In the morning, after a welcome dance by locals (I hope), we received a clear briefing and were divided into groups of max. 9 people. Our trip took about 5 hours in total (we had to search and the gorillas were not immediately found by the trackers). Fortunately there was no rain, otherwise you would have a different story in terms of difficulty!!! Sturdy footwear is really recommended here. The permits are currently $700 and would soon be increased to $800!!! Money that goes directly to the government. Some would go to locals, guides, trackers and porters. I'm curious what percentage??? For people with poor physical condition, a "carrier" is really recommended. Energy gels are useful. Don't be guided too much by videos on You Tube of close encounters with gorillas that come and tinker with your ear as an introduction to people. Those encounters will certainly exist, but they are the exception rather than the rule! But all in all a great experience.

A memorable day! We begin with a briefing in which the rules of behavior are explained, then groups of 8 people are formed and the family of gorillas to search for is assigned. The price is high, 700 dollars, but it is absolutely worth it. We must also consider that each group is accompanied by 2 armed rangers and a guide plus 3 other rangers who leave at dawn to look for the gorillas and then guide us via radio. The duration of the trek depends on the location of the assigned family. It took us about 2 and a half hours to reach them, we traveled through a thick and beautiful jungle, the ranger in front literally created a path with his machete. The route is challenging, but when we finally meet the gorillas the emotion erases the fatigue. When we get nearby we have to wear masks, then meter after meter the rangers make our way until we reach a distance of 5 or 6 meters. From now on we have exactly one hour to enjoy them. Gorillas are completely uninterested in our presence. We were lucky, the family was quite large, a majestic silverback, 5 females and 4 puppies of various ages. Time flew by watching the puppies play with each other and with their mothers while the silverback ate almost continuously. Truly memorable experience, absolutely worth trying!

The gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that was way up on my bucket list. The time with the gorillas (1 hour by park rule) was simply amazing and so worth it to me. We were literally within feet of these amazing creatures. The hike to get there, however, was very challenging. Ours took about an hour, but it all depends on where the gorillas are that day. We travelled in a small group of 8. This is very uneven, uphill hiking, but the guide was very patient with us regarding stops and the group was very understanding as well (my wife and I are both 70, but in good health). I highly recommend the trek, but go with an expectation that it will be a challenge. Also understand that the permit fee is very high.

Rubbed backs with the silverback, then he almost made me soil my pants when he screamed and charged. Best day of my life! Trek was extremely tough, but definitely worth it. Gorillas are awesome, this was a dream come true.

The gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a wonderful welcome from a community group and a briefing, It was very different from what I had read. the experience is brilliantly organized, with several groups of eight visitors heading off on foot to find gorilla families, there are not enough words to describe when you finally see the gorillas in front of you after hiking into the forest. I’m sure this will be the highlight of your trip to Uganda as it was for us! I highly recommend doing gorilla experiences in Bwindi

The gorilla trek with Benjamin was the highlight of our 12-day trip in Uganda! Benjamin was a wonderful, personable guide and full of knowledge about the park and the gorillas. He has over 30 years of experience and told us that before Bwindi, he was at Mgahinga and helped to habituate the golden monkeys that are there today! We also had some difficult tourists in our group that day and Benjamin had the patience of a saint. We were lucky enough to visit the Bitukura group of gorillas, which has 3 silverbacks and 2 babies. Be aware that the hike is strenuous, but really rewarding. Highly recommend the gorilla trek in Bwindi.

Trekking not particularly difficult except in some slippery passage. It is recommended to hire a carrier who carries your backpack and helps you in the most difficult steps. At just $20 it gives you a big hand and above all you help the local population to understand the importance of gorillas, species to be protected. As an experience it is one of the most unforgettable you can do, you get a few cm from the gorillas and spend an hour in their company ... from goose bumps!!

Our trip to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest was truly a special day. We started the day with a most enjoyable and entertaining display by the local dance and singing group who provided us the story of their relationship with the country and the gorillas in song and dance. Following that we made our way to join the Tindatine group, named after the troop that we were to hike to and spend time with. We both chose to get a porter as rural Uganda is one of the poorest places on earth, and paying a porter is one way of helping these people to earn an income to support their families. The hike was stunning, and is a huge part of the experience, and for us took less than 2 hours to find the trackers who had identified the location of the troop that morning. The one hour with the gorillas was just magical. We watched as the silverback and his troop carried on with their normal life while we were only metres away. It was a truly special experience and an ongoing reminder of the beauty of nature and what is truly important in the world. If you ever get the chance then just do it... Our thanks to our guide Jane, our porters Mensie and Elastus, the guards who walked with us and the trackers who track the troop every day, and everyone else associated with this lifetime experience.

BINP hosts the mountain gorillas, 600 in total shared with Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. The trek begins with a local dancer and drummer troupe. The park provides walking sticks. A porter for a nominal fee will be helpful for the steeper and trickier parts of the trek and supports local community. Brian offered an excellent initial orientation to safety and logistics. Gorrith provided guide service for our group of 8 to the trek, kept everyone in line and out of harms way. The trackers led us to the gorillas and the porters helped us up and down. Lauren served as our skilled, attentive porter along with several other porters. Trackers and Gorrith chopped the brush out of the way to get us to spend 60 minutes with our group. Making our own path to see the gorillas in their natural habitat is one of life's wonders. Gorrith, Lauren, trackers, porters, and guides insured a safe, outstanding once in a lifetime expert. Not wheel chair accessible but their is an option for those cannot trek with a 6 man carry of a aluminum carrier called Africa helicopter.

This is a must-do activity in Western Uganda. The day began with a thorough briefing from the female resident ranger, and a round of energeticntraditional dance from the locals. Next up, we were assigned groups and trackers and different routes to go on for the gorilla trekking. I must say it's an endurance activity especially if you are not physically active! The experienced trackers let our party on an 'impenetrable' path, through dense bush, and after two hours, we were rewarded with an adult silverback male and his two playful kids as the fed in a thick bush! Very rewarding!