My gorilla trek took place in the Buhoma sector of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where I was assigned to the Rushegura family. Buhoma is the northern entry point to Bwindi, and three habituated families call this sector home: Mubare, Habinyanja, and Rushegura. Each family is visited by just eight people per day, with one hour maximum in their presence. Across all four of Bwindi’s sectors today, more than 20 habituated families can be visited.
We started early. Gaiters on, walking sticks in hand, backpacks loaded with lunch. From the lodge, we drove to the Uganda Wildlife Authority Visitor Information Centre at the Buhoma entrance gate, arriving around 7:30am. Registration, a ranger briefing, porter arrangements, and then the moment everyone had been waiting for: family allocations.
A word on porters: hire one. They carry your pack, help you along the trail, and when the terrain gets steep, they are invaluable. It’s also one of the more meaningful ways you can contribute directly to the local community.
Once we were assigned to the Rushegura family, we set off. Our family didn’t yet have a silverback, but what we found more than made up for it: an especially curious, playful adolescent who would end up being the highlight of our entire visit.
The first stretch was relatively gentle, winding through banana plantations while our guide shared stories about the area. Then the forest closed in and the path began climbing. This is when you really appreciate both a good walking stick and a porter beside you.
 
About an hour in, our guide got word over the radio that the rangers had found the Rushegura family. What followed was roughly 30 minutes of “bundu bashing” through dense vegetation, with our guide using a machete to cut a path. I’ll be honest, I loved it. It felt adventurous and completely immersive, the kind of thing you don’t get anywhere else. My heart rate certainly agreed.
When we reached the rangers, they gave us a final briefing on how to behave. And then, there they were.
The Rushegura family was gathered beneath a large tree, its branches forming a natural canopy above them. Most of the adults were resting. The younger ones played nearby. It felt immediately familiar, almost like stumbling across a family on a lazy Sunday afternoon, with one adult keeping a loose eye on the youngsters while the others dozed.
We sat quietly and watched. One juvenile in particular had made up his mind about us. He kept venturing closer, retreating, then coming back again. At one point, he walked right up to me, reached out, touched my shirt, and bolted back to the group. Even just watching them rest, their expressions and mannerisms felt strikingly human in a way that’s difficult to articulate until you’ve seen it for yourself.
As the hour passed, more of the adults began to stir. The group’s young leader, not yet a full silverback, eventually rose and moved to a new spot. The rest followed, one by one, and we moved with them, watching their quiet interactions and subtle social dynamics play out.
Then, just like that, our hour was up.
The walk down was peaceful and mostly quiet. Partway down the mountain we stopped for lunch with a beautiful view, and I noticed the group hadn’t said much. Everyone seemed to be sitting with the experience before re-entering the world.
That changed over dinner. Stories came out, comparisons were made, and it became clear that every group had had a completely different day. Some found their gorillas within 30 minutes; others trekked for much longer. But the feeling at the end was the same for everyone.
A complimentary massage rounded out the day, and receiving the trekking certificate felt genuinely earned.
Is it worth it?
Without question. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is one of the most grounding wildlife encounters I’ve had in 16 years of travel. It supports conservation directly and provides real employment for local communities. Every permit sold helps protect these animals and the forest they live in.
Worth every step. If you’re considering it, go.
Practical tips before you go
- Hire a porter. The terrain can be steep and slippery. They make a real difference, and the income matters to the community.
- Trekking time is unpredictable. It can be 30 minutes or several hours depending on where the gorillas have moved. Come mentally prepared for either.
- Dress for forest. Long sleeves and long pants protect against scratches, insects, and stinging plants.
- Wear proper hiking boots. Well broken-in ones. The trails are uneven and can be very muddy.
- Follow your ranger. Always. Around the gorillas, their guidance is non-negotiable.
- Bring small cash. For tips and any village purchases.
What to pack
Hiking boots (well broken-in), long pants and long-sleeve shirt, lightweight rain jacket or poncho, gaiters, garden gloves (genuinely useful when grabbing vegetation on steep sections), daypack, reusable water bottle, packed lunch and snacks, sunscreen and insect repellent, hat or cap, camera or phone (no flash permitted), extra socks, small towel or wipes.
When to go
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is possible year-round, and both seasons have real merit.
Dry season: June to September and December to February Trails are generally drier and more manageable, and thinner vegetation can make it easier to observe the gorillas once you find them. Most people aim for these months for good reason.
Green season: March to May and October to November Trekking is more challenging in the mud, but Bwindi is lush, quieter, and often better value. If you don’t mind getting your boots dirty, it can be a genuinely special time to visit.
One thing that holds true no matter when you go: Bwindi is a rainforest. Pack for rain regardless of the calendar.
Ready to plan your Uganda gorilla trek?
Gorilla permits sell out well in advance, and getting the details right, from which sector to visit to how to pair it with the rest of your Uganda itinerary, makes a real difference to the experience. If you’d like guidance from someone who has been there, I’m happy to help. Get in touch with the Eclipse Travel team and we’ll start putting something together for you.
