The official starting time for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 8:00 am with a briefing.

The Gorilla Trekking Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park starts early in the morning by 8:00 AM and could go up to 3:00pm. The day starts with a briefing about the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking. Thereafter, you follow the footsteps of your guide/ranger in the  forest in search of the gorillas.

The time it takes to find the habituated gorilla family is hard to determine. This is because the gorillas are constantly on the move to find food or due to other factors prevailing in the forest such as location and the trail conditions in the forest.  Once you find the gorillas, you get to spend up to one hour with the gorillas. In this awe inspiring hour, you get to watch these gentle giants eat, feed, play and if you're lucky, you might even watch them mate. After the hour, you’ll trek back to the headquarters to get your certificates. It is therefore hard to determine which time gorilla trekking ends.

The official starting time for gorilla trekking in Rwanda  is 7:00-8:00 am.

Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park similarly starts early in the morning by 7:00 - 8:00 AM and could go up to 3:00 pm.  The starting and ending times for gorilla trekking can vary depending on several factors, including:

• Location: Whether you're trekking in Uganda or Rwanda, the specific starting and ending times may differ.
• Gorilla Group Location: The location of the gorilla group you're assigned to can impact the duration of the trek.
• Trail Conditions: The weather and trail conditions can influence the pace of the trek.

The gorilla trekking  day starts with a briefing about the do’s and don'ts of gorilla trekking. Thereafter, you follow your guide/ranger in the  forest in search of the gorillas.

Once you find the gorillas, you get to spend up to one hour with the gorillas. During the one hour, you get to watch these gentle giants eat, feed, play and if you're lucky, you might even watch them mate. After the successful trek, you’ll head back to the park headquarters to be awarded with a gift for supporting the conservation efforts in Rwanda. It is therefore hard to determine which time gorilla trekking ends.

Most Popular  Gorilla Trekking Safaris:(We need hyperlinks over these safaris)

3 Day Gorilla Trekking Uganda Safari

3 Day Fly in Uganda Gorilla Safari

3 Day Gorilla Safari Rwanda - Uganda

4 Day Gorilla and Big Game Safari

6 Day Gorillas and Big Game Safari

8 Day Gorilla, Chimpanzee and Golden Monkey Uganda Safari

17 Day Uganda Classic safari

What is the difference between Gorilla Trekking and Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi?

The major difference is that you spend one hour with the mountain Gorillas during Gorilla trekking once you find them. Whereas for the Gorilla habituation experience, you spend 4 hours with mountain gorillas in the Bwindi forest. Gorilla trekking takes place in a group of 8 guests tracking each gorilla family. Meanwhile, gorilla habituation involves a group of 4 guests tracking a given semi-habituated gorilla family. What time does the Gorilla Habituation start and end in Bwindi? Both activities start in the morning hours but habituation starts earlier at about 6:00 am. Both gorilla trekking & gorilla habituation require you to be fit to participate in one of the activities. This is because sometimes the experiences tend to be strenuous especially when hiking through Bwindi Forest.

What to pack for the Gorilla Trekking  Experience in Bwindi?

During the Gorilla Trekking Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, you will need a comfortable, hard-wearing, pair of walking shoes or boots.  Conditions are generally very muddy when it is raining. There are uphill sections which may be quite steep and strenuous.  It is also advisable to wear a long-sleeved cotton shirt and lightweight long trousers. These protect you from the undergrowth, stinging nettles, and biting ants. 

Suggested Items to pack for Gorilla trekking in Bwindi include;

Insect Repellent

Torch/Flashlight – and Spare Batteries

Wet Wipes

Water Bottle

Camera and lenses

Comfortable walking/hiking boots & socks

Gardening gloves for gorilla tracking

Hat and Sunscreen

Rain Jacket

Sweater/fleece

Binoculars (game/bird watching)

How hard is Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park?

Gorilla Trekking Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park timings and conditions vary tremendously. This is because the gorillas move continuously through the rainforest. It is good to physically prepare thoroughly and remember the weather can change with very little warning. The terrain is often steep and through areas where there are no marked paths. It can be very strenuous or maybe just a couple of hours.  It can also be for a full day of up to 8 hours or more of hiking in hot, high-altitude conditions. Therefore, please prepare for this by being as fit as possible.

Where to stay during the Gorilla Trekking Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. As of now, this is done in 4 sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. These are; the Rushaga sector and Nkuringo sector, Ruhija Sector and Buhoma sector. In Rushaga, you can stay at Gorilla Treetops Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge and Bweza Gorilla Lodge. In Nkuringo lodges you can stay at Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge  or Lake Mutanda Resort. In Ruhija, you can stay at Bakiga Lodge, Broadbill Camp. In Buhoma, you can stay at Buhoma Lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, All these lodges are close to the starting points of the Gorilla trekking experience.