Updated
On a standard gorilla trek in Uganda you spend one hour with the gorilla family, timed by the ranger from the moment your group reaches the gorillas. The limit, together with the maximum of eight visitors per family per day, protects the gorillas from stress and from human diseases. The time it takes to reach them is not counted, so the whole trek can last anywhere from a few hours to most of the day. If you want longer, the Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi’s Rushaga sector allows about four hours.
Why the limit is one hour
Mountain gorillas catch human respiratory infections easily, and even a cold can be serious for them. Limiting how long people spend close to each family, and how many people visit, reduces the chance of passing on disease and keeps the gorillas’ daily routine of feeding, resting and travelling as natural as possible.
Habituated families are visited every day, so the hour adds up over a year. The rule is part of a wider set of rules, including keeping at least 7 m away and not trekking when ill; see our guide to gorilla trekking rules.
What happens during the hour
When the trackers have found the family, the ranger stops the group a short distance away, asks you to leave bags, walking sticks and food with the porters, and reminds you of the rules. Then you move closer together, quietly.
The gorillas may be feeding, resting, grooming or playing, and they often move slowly through the vegetation, so you may follow them a little way. The ranger chooses where you stand, may cut back plants for a better view, and keeps the group together. Masks may be required. When the hour is up, the ranger signals and you withdraw quietly.
Making the most of it
The hour passes very quickly. Set your camera before you arrive, so you are not fiddling with settings; see our guide to photographing gorillas in low light. Take photos in the first part of the hour, then put the camera down for a while and simply watch: the way a mother handles her infant, a juvenile’s play, the silverback’s calm authority. Flash is not allowed, and you should not eat, drink or smoke near the gorillas.
If a gorilla comes close
Gorillas do not know about the 7 m rule, and curious juveniles or a passing silverback sometimes come much closer. Stay still or step back slowly as the ranger directs, and never touch a gorilla. If a silverback charges, crouch down, look away and do not run. See our guide to what to do if a gorilla charges.
Want more time?
The Gorilla Habituation Experience in Rushaga lets up to four visitors spend about four hours with a family still being habituated, for US$1,500 in 2026 and US$1,800 in 2027, compared with US$800 (US$600 in April, May and November) for a standard permit. Some visitors book two standard treks on different days instead, seeing two families. See our guide to the habituation experience and to the whole trek day.
Frequently asked questions
One hour on a standard trek, timed from when you reach the family.
No. The hour starts when you reach the gorillas.
To reduce stress and the risk of passing human diseases to the gorillas.
Book the Gorilla Habituation Experience in Rushaga, which allows about four hours.
