Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to roughly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, and trekking to see them is one of the most powerful wildlife experiences available anywhere on earth. The forest sits in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Albertine Rift, a landscape of mist-covered hills, dense ancient jungle, and extraordinary biodiversity. A gorilla trek involves hiking through the forest with an armed ranger and a guide until you locate one of the habituatedgorilla families. This can take anywhere from one hour to a full day depending on where the gorillas have moved. When you find them, you are given one hour to observe the family at close range. Watching a silverback move through the forest, seeing mothers with infants, and observing the social interactions of a family group is something that stays with you for the rest of your life. Permits are required and strictly limited to a small number of visitors per gorilla group per day. Thiskeeps the experience intimate and helps protect the gorillas from disease transmission. Permits for Uganda currently cost USD 700 per person. Booking well in advance is strongly recommended, especially for the peak season. The best time to trek gorillas in Bwindi is during the dry seasons from June to August and December to February, when the trails are more manageable 11 and the forest is easier to navigate. Gorilla trekking is physically demanding regardless of the season, and amoderate level of fitness is recommended. Getting to Bwindi involves flying into Entebbe International Airport and then either driving or taking a connecting domestic flight to the Bwindi area. Most lodges are perched on the hillsides surrounding the forest.