Best Time to See Gorillas in Uganda in 2027
The best months to trek gorillas in Uganda are June to September and December to February, but you can trek all year. Here is what each season really means.
Read the guide →Written by the Paramount Gorilla Expeditions team, based in Uganda, to help you choose between the four Bwindi gorilla trekking sectors.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest has four gorilla trekking sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. Each has its own access town, lodges, terrain and gorilla families. The gorillas are equally magical in all four, but the sector you pick shapes your journey, your lodge, how hard the trek may be and what else you can combine, so it is worth choosing deliberately rather than taking whatever permit is left.
Buhoma (north): the classic Bwindi gorilla trekking sector
Buhoma is the original and best-known sector. It has the widest range of lodges, from simple to luxurious, and the terrain is generally gentler than in the other sectors, although no Bwindi trek is flat. It is the natural fit if you are driving between Queen Elizabeth National Park and Bwindi, or if you want the most choice of places to stay. Buhoma is also close to the Batwa community experiences that many travellers include.
Ruhija (east): high, cool and good for birds
Ruhija sits at the highest and coolest part of Bwindi, with steeper ground and a cloud-forest feel. It is quieter than Buhoma and strong for birdwatching, so it suits fitter travellers who want a less crowded forest and some birding alongside the gorillas.
Rushaga (south): the most choice of families
Rushaga is the southern sector with the greatest number of habituated gorilla families, so it gives the most flexibility when dates are tight. It is also where the Gorilla Habituation Experience takes place: a longer visit of up to four hours with a family that is still becoming used to people, instead of the standard one hour. Rushaga is a good base if you plan to continue to Rwanda or Mgahinga, because the southern sectors are closest to Kisoro and the border.
Nkuringo (south-west): steep and dramatic
Nkuringo has dramatic views over the Virunga volcanoes and the surrounding hills. It is also known for the steepest terrain of the four sectors, often a long descent into the forest and a climb back out. It rewards fit, adventurous travellers and is not the best choice if you are worried about steep ground.
How to choose between the Bwindi gorilla trekking sectors
- You want the most comfortable lodge choice, or you are coming from Queen Elizabeth: Buhoma.
- You are a fit trekker who likes birds and quiet: Ruhija.
- You want flexibility on dates, a habituation experience or onward travel to Rwanda: Rushaga.
- You enjoy a challenge and big views: Nkuringo.
- You are less confident on steep ground: tell us, and we will aim for the gentler options.
Plan the sector with the route, not afterwards
Bwindi is a long way from Kampala, and the sectors are far apart by road, so the sector you choose should fit the rest of your route. Choosing it early also matters because permits and lodges in the best sector for you can sell out. Tell us your dates and fitness level and we will suggest the sector and the permit date together. For how permits are booked, read how and when to book gorilla permits, and for the physical side see how fit you need to be for gorilla trekking.
If you would rather see gorillas in a smaller park, read our Mgahinga Gorilla National Park guide. For a ready-made trip that includes a Bwindi trek, see the 6-day Classic Gorilla Trekking Safari or the 10-day Uganda Complete.
Ready to plan it? See our Bwindi gorilla trekking safaris: real itineraries, lodges and how to book.
Plan your Bwindi gorilla trekking sector
Keep planning with our Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda: The Complete Guide and 3-Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour. Gorilla and park permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and the Uganda Tourism Board publishes official visitor information. We confirm the current fees for your dates in every quote.
Staying in Rushaga or Nkuringo? A ride around Lake Mutanda makes a good rest day; see our cycling guide for Kisoro.
Staying near Kisoro? Add a day underground: see the lava caves around Kisoro.
Planning a rest day after trekking? See our Lake Bunyonyi guide.
For phone signal, local SIM cards and eSIM before you reach Bwindi, see our SIM card East Africa guide.
Choosing a sector for an older trekker? See our safari for seniors guide on altitude and effort.
Rushaga is the only sector that offers the four-hour visit: see our gorilla habituation experience guide.
To cross the forest between two sectors on foot, read our Buhoma to Nkuringo trek guide.
Birders choosing a sector will find the trails and species in our birding in Bwindi guide.
Once you know your sector, see our best lodges in Bwindi for where to stay in each one.
Rushaga is the only sector for the four-hour version: see our gorilla habituation experience guide.
To plan how to reach each sector, see our Entebbe to Bwindi guide.