Is Gorilla Trekking Worth It?

We believe gorilla trekking in Uganda is the most exciting wildlife experience on the planet.

At the time of writing, the rate for a gorilla trekking permit is $700. For this, you can spend one hour in the company of mountain gorillas in the wild, putting yourself amongst a very small group of people lucky enough to see these amazing animals in the wild. 

You have to be prepared to work for it, as the treks can last up to 6 hours before contact is made, but the experience is truly worth it and unlike anything you would have experienced before. 

Most animals tend to fall into one of two categories: those that run away from humans, and those that will attack humans that are unfortunate enough to find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Gorillas, however, are fairly calm by nature and will only attack humans if they truly feel threatened. Provided you follow the body-language and distance guidelines explained to you by the park guides, then you will be able to enjoy the rare experience of watching a powerful, wild animal from a close distance in complete safety.

Habitat destruction is the biggest threat to the endangered mountain gorilla, as the densely-populated areas on the edges of the national parks have expanded and people have sought to make money from logging and agriculture.

However, the money generated from gorilla trekking is the primary source of funds for their continued conservation. 

There are a high number of regulations and restrictions in place in order to preserve the health and welfare of the gorillas; this is why the permits are so expensive, as visitor numbers are highly limited. 

However, at $700, permits in Uganda are nonetheless much cheaper than those in Rwanda, where they are $1,500 year-round. There is little difference between the two: the terrain and the gorillas are ultimately the same. Therefore, we would highly recommend doing the trek in Uganda, given the multitude of other amazing things that there are to do in this country.

A day of gorilla trekking involves several hours of tough hiking through terrain that is mountainous with thin air and dense vegetation. However, provided you have a baseline of fitness, the challenges of hiking here are part of what makes it such a rewarding adventure.

What’s more, it is worth it not only for the experience of seeing the gorillas but also for the fabulous scenery. There are various viewpoints where you can take in fabulous vistas of the thickly-forested, rolling mountains, often shrouded in clouds that make them appear all the more beautiful and enigmatic. 

Mountain gorillas are not the only wildlife to be found in the mountains of south-western Uganda. There are also golden monkeys, which dangle high up on the trees of the bamboo forest areas, as well as grey-cheeked mangabeys, L’hoest monkeys (on the lower slopes), and blue monkeys.

There are bushbuck and several species of duikers, as well as a rich array of bird species, including Equatorial akalat and greenbulls. There are also some elephants, although these are rarely spotted.