Updated
On a gorilla trek in Uganda you usually walk somewhere between 2 and 8 km in total, out and back, over 2 to 6 hours including the hour with the gorillas. Some treks reach a family in under 30 minutes; a few take most of the day. Distance matters less than terrain: in Bwindi you walk on steep, muddy, often trackless slopes at 1,200–2,600 m, so a short distance can be hard work. You cannot know your trek length in advance, because it depends on where the gorillas are that morning.
Why the distance changes every day
Gorillas sleep in a new place each night and usually travel less than a kilometre a day, so trackers find them each morning by setting out from the previous evening’s nests. Once they locate the family, they radio its position to your ranger, and your group walks to meet them. If the family has fed near the forest edge, you may reach it quickly; if it has moved over a ridge, you have a long climb ahead. Read about how far gorillas travel in a day.
The way back is often shorter, because the ranger takes the most direct route out rather than following the trackers’ trail. Some days a vehicle meets the group at a different point on the road to save a climb.
How the time is spent
A typical trek day starts with the briefing at the park office at about 7:30 am and a short drive to the trailhead. The walk to the gorillas then takes anything from 30 minutes to four hours or more. You spend one hour with the family, which may move slowly as you watch, so you often walk a little during the visit too. The return then takes from half an hour to a few hours.
Most people are back at their lodge between early afternoon and late afternoon. Our guide to what to expect on trek day sets out the whole day.
What makes it hard
The forest earns the name “impenetrable”. Once you leave the trail, the ranger and trackers may cut a path through dense undergrowth with machetes, and you climb over roots and fallen trees, cross streams and push through nettles. Slopes can be very steep, and after rain the red soil becomes slippery. The altitude adds to the effort, especially in Ruhija and Nkuringo. Two kilometres in these conditions can take as long as six on a flat path at home.
Differences between sectors
No sector guarantees a short walk, but there are tendencies. In Buhoma, families often range near the village and treks are more often moderate; see our Buhoma guide. Rushaga has the most families, with treks ranging from short to long. Ruhija is high and cool, with steep valleys. Nkuringo usually involves a steep descent from the ridge and a hard climb back. In Mgahinga, the single family ranges on the slopes of the volcanoes, and treks can be long.
Can you ask for a shorter trek?
Yes, and you should if you have any concerns. At the briefing, tell the ranger about your age, fitness, injuries or health conditions. Rangers try to put slower walkers with a family that has been closer to the trailhead in recent days, though nobody can promise where the gorillas will be. For travellers who cannot walk far, porters can carry a sedan chair, arranged in advance at extra cost. Our guide to trekking with limited mobility explains the options.
Preparing for the walk
If you can walk uphill for an hour or two at a steady pace, you can manage most treks. In the weeks before, take long walks on hills or stairs, ideally in the boots you will wear. On the day, hire a porter for about US$15–20 to carry your bag and help you on the steepest parts, take a walking stick, carry two litres of water and snacks, and wear long trousers, gloves and waterproof boots. See our guides to how fit you need to be and what to pack.
Frequently asked questions
Usually 2–8 km in total, out and back, though it can be less than 1 km or more than 10 km.
Usually 2–6 hours in total, including one hour with the gorillas. Some treks take all day.
No sector guarantees short treks, but Buhoma is often more moderate. Nkuringo is usually the hardest.
Tell the ranger at the briefing. Porters can help, and a sedan chair carried by porters can be arranged in advance.
