visit one habituated mountain-gorilla family.

About this activity

Visitors trek with Uganda Wildlife Authority guides and trackers from one of Bwindi’s four sectors. The walk can take several hours over steep, muddy forest trails; time with the gorillas is limited under conservation rules.

Highlights

  • Small guided trekking group
  • One hour with the assigned gorilla family
  • Four sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo

Best time to participate

Trekking operates year-round. Drier periods can mean easier footing, but rain is possible in the forest in any season.

Planning notes

A UWA permit must be secured for the correct sector and date; confirm age and health rules, fitness expectations, transport, and permit inclusion before payment. Follow ranger instructions and maintain the required wildlife distance.

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