Fitness, permits, packing and etiquette — everything trekkers ask us before meeting the gorillas.
The day itself
You'll wake before dawn, drive to the park headquarters for a briefing, and be assigned to a habituated gorilla family. Treks range from one to seven hours each way depending on the family's location that morning. When you find them, you spend one hour at a distance of roughly seven metres.
Uganda or Rwanda?
- Uganda (Bwindi): lower permit cost, longer drives, ancient rainforest, wilder experience.
- Rwanda (Volcanoes): higher permit cost, shorter treks, easier logistics from Kigali.
Both are extraordinary. Many travellers base the choice on budget and itinerary shape.
Permits
Permits are strictly limited and sell out months ahead in high season (June–September, December–February). We purchase them on your behalf as soon as your dates firm up.
Fitness and preparation
Average fitness is sufficient. Trails are steep and can be muddy; hiking poles help. Porters can be hired locally — good practice, and they lighten your pack.
What to pack
- Sturdy waterproof hiking boots
- Long trousers and gardening-style gloves (nettles!)
- Rain jacket — the forest earns the name 'impenetrable'
- Layers for cool mountain mornings
Etiquette
Keep seven metres, no flash, speak quietly, and if a silverback charges, follow your ranger's instructions — it's usually bluster.
It is, consistently, the single most moving hour our travellers report.
