Mountain gorilla trekking is one of the most sought-after wildlife experiences in Africa, available in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park.
A trek involves hiking through dense forest — sometimes for several hours over steep, muddy terrain — to reach a habituated gorilla family, followed by a closely regulated one hour observing them at close range. It's physically demanding, but doesn't require any technical climbing experience, unlike a trek up Kilimanjaro.
Permits are government-issued and strictly limited in number, priced per person: currently around $800 in Uganda and around $1,500 in Rwanda. Because availability is genuinely limited, we recommend booking permits several months ahead of your travel dates — this isn't a trip you can easily plan last-minute.
Map Adventure Safari can arrange gorilla trekking as a standalone trip or combined with a Tanzania safari and/or Kilimanjaro climb into one longer East Africa itinerary. Contact us to check permit availability for your dates.