Updated
Frequently asked questions Can you get altitude sickness gorilla trekking in Bwindi?. Altitude sickness is rare on a gorilla trek in Uganda. Bwindi’s trailheads lie between about 1,500 and 2,350 m, and even its highest ridges reach only about 2,600 m, below the height where acute mountain sickness becomes common. Most trekkers notice only harder breathing on steep climbs. A few sensitive people get a headache or poor sleep on the first night, especially in the higher Ruhija sector.
The real altitude risks in south-west Uganda are on the Virunga volcano climbs in Mgahinga and in the Rwenzori Mountains. This guide explains the elevations, symptoms, prevention and what to do if you feel unwell.
Altitude Sickness on Gorilla Trek: Prevention and Treatment in Uganda
How high is gorilla trekking?
Bwindi covers a steep range of hills from about 1,160 m in the north to about 2,600 m on its highest ridges. Each of the four trekking sectors starts at a different height, and lodges are usually close to the trailheads, so you also sleep at around these altitudes:
| Place | Approximate altitude |
|---|---|
| Buhoma (north Bwindi) | 1,500 m |
| Rushaga (south Bwindi) | 2,000 m |
| Nkuringo (south-west Bwindi) | 2,100 m |
| Ruhija (east Bwindi) | 2,300–2,350 m |
| Mgahinga gorilla trailhead (Ntebeko) | 2,400 m |
| Mount Muhabura summit, Mgahinga | 4,127 m |
| Margherita Peak, Rwenzori | 5,109 m |
The trek itself may climb or descend several hundred metres, depending on where the gorilla family is. In Nkuringo, for example, you often drop steeply into the valley and then climb all the way back up. See our guide to the Ruhija sector, the highest and coolest.
What altitude does to your body
At 2,300 m the air holds about a quarter less oxygen per breath than at sea level. Your body responds by breathing faster and raising your heart rate, and over a few days it adapts further. On a steep forest slope you will feel this as breathlessness, a pounding heart and the need to rest more often than you would at home. That is normal and not a sign of illness.
Acute mountain sickness (AMS) happens when the body has not adapted fast enough. It usually begins 6–12 hours after arriving at altitude. The main symptom is a headache, often with tiredness, nausea, loss of appetite, dizziness or poor sleep. It is uncommon below about 2,500 m, so at Bwindi’s heights it is usually mild and passes within a day or two. The dangerous forms of altitude illness, fluid on the brain or lungs, are generally a risk only at much higher altitudes, such as on the Rwenzori peaks.
Who is more likely to feel it
Altitude sensitivity varies between people and is not linked to fitness: fit young people can be affected, and older travellers often are not. The best predictor is how you have reacted to altitude before. You are more likely to notice symptoms if you fly in from sea level and go straight to a high sector, sleep at Ruhija or Nkuringo, are dehydrated, or have drunk heavily. People with heart or lung conditions should discuss the trip with their doctor first. Our guide to gorilla trekking with asthma or breathing conditions covers this.
Prevention
The simplest precaution is to arrive at your lodge the day before the trek, which nearly every itinerary does anyway because of the long journey. A night at Lake Bunyonyi, at about 1,950 m, or in Kibale on the way is a gentle step up. Drink plenty of water, go easy on alcohol the night before, and eat well. On the trek, walk slowly and steadily, breathe deliberately on climbs, and let the ranger know if you need to rest. Hiring a porter to carry your bag makes a big difference.
Medication such as acetazolamide is not normally needed for Bwindi. If you have had altitude sickness at similar heights before, or plan to climb Muhabura or the Rwenzoris, ask a travel doctor whether it suits you. Our guide to how fit you need to be helps with preparation, which affects the trek far more than altitude does.
If you feel unwell
A mild headache on your first evening usually responds to rest, water and a simple painkiller. If you still feel unwell on trek morning, tell the ranger at the briefing. They can match you with an easier group, and porters and the stretcher teams found in some sectors can help on the trail. Keep in mind that a headache and fever could also be malaria, which needs a test the same day. Our guide to malaria and altitude on a gorilla trek explains the difference.
If symptoms get worse, such as a severe headache, vomiting, confusion, unsteady walking or breathlessness at rest, the treatment is to go down. At Bwindi’s altitudes this is rarely necessary, but on the volcano climbs in Mgahinga you should turn back at once if this happens.
Volcano climbs and the Rwenzoris
Mgahinga’s volcanoes are a different matter. Gahinga (3,474 m), Sabyinyo (3,669 m) and Muhabura (4,127 m) are climbed in a single long day from about 2,400 m, so you gain height fast. Headaches and nausea near the summit are common, and you should turn back if they become severe. The Rwenzori treks go higher still and over several days, with real risks of severe altitude illness. Follow a gradual ascent plan with experienced guides.
If you plan both gorillas and a high climb, do the gorilla trek first and the climb afterwards, when you are better adapted. A gorilla permit costs US$800 (US$600 in April, May and November) and is issued for a fixed date, so avoid a hard climb the day before your trek.
Frequently asked questions
It is possible but uncommon, and usually mild. Bwindi’s trailheads lie between about 1,500 and 2,350 m.
Ruhija, at about 2,300–2,350 m. Buhoma, at about 1,500 m, is the lowest.
Usually not. Ask a doctor if you have had altitude sickness at similar heights or plan to climb Mgahinga’s volcanoes or the Rwenzoris.
Headache, tiredness, nausea, dizziness and poor sleep. Severe symptoms such as confusion or breathlessness at rest mean you must go down.
