If this is your first gorilla trekking experience, this guide covers every practical element from the moment you decide to go to the moment you arrive at the Bwindi briefing point. First-time trekkers ask more questions than repeat visitors for good reason — there is more to prepare, more unfamiliar territory, and more consequence to getting the basics wrong. This guide is designed to make sure you get them right.
Step 1: The Visa
Most international visitors to Uganda require a visa. The standard Uganda single-entry visa is available online at the Uganda e-Visa portal and costs USD 50 for most nationalities. The East Africa Tourist Visa (USD 100) covers Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda and is the better option if you plan to visit more than one of these countries on the same trip. Processing time is typically three to seven working days. Apply at least two weeks before departure to allow for any delays. Carry your visa approval document (printed or on your phone) to present at immigration.
A few nationalities are exempt from Uganda visa requirements. Check the current list for your passport. Citizens of East African Community member states have different arrangements. If you are entering from Rwanda or Kenya with a valid East Africa Tourist Visa, you do not need an additional Uganda visa.
Step 2: Health Requirements
Yellow fever vaccination: mandatory for entry to Uganda from most countries. You need a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate (the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, also called the “yellow card”). If you do not have one, visit a travel health clinic at least 10 days before departure — the vaccination requires 10 days to achieve full protection. Once vaccinated, the certificate is valid for life (the previous 10-year expiry requirement was removed in 2016).
Malaria prophylaxis: Uganda has malaria throughout the country, including the Bwindi area. Consult a travel health physician about the appropriate prophylaxis for you. Common options include atovaquone-proguanil (taken daily starting 1 to 2 days before departure), doxycycline (taken daily starting 1 to 2 days before), and mefloquine (taken weekly starting 2 to 3 weeks before). Each has different side-effect profiles. Begin your chosen prophylaxis on the schedule recommended by your physician, and carry enough doses for the full duration of your trip plus a few extra days.
Other recommended vaccinations: Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Tetanus/Diphtheria are generally recommended for Uganda travel. Hepatitis B is recommended for longer stays. Consult your travel health clinic for a personalised vaccination assessment based on your current vaccination record and the specific activities planned during your trip.
Step 3: Travel Insurance
Standard travel insurance is insufficient for gorilla trekking. You need a policy that specifically covers: emergency medical evacuation from a remote area (helicopter evacuation from Bwindi can cost USD 10,000 to 30,000 without insurance), trip cancellation and disruption (for permit cost recovery if you cannot trek due to illness or flight disruption), and high-value activity coverage (some standard policies exclude trekking activities at altitude). Compare policies and ensure the emergency evacuation limit is at least USD 100,000. We can recommend insurers who specifically cover gorilla trekking and Uganda.
Step 4: Flights and Arrival
Fly to Entebbe International Airport (IATA code: EBB). Allow at least one full day between your arrival in Uganda and your trek date — do not schedule your trek for the morning after a long-haul flight. Jet lag, dehydration, and fatigue all significantly affect your physical capacity on the trek. If you are flying from Europe or North America (10+ hour flights), allow two days of adjustment if possible.
Entebbe is a small, manageable airport. Immigration is generally straightforward with a valid visa and yellow fever certificate. Luggage collection is usually fast. We arrange airport pickup for all our clients — you will be met by a named driver with a sign at the arrivals exit.
Step 5: Getting to Bwindi
Entebbe to Bwindi (Buhoma sector) is approximately 7 to 8 hours by road. The drive is scenic — passing through Kampala, ascending to the crater lakes region, and descending into the western rift valley. It is also tiring. We recommend breaking the drive with an overnight at a mid-point lodge (Kibale area or Fort Portal) for first-time travellers who are not accustomed to long African road journeys.
Alternatively, charter flights from Entebbe to Kihihi airstrip (near Buhoma) or Kisoro airstrip (near Rushaga and Nkuringo) take approximately one hour. The cost (USD 250 to 350 per person one-way) is significant but the time saved and the reduction in physical fatigue before the trek makes it worth serious consideration. We arrange charter flights through trusted operators.
Step 6: At the Lodge — Night Before Your Trek
Arrive at your Bwindi lodge in the afternoon. Meet the lodge manager and confirm your trek logistics for the next day (pickup time, briefing point location, guide name). Have dinner, hydrate well, and sleep early. Do not drink alcohol the night before your trek — dehydration and reduced physical capacity the next morning will affect your ability to manage the trek, particularly if it turns out to be a long one.
Lay out your trek gear the night before: boots, long trousers, long-sleeved shirt, rain jacket, hat, pack with water and snacks, camera, insect repellent, sun cream. Do this the night before — mornings before gorilla treks are early (5:30 to 6:00 AM wake-up) and finding your gaiters at 6:00 AM is not the experience you want.
Step 7: Trek Morning — What to Expect
Wake up early, eat breakfast (lodge breakfasts for trek mornings are typically earlier than usual — confirm the time with your lodge the night before), pack your daypack, and transfer to the briefing point. You will receive your permit, meet your guide, and attend the pre-trek briefing (30 minutes, covers gorilla behaviour, rules, photography protocol). You then depart into the forest. What happens next is described in the trek-day post on this site. You are ready. Contact us if you have any remaining questions before booking your 2027 first gorilla trek.
