Porters are people hired at the park headquarters in Bwindi to help tourists carry their backpacks, cameras, water, snacks, and other items. Gorilla trekking involves hiking to the top of the gorilla habitats, which can often be slippery, muddy, and steep.
Porters are not mandatory, but if you feel you cannot hike with your luggage, you can hire a porter for $20 to $25 per trek. Most porters do not have other jobs and earn their living by offering this service, so it’s advisable to tip your porter in addition to the fee you pay.
When and How to Hire a Porter
Porters in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are available in the morning during the briefing. This is the time to hire one, since you will not have another chance to do so once the trek has started.
Beyond simply carrying your belongings, porters often know the terrain well and can offer a steadying hand on the steeper or muddier sections of the trail, making the hike considerably more manageable, especially for visitors who are less experienced with hiking or who feel less confident on uneven ground.
How to Get to Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park can be reached by road in 9 to 10 hours from Kampala, the capital of Uganda.
Alternatively, you can take a flight to Kisoro or Kihihi airstrip from Kajjansi Airfield or Entebbe International Airport with Aerolink.
Gorilla Permits
Gorilla permits in Bwindi cost $800 per person per trek, while permits for gorilla habituation cost $1,500 per person. Only people aged 15 and above are allowed to trek mountain gorillas.
People with infectious illnesses are not allowed to trek gorillas, since they can transmit diseases to the apes. Gorilla permits should always be booked in advance before arriving in the country.
Best Time to Visit Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can be visited all year round, but the best months for gorilla trekking are from June to September and December to February. See our full best time to visit Uganda guide for more detail.
Why Hiring a Porter Is Worth Considering
Beyond the practical help with carrying gear, hiring a porter is also a meaningful way to support the local community around Bwindi, since this work provides a steady source of income for many people living near the park. For travelers unsure whether they’ll need one, it’s worth remembering that the terrain can be more demanding than expected, particularly during or shortly after the rainy season, so having a porter on hand often makes the difference between an enjoyable trek and an exhausting one.
