Please be aware that trekking permits are subject to very limited availability and can only be confirmed on receipt of passport copy (legal name required) and full payment of non-refundable, non-transferrable permit fee. Children must be 15 years old to trek.

Your gorilla trekking experience will typically start early in the morning. You’ll meet at the park headquarters, where your guide will brief you. You’ll go through essential safety protocols and the basic rules you must adhere to when in their presence. Your guide might also tell you more about the specific route you’ll take and the conditions you’ll likely encounter.  

An important part of the pre-trip briefing is the temperature check. If your temperature is elevated or if you are unwell, you may not be allowed to participate in the trek. Because we share so much of our DNA with gorillas, they are susceptible to the same diseases as us, so you must disclose any illness, recent or current, at this time.  

Once all the formalities are complete, you’ll depart from headquarters, making your way to the start of the hike. Sometimes the hike will start from headquarters, but usually there is a short drive to the trail head. Once in the forest, you’ll find yourself navigating steep and sometimes muddy paths as you go. Treks can last anywhere between one and six hours, depending on the location of the gorillas.

You are permitted to spend a maximum of one hour observing the gorillas as they go about their lives—playing, grooming, feeding, or simply relaxing. The rules you were taken through in the pre-trek briefing will be important now, and it’s essential to always follow your guide’s instructions.