Gorillas in Uganda: A Life-Changing Encounter, and Why It Matters
Hi darling,
One of the most unforgettable travel experiences of my life was visiting the gorillas in Uganda at 26. I was young, travelling solo on a group tour, and the whole thing left a deep mark on me. Back then, there were no phone cameras, no Instagram — just raw, real moments. I still remember emerging from the wilds two weeks later, finally able to call my parents and tell them everything. These days, the experience is more accessible, but no less powerful — and it’s one I’d wholeheartedly recommend. Just keep in mind that this kind of tourism is deeply connected to the local economy. Who you book with matters. Choose guides and tours that support conservation and community, because that ripple effect can be the most meaningful souvenir of all.
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Seeing mountain gorillas in the wild is extraordinary. But knowing your presence helps protect them? That’s where the real beauty lies.
What It Feels Like to Stand Among Gorillas
There are travel moments that linger. Then there are the ones that rearrange you.
Walking through the misty, tangled green of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, following the rustle of branches ahead — it’s hard to explain how humbling it is until you’re there. You hear them before you see them. Then, suddenly, you’re standing just metres away from a silverback who meets your eyes with something too knowing to be dismissed as coincidence.
Credit: 2H Media
The air is thick, quiet, reverent. No one speaks above a whisper. And in that hour — because that’s all you get — time slows. Everything else in your life fades, and all that’s left is this: breath, jungle, connection.
Where to Go and How to Plan
Uganda offers two key regions for gorilla trekking: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which borders Rwanda and the DRC. Most travellers head to Bwindi, where the majority of habituated gorilla families live.
Permits are essential and limited: expect around USD $700–800 per person, booked well in advance.
Trekking can be physically challenging — altitude, steep climbs, mud — but porters are available and very much worth hiring (more on that below).
Tour operators range from luxury to simple eco-safaris. Choose one that invests in local communities and uses certified guides.
The Ripple Effect: Why It Matters
Here’s the part most people don’t talk about — or don’t know.
Credit: Random Institute
Your visit funds an entire ecosystem of conservation and livelihood:
Tourism revenue funds anti-poaching patrols, gorilla health checks, and habitat protection.
Hiring porters (many of whom are former poachers) offers meaningful income and a path toward conservation. You’re not just helping yourself up the hill — you’re helping someone stay off the margins.
Locally owned lodges and co-ops ensure women and families benefit directly from your stay, not just the tour companies.
Education and health initiatives in nearby villages are supported by gorilla permit revenues.
So yes, it’s an unforgettable experience. But it’s also a tangible, ethical way to support one of the world’s most endangered species — and the people who live closest to them.
Credit: William Pietermans
How You Can Help (Beyond Your Trip)
If you’re not trekking soon but want to contribute:
Support the Gorilla Doctors, who provide veterinary care to wild gorilla populations.
Donate to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund or Conservation Through Public Health.
Choose future tours that focus on benefit-sharing, not just sustainability as a buzzword.
Tours That Actually Give Back
Not all gorilla safaris are created equal — the ones that truly matter do more than offer an incredible experience. They share profits, support communities, and help gorillas survive. Here are operators making a measurable difference:
Credit: Random Institute
Gorilla Safari Company (Uganda & Rwanda)
They actively support local schools, women’s groups, and Batwa cultural preservation, including women’s co-ops and a school for over 200 children near Bwindi. When you trek, you're funding education, entrepreneurship, and heritage revival — not just tourism.
Credit: Gorilla Safari Company
Volcanoes Safaris (Rwanda & Uganda)
Credit: Volcanoes Safaris (Rwanda & Uganda)
Their Mount Gahinga Lodge partners with Batwa communities displaced from ancestral lands. Guests can visit the Batwa Heritage Trail and support women weavers who keep traditions alive — and pocket the proceeds.
Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA)
Your gorilla permit fees aren’t just about access. They fund anti-poaching patrols, habitat protection, research, and community programs — helping gorilla populations recover and villagers see wildlife as an asset.
Credit: Uganda Wildlife Authority
A Wise Woman Note
It’s easy to talk about being “moved” by travel. But standing with these creatures isn’t just moving — it’s clarifying. It reminds you what’s at stake, and what a privilege it is to witness something wild, alive, and vulnerable. And more than that — to know that your presence helped, even just a little.
This is the ripple effect in action. And it’s beautiful.
Credit: William Pietermans