how long does gorilla trekking take?

This is one of those questions where the honest answer starts with: “It depends”.. and that’s not a bad thing. Gorilla trekking isn’t scheduled like a city tour. It follows the gorillas.

The Morning Briefing

All treks start early, and this is briefly what transpires;

• Arrival at park headquarters: around 7:00 am
• Briefing by rangers: 30–45 minutes
• Groups are assigned
• Difficulty is discussed
• Safety rules are explained

The Trek Itself

The walk to the gorillas can take from just 30 minutes into the forest to a whooping 5-6 hours, or even more (not all the time though). This is because Gorillas move (you literally cant make appointments with wildlife..lol), the terrain varies and the weather plays a very big role too. There is honestly no fixed distance.

Time With the Gorillas

Once you find them, Exactly one hour! That hour is intense, quiet, emotional. Most people stop checking time entirely, and before they know it, the one hour is already gone. The ranger counts the time, but it is also important that you time yourself. You paid $800 for this. Exhaust all your one hour.

The Walk Back

Usually shorter, downhill, calmer, reflective. By early afternoon, most trekkers are back at the starting point, head back to their lodges, freshen up and possibly have a hot meal, and reflect how the day has gone..