Bwindi Gorilla Trekking: Sectors, Groups and How a Trek Works

Why Bwindi is different

Bwindi protects approximately 459 mountain gorillas, almost half of the world's remaining population. It has 25 habituated gorilla groups, and the Mubare group was the first habituated for tourism in Uganda, in April 1993.

Trekking runs all year round. Each gorilla group is visited by only eight people per day, so permits are limited and booking three to six months ahead is recommended for the June to September and December to February dry seasons.

What the permit price includes

According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the permit price includes the guide fee, park entrance for the day and the community development contribution. The habituation experience in Rushaga costs $1,500 and gives up to four hours with a family instead of one.

For context, a gorilla tracking permit in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park costs $1,500 per person, so Uganda is the cheaper option for most travellers. Park entry for Bwindi and Mgahinga is $40 a day for foreign non-residents, which is already covered inside the gorilla permit on the tracking day.

Our own tours are priced separately: a full 3-day budget trek from Entebbe or Kigali starts at $503 per person with the permit extra.

Permit rules at a glance

The four sectors compared

Buhoma is the original sector, opened to tourism in 1993, with families such as Mubare, Rushegura, Habinyanja and Katwe. Ruhija is the highest sector at around 2,350 metres, with Bitukura and Oruzogo families and a chance of seeing the African green broadbill. Rushaga has the highest number of habituated gorilla families open to trekkers and is the only sector offering the habituation experience. Nkuringo is the most physically challenging sector, with treks starting in a steep descent and ending in a climb.

Lodges in Nkuringo include Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge and Gorilla Heights Lodge.

From dawn briefing to the hour with the family

You report to the park headquarters in the morning for a briefing from the rangers. You are then assigned to a gorilla family and set off on foot with an armed ranger and trackers, in a group of up to eight visitors. One trekker reports planning for at least a 3 hour hike one way.

When the trackers find the family, you are given up to one hour with the gorillas. You then hike back to the trailhead. The full day commonly runs from early morning to mid or late afternoon, depending on where the family is.

Fitness, altitude and terrain

The forest sits between 1,160 and 2,6010 metres (32.8 ft), so you feel the altitude as well as the slopes. Trails are muddy and steep. Plan for at least a 3 hour hike one way.

Sector choice makes a real difference. Ruhija is the highest at around 2,350 metres. Nkuringo starts with a steep descent and ends with a climb back up. Beginners can absolutely do it, but reasonable fitness and a few practice walks before the trip pay off. Porters can be hired at the trailheads to carry your daypack, which many trekkers find worth it.

The rules in one place

Trekkers must be 15 or older and walk in groups of up to eight visitors with an armed ranger and trackers. Tourists must maintain a distance of 10 metres (32.8 ft) from the mountain gorillas and keep voices low. These rules exist because gorillas share diseases with humans and can be stressed by noise or crowding.

By air and by road

Kisoro serves Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south. Kihihi serves Buhoma and Ruhija in the north and east. Road transfer from Kigali is popular because the border is close, which is why one-day treks from Kigali exist.

For a full fly-in safari, the 8-Day Uganda Safari with Chimps, Gorilla Trekking and Queen Elizabeth combines Bwindi with other parks.