Updated
People with limited mobility can see mountain gorillas in Uganda: a team of trained porters can carry you to the gorilla family and back in a sedan chair, a stretcher-style seat, booked in advance for roughly US$100–300 on top of the gorilla permit. Visitors who can walk but struggle on steep ground can instead trek with one or two porters for support and ask the ranger for a family close to the trailhead.
Gorilla trekking is not wheelchair-accessible in the usual sense — Bwindi’s forest is steep and has no paved paths — but these options have made the experience possible for many older visitors and people with disabilities. Here is how they work and how to plan.
Options at a glance
| Situation | Best option | What to arrange |
|---|---|---|
| Can walk, but slowly or with knee or hip problems | Trek with one or two porters and walking poles | Tell the ranger at the briefing; choose an easier sector |
| Can walk short distances only | Sedan chair for part or all of the trek | Book through your operator in advance |
| Wheelchair user | Sedan chair, with your wheelchair left at headquarters | Book in advance; check lodge access |
How the sedan chair works
The sedan chair is a sturdy seat on poles, introduced by Uganda Wildlife Authority to make gorilla trekking more inclusive. A team of porters from the local association — often eight or more, depending on the terrain and your weight — carries the chair in rotation, swapping regularly on steep sections.
They are experienced at moving through dense forest and up and down slopes, and the ranger guide sets the pace for the group. When you reach the gorillas, you are set down at a safe distance to spend your hour with the family like any other visitor.
The cost is separate from the US$800 permit (US$600 in April, May and November) and is usually agreed through your operator with the porters’ association, typically somewhere around US$100–300 depending on distance, terrain and team size. The fee goes to the porters’ community. Arrange it when you book your permit, not on the day, so a full team is ready.
Choosing the right sector
Rushaga, with the most families, gives rangers the best chance of assigning a family that is close by on the day. Buhoma has a lower starting point and well-used trails. Nkuringo’s long climb back to the ridge and high Ruhija are harder choices. Mgahinga is less tangled but higher. Whatever the sector, tell the ranger about your needs at the 07:30 briefing. See Bwindi’s sectors compared and what happens at the briefing.
Lodges, vehicles and the wider trip
Many lodges near Bwindi are built on steep hillsides with steps between rooms and the main building, so ask specifically about step-free rooms, bathroom access and distances when booking. A few lodges have more accessible rooms near the main areas. Domestic flights to Kihihi or Kisoro, or flying into Kigali for southern Bwindi, reduce long, bumpy road journeys. A private vehicle with a driver-guide lets you travel at your own pace. See lodges near Bwindi and Mgahinga and the 3-day fly-in itinerary.
Health and honest planning
Talk to your doctor before booking, particularly about heart, lung or blood pressure conditions, as treks are at 1,500–2,500 m or higher. Be honest with your operator about what you can and cannot do, so they can plan the right support. Make sure your travel insurance covers your conditions and includes medical evacuation. Even with a sedan chair, the trek can be bumpy and long, and the day starts early. For older travellers specifically, read gorilla trekking for seniors.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, by sedan chair carried by porters. The wheelchair stays at headquarters, as forest trails are too steep and rough for it.
Roughly US$100–300, depending on distance, terrain and the number of porters needed. It is paid on top of the gorilla permit.
It is far better to arrange it in advance through your operator, so a full porter team is ready at the briefing.
Yes, similar carried-chair services exist in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, arranged in advance through your operator.
