Do you need to be very fit to see gorillas?

No, but you need to be able to walk for several hours on steep, uneven, often muddy ground at altitude. The trek length depends on where the family is that day, from under an hour to most of the day.

Is there an age limit for gorilla trekking?

The minimum age is 15 in both Uganda and Rwanda. Neither authority publishes a maximum age.

Yes. Porters are available at the start of the trek to carry your daypack. RDB describes the cost as a small charge; neither authority publishes a set rate.

Can I go gorilla trekking with limited mobility?

Carrying services exist in some parks for visitors who cannot walk the distance, and they must be arranged in advance. Neither authority publishes the service or its cost, so we confirm what is available for your date and park before booking.

Is the altitude a problem?

The parks range from about 1,160 metres in Bwindi to 4,000 metres in the upper reaches of Volcanoes National Park. Most visitors notice it on the climbs rather than at rest. If you have a heart or breathing condition, speak to your doctor before booking.

Gorilla trekking

How fit do you need to be for gorilla trekking?

Fit enough for a long day of steep, often muddy walking at altitude. Bwindi lies between 1,160 and 2,607 metres and a trek there can last from a few hours to a whole day; in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park the gorillas live between 2,500 and 4,000 metres and the walk to them takes from 30 minutes to more than four hours, with the return often as long. You do not need to be an athlete — porters can carry your pack — but regular walking in the weeks before makes a real difference.

Checked against official sources on 13 September 2026. Sources

Altitude and trek length, by park

Altitudes and trek lengths as published by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Rwanda Development Board, checked 13 September 2026.
Park	Altitude	How long the trek takes
Bwindi Impenetrable, Uganda	1,160 to 2,607 metres	A few hours to a whole day
Mgahinga, Uganda	2,227 metres at the Ntebeko park headquarters, rising to 4,127 metres on Mount Muhavura	Typically three to five hours
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda	Gorillas live between 2,500 and 4,000 metres	30 minutes to more than four hours to reach the family; the return can take as long

What makes it hard

Nobody knows the distance until the day. Trackers set out first to find where the family moved overnight, and you walk to wherever that is.
The ground is steep and often wet. Bwindi's forest is dense and the trails follow the slopes rather than contouring around them.
Altitude. Bwindi starts at 1,160 metres and Rwanda's gorillas live above 2,500, so most visitors breathe harder on the climbs than they would at sea level.

What makes it easier

Porters. You can hire a porter at the start of the trek to carry your daypack and give you a hand on the steep sections. RDB describes this as a small charge; neither authority publishes a rate.
Choosing the family, or the sector. In Rwanda, families are allocated on the day according to fitness. In Uganda, a Bwindi permit is for one sector, so we choose the sector with the amount of walking you want in mind when we book it.
Time. There is no prize for speed. The group moves at the pace of its slowest walker.
Carrying services. For visitors with limited mobility, carrying services exist in some parks and have to be arranged in advance. Neither UWA nor RDB publishes them, so ask us and we will confirm what is available for your date and sector.

Getting ready

The best preparation is walking hills with a loaded daypack in the boots you will wear. Waterproof boots with grip, long sleeves and trousers, gardening-style gloves for holding on to vegetation, and a light rain jacket are what the forest asks for.

What to pack · Gorilla or chimpanzee trekking?

Common questions

Do you need to be very fit to see gorillas?: No, but you need to be able to walk for several hours on steep, uneven, often muddy ground at altitude. The trek length depends on where the family is that day, from under an hour to most of the day.
Is there an age limit for gorilla trekking?: The minimum age is 15 in both Uganda and Rwanda. Neither authority publishes a maximum age.
Can I hire a porter?: Yes. Porters are available at the start of the trek to carry your daypack. RDB describes the cost as a small charge; neither authority publishes a set rate.
Can I go gorilla trekking with limited mobility?: Carrying services exist in some parks for visitors who cannot walk the distance, and they must be arranged in advance. Neither authority publishes the service or its cost, so we confirm what is available for your date and park before booking.
Is the altitude a problem?: The parks range from about 1,160 metres in Bwindi to 4,000 metres in the upper reaches of Volcanoes National Park. Most visitors notice it on the climbs rather than at rest. If you have a heart or breathing condition, speak to your doctor before booking.

Sources

Every fact on this page was checked on 13 September 2026 against these sources. Rules change on the authorities’ schedule, not ours, so confirm anything time-sensitive before you travel.

Planning questions

What happens on a gorilla trekking day?The briefing, the walk, the hour with the family, and the rules.
How do you book a gorilla trekking permit?Who can book, when you pay, and the rules on changes and refunds.
Do you need a visa for Uganda?Uganda's tourist visa, the East Africa Tourist Visa and yellow fever.

Not sure which trek suits you?

Tell us how much walking you are comfortable with and we will suggest the park and sector that fit — or a chimpanzee trek instead.

Plan my trip Gorillas or chimpanzees?