Uganda primate trekking

[Justbloodydoit]

Has anyone been? How authentic did it feel. Were there loads of people surrounding them or more controlled? Gorillas and chimps are what we would love to see but in the wild environment.

We did it in 2019 in Uganda. Small group of about 8 of us with guides and armed rangers.
You have a big of a briefing at the start with a LOT of other people, but when the groups split up, you don't see anyone again.

You have the option of paying a local sherpa to carry your rucksack sack or help you over streams. Pay one, they are a life saver on uneven ground

Be prepared for hiking through jungle environment with a guide sometimes hacking the path in front of you, wading through small streams, climbing over fallen tree trunks, wading through muddy patches. Its a challenge and I was running on empty but you can't explain the feeling when you see gorillas in the wild.

We hiked for an hour before we found the family, some groups hiked a lot longer.
You can only stay around them for an hour so they don't get over exposed to humans, and it goes in a flash, and only so many permits are issued so book as soon as you can.

If you have the option, book it, it is amazing and a once in a life time experience.

Oh that sounds promising and more controlled than I feared. Did you book via a UK based company?

We did it as part of a longer organised overland trip through Africa so it as part of that but I imagine UK tour companies could book it for you.

It was amazing. We went in 2023 also in Uganda on a tour run by Intrepid. We are big independent travellers but it’s very remote and we were glad we’d booked a tour. You could do it independently but it is a hassle to get the permits and everything. it also included a bit of normal safari, although the park we visited didn’t really compare to the Masai Mara or other reserves in Kenya or Tanzania.

We trekked for about 45 minutes to see them and spent about an hour with the group. It was totally magical.

It is very controlled and done carefully. They Habituate about half of the gorillas and then other family groups are left alone.

Uganda is a poor country and the area around the park is especially so be prepared to be generous with your money. We were all told to just hire a Sherpa even if we didn’t really need one, as they are reliant on the income and if they don’t get picked they don’t get paid. We also bought a lot of handicrafts from local women’s collectives etc.

Oh amazing. I’ve looked at the overlanding a few times but not sure if I can camp as most of them appear to. How did you find it? …. I’m a fit mid 50’s but need a comfy bed these days!

that sounds promising, and yes would absolutely book a local to help regardless. I want to leave money in the countries we travel to by using local people and businesses. Thank you.

We did three months Kenya to South Africa with Oasis travel. We were late 40's and late 50's when we did it.

Camping was okay but after a while the novelty of putting away a wet tent most early mornings soon went, however on 90% of the camp sites we stayed in there was always the option to upgrade to accommodate with a bed and warm shower so to be honest we did that about half of the time.

Loved the overland experience, ages were just out of education to very retired with lots of different personalities so you have to be quite relaxed about it and go with the flow cos it will have its ups and downs.

But for being able to see parts of the world that you wouldn't normally get to see, I definitely recommend it

It is very carefully controlled because they are wild. You won't be allowed to go without a permit (which are limited and very expensive) and heavy supervision. You also won't be allowed to go if you have a cold or other infection in case you pass it on and kill them (because they don't have immunity to human diseases).

As others have said you are highly supervised, your time observing them is limited and you will be briefed on appropriate behaviour and kept at a distance. If you do anything even slightly inappropriate you will be removed. The gorillas and chimpanzees will ignore you because they're habituated to human observers (so they don't see you as a threat or even interesting precisely because it is all so carefully controlled to protect them).

It is not a gentle stroll. You are tracking them in their wild habitat, which in the case of gorillas is mountainous, so there are no footpaths and you will be walking through dense vegetation behind someone who's cutting through with a machete. Through mud and up steep slopes. Pay for a porter to help you (and treat them respectfully).

Are you set on Uganda specifically? Rwanda is the other option and you can track golden monkeys too. Which is much more gentle.

Have you looked at local operators? When I went I booked everything through local businesses via email.

What else do you want to do on this trip? Each tracking permit is for a single day, so it's not going to fill all your time unless you're only going for a long weekend!

One of my neighbours actually did go to Rwanda for a long weekend! She only wanted to see the gorillas.

following! Would love to do this.
I know under 16s cannot go - they need people who can really hold their nerve

Yes, but an awful long time ago, 20 years ago. I went with a friend, we were young. We did it independently. We had permits before we left the uk….iirc at the time there was only one place you could get permits from and we emailed them and asked and they said yes and then we sent money to them. We took public buses from Kampala, roads are terrible it takes ages getting anywhere, there’s not always a seat in the bus. We stayed close by the night before and then the next morning did the trek. Walked for around an hour and then sat with the gorillas. Was amazing. Think there were six of us in the group, then the guides. We didn’t have a porter.

I have no idea how we survived that trip to be honest…..not the gorillas but we hitchhiked all over as two white blonde women in their early 20s! 🤣🙈. Just trusted anyone and got into cars with random men. We didn’t even have internet on our phones!

As of today, Uganda declared that they consider joining the war on Iran on Israel's side.
I have no idea whether it will really come to it and what it would mean, I've just realised that this is the second time I read about Uganda today.

So it might be good to check whether Iran has some proxies in the area before booking, just to get some idea how big problem it might be.

Fair enough! There are other things to do in Rwanda though!

Are you referring to these social media posts, some of which have since been deleted?

www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/26/uganda-military-chief-offer-fight-for-israel-iran/

I haven't read about it on Telegraph, but it will probably refer to the same sources. So it is partially retracted and noone really knows?

I'm not saying to not go, I'm saying to check the geopolitical aspect. After people were surprised that UAEs are close to Iran...

Wildlife Worldwide can take you to see the gorillas in Uganda and other wildlife experiences there. The uk government will have details of its unsafe.

what other things would you recommend? We have been on safari a few times but chimps and apes are the real draw for us. I can sit and watch the wildlife all the time as it’s always different, but other activities always good too.

I see white water rafting can be a thing!

I’m a hill runner and DH does ultras so we are not worried about the challenge of conditions.

We did an organised trip to Uganda and Rwanda last year which included the gorilla trekking with permit. It also featured other wildlife like golden monkeys and a walking safari where we got really close to giraffes. There's also culture and history e.g Genocide Museum in Kigali, very moving. We stayed at some nice hotels but you travel as a group, plenty of space in the minibus, but it's not just you! Equally you do not have to be with the other people on the tour 24/7 but if you get a good bunch of people it's a sociable shared experience.
As others have said, the gorilla trekking is well organised and firmly controlled. You'll be briefed as part of a larger group then allocated a guide in a group of about 8 people. They decide which group is aiming to find which gorilla family - i.e. some are known (through observation, habits, intel?) to be further into the forest. Basically, if you're older or they think you're less fit (not you, obsv!) they will allocate you to the guide going to the nearest, easiest to get to gorillas.
It probably depends on the time of year but we were expecting to find it heavy going with slippery muddy trails but it was sunny, dry and easy enough. You need decent footwear. Use a porter, they need the money.
We went with 'Explore!' but other similar tours are with Exodus, Intrepid, G Adventure. You could always add on some independent travel e.g. do a side trip before/after the tour to make it a longer holiday. and see more of the countries.
Seeing the gorillas In Uganda was amazing and special. Go!!