When to Go

You can track gorillas at any time of year, although the rainy season tends to make the paths a little more difficult to navigate. The rainy seasons are March-April and October-November.
 

How to Get There

Most tours will include transport from either Kigali in Rwanda or Kampala in Uganda. If you want to travel independently there are some options available.
To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Public buses run (almost)daily from Kampala to Butogota a town near the park entrance. It takes about ten hours. Your final destination is Buhoma and you'll have to catch a taxi from Butogota to get there.

To Mgahinga National Park

The main town outside of the Mgahinga park is Kisoro(still 6 miles outisde the park HQ.) To get to Kisoro you have to go through Kabale. It is a smooth, easy ride from Kampala to Kibale (around 6-8 hours by bus). From Kibale to Kisoro you'll be driving on a very bumpy unpaved road. The Horizon bus company operates 2 buses a day from Kampala through to Kisoro.

To PNV in Rwanda

Getting to PNV in Rwanda is about a 3 hour drive from the capital Kigali. The town of Ruhengeri is at the entrance to the park. You can catch mini-bus taxis or hire a regular taxi.

To Virunga National Park in the DRC

The park is 20 miles outisde of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. It's a very rough road, so best to go with someone who knows the area well and take a tour, check out Amahoro Tours.

The tourist infrastructure is not as well developed as in Rwanda and Uganda -- see more details about visiting Virunga in the DRC.

Where to Stay

Most gorilla safaris will include accommodations, but these links below will help those traveling independently and also give you an idea of what is available. This list is by no means exhaustive. I stayed at Virunga Lodge in Rwanda, it was fantastic but not one for budget travelers.
Hotels and Lodges

 

• Kinigi Guesthouse, Rwanda
• Virunga Lodge in Rwanda
• Bwindi Lodge in Uganda
• Buhoma Lodge near Bwindi Impenetrable Forest 
• Mantana Luxury Tented Camp at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
• Mount Gahinga Lodge, in Mgahinga National Park, Uganda
• There are several hotels and lodges available in Kisoro (just outside Mgahinga national park).

 

Campsites and Bandas

• There are several campsites and Bandas (simple accommodation) just outside the park in Bwindi, Uganda.
• Red Chilli Gorilla Camp at Mgahinga with bandas available and a well stocked bar.
• Rugigana Valley Campsite Will arrange transport to Rwanda and Mgahinga for gorilla tracking.

 

Safari Tours and Costs

Most mountain gorilla safaris will be scheduled well in advance because permits to see the gorillas are very restricted. My gorilla safari was organized by Volcanoes Safaris, and it was perfect, I'd highly recommend them. There are plenty of tour operators in Kampala and Kigali who offer private gorilla safaris and will have pre-booked permits available. Most hotels and even some of the backpacker accommodations in the two cities will offer gorilla tours. Gorilla safaris are often combined with chimpanzee safaris in Uganda or as add-ons to the "regular' safari out on the open plains.
 

Tour Options 

• Multi-day gorilla and chimpanzee trekking options in Virunga (Rwanda) and Uganda by Volcanoes Safaris
• Multi-day Gorilla trekking options in Uganda and Rwanda by Wild Frontiers
• Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda by Gorilla Tours
• Multi-day gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda by Primate Safaris
   
  

Gorilla Safari Guide

Page One: Where to see mountain gorillas, gorilla tracking tips and gorilla permits.
Page Three: A guide to lowland gorillas in DRC, Gabon and Cameroon.