Ultimate Guide to Mountain Gorilla Tracking [UPDATED]
Nov 21, 22
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What is the Ultimate Guide to Mountain Gorilla Tracking?

Diary of a Muzungu's Ultimate Guide to Mountain Gorilla Trekking
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The Ultimate Guide to Mountain Gorilla Tracking (or Trekking) is designed to help you choose where to go mountain gorilla tracking, where to stay, what to pack, and explain how your tracking supports the Mountain Gorillas and the local (human!) population. I also share some ideas on other activities you can do in Uganda or Rwanda, as part of your gorilla tracking tour. All information contained in this guide is based on my personal experience: tracking the gorillas, working with conservationists, researching guidebooks and 15 years supporting conservation and tourism in Uganda and Rwanda

I can’t guarantee that every fact here is 100% accurate (but I’ve tried my very best!) Before confirming any travel plans, I’d always recommend contacting me or one of the organisations listed in my Travel Directory. All feedback, suggestions (and corrections?) are gratefully received.

Mountain Gorilla Kinigi, trekking in Rwanda. Diary of a Muzungu
Meet this gorgeous Mountain Gorilla at Kinigi, the base for gorilla tracking in Rwanda. Diary of a Muzungu

According to the results of the latest census (finalised in 2022), there are just over 1,000 Mountain Gorillas living in the mountains that straddle Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (the DRC, formerly known as Zaire). A must for every eco-tourist’s travel bucket list, tracking the Mountain Gorillas truly is a unique wildlife experience. Every encounter with the gorillas is different.

No one who looks into a gorilla’s eyes — intelligent, gentle, vulnerable — can remain unchanged, for the gap between ape and human vanishes; we know that the gorilla still lives within us. Do gorillas also recognize this ancient connection?

George B. Schaller, “Gentle Gorillas, Turbulent Times,” National Geographic

There was very little activity when I first tracked the gorillas in Bwindi, Uganda. The highlight of the tracking was watching a baby gorilla hanging from one arm in the moss-covered trees above us, eyeballing us. The climb through a tea plantation and mist-covered slopes of the jungle-like forest were a magical part of the whole experience too.

My next gorilla tracking experience, in Rwanda, was altogether different: there was so much going on, the hour with the gorillas passed by very quickly. We watched twin baby gorillas playing with their mother. Huge adults sat munching in the bamboo above our heads. At one point, the whole gorilla family decided to walk through our nervous giggling group and we edged back in to the bush, as they brushed right past us. We even watched the Silverback having sex! All of this action was to the accompaniment of loud gorilla farts.

Gorilla tracking is not a cheap experience. However, receipts from gorilla permit sales have made a huge and sustainable impact on the ability of these beautiful creatures to survive. This guide focuses on gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda but gorilla tracking in the DR Congo is sometimes available too. This is great news for us travellers – local people and the gorillas too. Tourist dollars contribute to conservation AND development.

Gorillas remain under constant watch, 365 days of the year. Their security and health are constantly monitored. The gorilla population numbers in Uganda, Rwanda and the DR Congo have increased from near-extinction levels of 254 individuals in the 1980s to a still ‘endangered’ level of 1000+ in 2023. By going to track the Mountain Gorillas, you are contributing to their survival – as long as you follow the Gorilla Tracking Rules listed in this Ultimate Guide to Mountain Gorilla Tracking.

Are you looking for answers to any of these questions?

Section 1. What do mountain gorillas look like? – including …

… Are Mountain Gorillas dangerous?

… When were Mountain Gorillas first scientifically identified by man?

Section 2. Where are mountain gorillas in Uganda? – including …

… How many gorilla families are there in Uganda?

Section 3. Which other activities can you do after tracking the gorillas in Uganda?

Section 4. Where are Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda? – including …

… How many gorilla families are there in Rwanda?

Section 5. Which other activities can you can do after tracking the gorillas in Rwanda? – including …

… Which other activities can you do after trekking gorillas in Rwanda?

Section 6. How much does it cost to track to see the Mountain Gorillas? – including …

… What is a gorilla safari and how much does it cost?

Section 7. How can I buy gorilla tracking permits? – including …

… Tips on purchasing a gorilla tracking permit in Rwanda

… Tips on purchasing a gorilla tracking permit in Uganda

… Contacts for purchasing a gorilla tracking permit in the DRC

Section 8. Gorilla tracking FAQs Frequently Asked Questions. – including …

… Am I guaranteed to see the gorillas?

… How many days should I book for my gorilla tracking tour?

… Should I hire a porter for when I go gorilla tracking?

… When is the best time of year to track the Mountain Gorillas?

Section 9. Where is the best place to stay for gorilla tracking in Uganda?

Section 10. Where is the best place to stay for gorilla tracking in Rwanda?

Section 11. What can I expect on my gorilla tracking tour?

Section 12. What are the gorilla tracking rules?

Section 13. What is the best way to travel to the Mountain Gorillas?

Section 14. What should I pack for tracking gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda?

Section 15. What are the best tips for photographing the Mountain Gorillas?

Section 16. Are Mountain Gorillas an endangered species? – including …

… Which conservation organisations are working to protect the Mountain Gorillas?

Section 17. What are the differences between tracking the gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda?

Section 18. Gorilla tracking in the DRC *new page coming soon*


For gorilla tracking stories and Uganda and Rwanda travel advice, click on the hyperlinks in the
 Ultimate Guide to Mountain Gorilla Tracking. 
Looking for more info? Check out my Travel Directory or Contact the Muzungu.

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4 thoughts on “Ultimate Guide to Mountain Gorilla Tracking [UPDATED]”

  1. Gava Hussein says:

    I find your website so helpful, thanks for the information. Gorilla tracking is such a unique experience and different for each trek in fact someone could have trekked Bwindi the next day and had a wonderful experience

  2. the muzungu says:

    Thanks Gava.
    Gorilla tracking really is fab! I’ve been lucky enough to track several times and I love it even more every time!

  3. Amarachi says:

    Thanks for this guide. I’ll go through all the links to prepare for my own trip (whenever that might be). I’m planning to do the trek in Uganda, as I’ve read that it is much cheaper to do it there. Your experience in Rwanda really sounds magical (and terrifying!), I hope I’ll get a chance to go there too.

    1. the muzungu says:

      Yes it’s cheaper to track gorillas in Uganda although Rwanda does have a promotion currently.
      Thanks for your positive feedback. Always happy to answer any travel questions

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