Gorilla trekking safaris

• Gorilla trekking involves guided hikes of 1 to 6 hours through misty forests.

• You will spend one hour with habituated mountain or lowland gorilla families, and masks must be worn when with the gorillas.

• Mountain gorillas are found in Rwanda's Volcanoes, Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla, and DRC's Virunga national parks, whilst lowland gorillas are accessible in Congo-Brazzaville's Odzala-Kokoua National Park.

• The minimum age to trek for gorillas is 15, and group sizes are limited to 6 to 8 participants.

• The best trekking months are the dry seasons (mid-December to early February and June to September).

• Gorilla trekking permits cost between US$400 and US$1,500, depending on location, and peak-season bookings require 12 to 18 months' advance planning.

The dry seasons - mid-December to early February and June to September - are more comfortable for gorilla trekking. That said, don't be completely put off by the rains of November and March-May, as you will have the forests, mountains, guides and gorillas to yourself.

Trekking rules are essential to protect gorillas' health, as they are susceptible to human diseases. Gorillas will be stressed if there are too many visitors or if visitors misbehave.

Mask

Wearing a surgical mask while meeting gorillas is mandatory.

Feeling sick?

If you show any sign of illness on the day of your trek, please let your guide or the park staff know. They may decide to prevent you from trekking on that day. Exposing gorillas to disease may be catastrophic for the entire population. Also, if you are in the company of gorillas and need to cough or sneeze, face away from the gorillas - even while wearing the required mask.

Group size and frequency

Each gorilla group is visited daily - only once. Group size is limited to 6 or 8 tourists, and the interaction time is 1 hour.

Minimum visitor age

The minimum age for tourists is 15 years old, to prevent exposing the gorillas to childhood diseases such as mumps, chickenpox, measles, etc.

Photography

Flash photography is not permitted - the flash may frighten the gorillas or provoke an aggressive reaction.

Minimum distance

Tourists must remain at least seven metres from the gorillas. Gorillas may approach you, in which case you should retreat slowly if possible.

Stay together

Try to remain in a tight group - to make it easier for your guides to manage the situation and to prevent the gorillas from feeling threatened.

Your behaviour while with gorillas

Remain seated or crouching and keep your arms at your side when spending time with gorillas. Keep quiet - even when filming a selfie. Shouting, standing or gesturing with your arms may be perceived as a threat by gorillas. Silverback gorillas have been known to beat their chests, roar and even charge at tourists. If this happens, remain seated and avoid eye contact with the gorilla. These threat displays look and sound scary, but the gorillas soon calm down and go about their business without harming anybody.

Eating, drinking & smoking

No eating, drinking or smoking is permitted anywhere near gorillas. This may attract their attention, leading to unwelcome close encounters. Your food may also be harmful to gorillas' health.

Toilet

Please go to the bathroom before you set out on your trek. If you need to go to the toilet whilst in the forest, you will need to dig a deep hole to bury any excrement and fill it in afterwards. Your guides will lend you a machete for this purpose, but you will need to bring toilet paper.

Litter

Please keep all of your rubbish in your backpack and deposit it at your lodge after the trek.

The hiking pace during gorilla trekking is relaxed - expect frequent stops to admire the incredible views or identify a bird. But high humidity and the hills take their toll - you should be fit enough to walk for a few hours at a relaxed pace. 

Other animals in the region include forest elephants, forest buffalo, duikers, forest hogs, bush pigs, golden cats, jackals and civets.

It should be noted, though, that sightings are rare due to the thick vegetation.

There are 1,074 bird species in the Albertine Rift, of which 42 occur only there, and you can expect to tick off many colourful birds as you hike.

• What to pack: Water, snacks for while you walk, lunch, raincoat (all available from your lodge), several layers of clothing including a warm top, long-sleeved shirt and long pants, wide-brimmed hat, hiking shoes/boots, towel, insect repellent and equipment such as binoculars, cameras and lenses

• Backpack: Take a day pack for the above items

• Porters: Hire a porter for the hike - he will carry your backpack - freeing you to carry only binoculars and perhaps a camera. The cost is a fraction of your daily expenses in gorilla-land, yet it makes a big difference in the porter's life and to your enjoyment

• Photography: The forest is dark, and the use of large lenses will be limited. Keep that big lens in your backpack, and use a general-purpose lens on your camera. Keep a dry lens cloth handy to wipe away dew and raindrops. Flash photography is not permitted while with the gorillas

• Waterproofing: Carry a few waterproof bags for equipment in case of showers and high humidity

• Mask: Gorilla treks require the use of a surgical mask while you are with the gorillas

• Weather: Mountain gorilla treks are at high altitudes in high rainfall areas. The weather can swing from clear and hot to torrential rain and cold in minutes.

In a nutshell:

• Rwanda offers more convenient gorilla trekking: a 2.5-hour drive (30-minute flight) from the capital city of Kigali, whereas Ugandan gorilla trekking is about 10 hours by road from the capital city of Entebbe, or a 1.5-hour flight followed by a 1.5-hour road transfer.

• Uganda gorilla trek permits cost less - about half of the Rwandan price.

• Uganda's primary gorilla trekking destination, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, offers a better overall forest and wildlife experience than does Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

• Gorilla Trekking safaris typically cost from US$700 per person, per night, depending on the accommodation comfort level and activities - excluding gorilla trekking permits. This price usually includes accommodation, all meals, game drives, experienced guides, airport transfers, and 24/7 support from our team.

• A mountain gorilla trek permit usually costs US$700 per trek in Uganda, US$1,500 in Rwanda and US$400 in the DRC. A mountain gorilla habituation experience permit in Uganda costs US$1,500. Lowland gorilla trekking permits cost $750 per trek, whereas lowland gorilla watching from an elevated treehouse does not incur a trekking permit fee.

  These prices may change during off-peak trekking periods, and discounts are often available for local or regional travellers. The proceeds from these permits are directly allocated toward protecting these species in the respective countries. The gorilla trekking permit generates revenue for government conservation efforts and creates ecotourism jobs for rangers, trackers and porters. Local communities also benefit from additional knock-on business opportunities related to tourism. These benefits ensure that local people value gorillas and their habitat.

• You only make your first payment when you book your holiday. Your second (last) payment is about 90 days before you travel.

• Peak season bookings require 12–18 months of advance planning. Trips outside of peak season can be arranged 6–9 months ahead, with better rates and availability.