If you are planning a gorilla trekking safari and have been following recent news you are probably asking the same question hundreds of travellers are contacting us about right now: is gorilla trekking safe in 2026?
We are a Kigali-based safari operator — two hours from Rwanda’s gorilla trekking parks and closely connected to everything happening in the region. This is our honest complete and up-to-date answer as of June 10 2026.
The short answer: Yes — gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda is completely safe and fully operational.
But you deserve the full picture — and that is exactly what this guide provides.
Is Gorilla Trekking Safe in 2026? What Is Happening Right Now — The Full Picture
The DRC Ebola Outbreak
On May 17 2026 the World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern following an Ebola outbreak in Ituri Province in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola with cases confirmed across several health zones in the Ituri region.
This is a serious public health situation and it deserves a serious honest response.
Here is the critical geographical fact that every traveller needs to understand:
The Ituri Province outbreak zone is in northeastern DRC — more than 1,500 km from Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and more than 1,200 km from Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
To put this in perspective:
- Ituri Province is roughly the same distance from Volcanoes National Park as London is from Rome
- The gorilla trekking areas of Rwanda and Uganda are in the southwestern part of the Great Lakes region
- The Ebola outbreak is in the northeastern DRC — a completely different region with no direct connection to gorilla trekking destinations
Is the Outbreak Affecting Gorilla Trekking Parks?
Rwanda — Volcanoes National Park:
- ✅ Fully open and fully operational
- ✅ No Ebola cases anywhere in Rwanda
- ✅ Rwanda Development Board has not restricted trekking in any way
- ✅ Rwanda’s health ministry is monitoring the regional situation but has no alerts for the gorilla trekking areas
- ✅ International travel advisories do not advise against travel to Rwanda
Uganda — Bwindi Impenetrable Forest:
- ✅ Fully open and fully operational
- ✅ No Ebola cases in or near Bwindi or any gorilla trekking area
- ✅ Uganda Wildlife Authority has not restricted trekking activities
- ✅ International travel advisories do not advise against visiting Bwindi
- ✅ Uganda’s southwestern region — where all gorilla trekking takes place — is completely unaffected
DRC — Virunga National Park:
- ⚠️ We advise travellers to contact us for the current DRC situation assessment before planning any DRC visits
- The DRC gorilla trekking areas in North and South Kivu are geographically separate from the Ituri outbreak zone — but we recommend current local intelligence before booking
The Uganda Gorilla Permit Policy Change — What You Must Know
Beyond the DRC health situation there is an equally important update that every traveller planning a Uganda gorilla trek must be aware of:
In March 2026 the Uganda Wildlife Authority changed its gorilla permit booking policy.
What Changed
Before March 2026: You could reserve a Uganda gorilla permit and hold it for up to 7 days before confirming payment. This gave travellers flexibility to book tentatively while confirming other arrangements.
From March 2026 onwards: Full payment is required at the time of booking. There is no longer any reservation window. When you book a Uganda gorilla permit you pay in full immediately — $800 per person for foreign non-residents.
What This Means for You
Book earlier. With no reservation window the commitment is immediate. Many travellers are now booking Uganda gorilla permits further in advance than before — which means popular dates in peak season (June–September) are filling faster.
No more tentative bookings. If your travel plans are not confirmed do not book a Uganda permit yet — the full $800 per person is non-refundable under UWA’s cancellation policy.
Travel insurance is now even more essential. With full immediate payment required ensuring your travel insurance covers gorilla permit cancellation is not optional — it is critical.
Go Safaris Africa handles Uganda permit bookings on your behalf — navigating the UWA booking system and securing your permit immediately upon your confirmation and payment. We advise all clients to have their travel dates fully confirmed before proceeding with Uganda permit booking.
Read our complete Uganda gorilla permit guide for the full booking process and our gorilla trekking Rwanda vs Uganda comparison to decide which destination is right for you.
Rwanda Permits — What Is the Current Situation?
Rwanda gorilla permits remain at $1,500 USD per person issued by the Rwanda Development Board. No pricing changes have been announced for 2026.
Current Rwanda permit availability:
- Peak season (June–September 2026) — permits are very limited. If you are planning a July August or September 2026 gorilla trek contact us immediately.
- December 2026 onwards — reasonable availability but booking 3–4 months ahead is strongly recommended
- 2027 bookings — now being taken for peak season
Read our complete Rwanda gorilla permit booking guide for full current booking information.
Should You Change Your Travel Plans?
If you have a gorilla trekking safari booked in Rwanda or Uganda our honest advice is:
No — do not change your plans.
Rwanda and Uganda are safe. The gorilla trekking parks are open and fully operational. The DRC Ebola outbreak is geographically distant from every gorilla trekking destination in both countries. International travel advisories do not advise against travel to Rwanda or Uganda for tourism.
If you have concerns about the current situation we encourage you to:
- Check your government’s current travel advisory for Rwanda and Uganda — not DRC
- Contact us directly — our team in Kigali monitors the regional situation daily and will give you the most current honest assessment: +250 788 365 595
- Review your travel insurance — ensure it covers medical evacuation and trip cancellation for the countries you are visiting
What Precautions Are in Place for Gorilla Trekking?
Regardless of the current DRC situation Rwanda and Uganda’s gorilla trekking parks maintain permanent health protocols that protect both gorillas and trekkers:
Health screening before trekking: All trekkers are screened for symptoms of illness before the morning briefing. Anyone with a fever cough cold or flu symptoms is not permitted to trek — gorillas share 98% of human DNA and are extremely vulnerable to human respiratory illness.
Minimum distance rules: All trekkers must maintain a minimum of 7 metres from gorilla families at all times. This distance is strictly enforced by ranger guides.
Maximum group size: Maximum 8 people per gorilla family per day. This limit protects gorillas from disease transmission and stress.
Ranger team health monitoring: The rangers and trackers who monitor gorilla families daily are health-screened regularly and follow strict hygiene protocols.
Gorilla health monitoring: The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s Karisoke Research Centre and the Gorilla Doctors veterinary team monitor every habituated gorilla family daily — identifying any health concerns immediately.
These protocols — which have been in place for years — provide genuine protection for both gorillas and visitors and are not being relaxed in any way.
Our Commitment to Honest Information
At Go Safaris Africa we are based in Kigali — two hours from the gorillas. When something affects safety in our region we know about it immediately and we communicate it honestly.
We will never tell you something is safe when it is not. We will never encourage you to travel somewhere we would not send our own families.
Right now — as of June 10 2026 — gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda is safe completely operational and as extraordinary as it has ever been.
If the situation changes we will update this page immediately.
Summary — Key Facts as of June 10 2026
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is gorilla trekking safe in Rwanda? | ✅ Yes — fully open no restrictions |
| Is gorilla trekking safe in Uganda? | ✅ Yes — fully open no restrictions |
| Does the DRC Ebola outbreak affect Rwanda? | ❌ No — 1,500+ km from gorilla trekking areas |
| Does the DRC Ebola outbreak affect Uganda? | ❌ No — 1,200+ km from gorilla trekking areas |
| Has Uganda changed its permit policy? | ✅ Yes — full payment required at booking from March 2026 |
| What is the Rwanda gorilla permit price? | $1,500 USD per person |
| What is the Uganda gorilla permit price? | $800 USD per person |
| Should I cancel my gorilla trek? | ❌ No — Rwanda and Uganda are safe |
| What if I have more questions? | Contact us directly — we answer within hours |
Plan Your Gorilla Trek with Confidence
Go Safaris Africa is your Kigali-based gorilla trekking expert — available 24/7 to answer any question about current conditions permits and safety.
- 👉 Check Rwanda gorilla permit availability
- 👉 Check Uganda gorilla permit availability
- 👉 Gorilla trekking Rwanda vs Uganda — which is right for you?
- 👉 Is gorilla trekking worth it? Our honest answer
- 👉 Contact us for current permit availability
📞 Call or WhatsApp — available now: +250 788 365 595 📧 info@gosafarisafrica.com
