Can I Trek the Same Gorilla Family More Than Once?

There’s a moment, usually about an hour after you’ve left the forest, when the reality hits you. You just spent sixty minutes eye-to-eye with a silverback, watching him chew a thistle like it was the most important thing in the world. And now it’s over. You’re back in the car, covered in mud, and the only thing running through your head is: I have to see them again. So you ask your guide, “Can I trek the same gorilla family more than once?” I asked that same question on the ride back to the lodge. And the answer surprised me.

Yes, but you have to slow down first.

Most parks, like Bwindi in Uganda or Volcanoes in Rwanda, will let you revisit a family, but usually not on back-to-back days. You take a day off. You rest your legs. Then you buy another permit and try again. What’s beautiful about a second trek is that the panic is gone. The first time, you’re fumbling with your camera and trying not to trip over a root. The second time? You actually notice things. Like how one of the teenagers keeps stealing leaves from his little sister. Or how the silverback sighs—a real, human-sounding sigh—when he lies down. You stop performing and just be with them.

expected animals to see

The gorillas are the headliners, but on a repeat visit, you start to see the supporting cast. Golden monkeys will explode out of the bamboo like someone shook a tree full of ornaments. They move so fast you’ll miss them if you blink. Then there are the L’Hoest’s monkeys, with their little white beards and serious faces, watching you from a branch like judgmental librarians. And if you’re lucky, you might catch a forest elephant slipping through the trees. They’re smaller than the savanna ones, and shyer. You usually smell them before you see them—earthy, like wet hay. On your second or third trek, your guide will point out a chameleon sleeping on a leaf or a chimp nest high up in a fig tree. The forest stops being a backdrop and starts feeling like a neighborhood.

Golden Monkeys: Found in the volcanic slopes of Mgahinga, these vibrant, energetic primates are a common secondary trek. Chimpanzees: Though elusive in dense forests, you can sometimes spot them or hear them hooting in the canopy. Other Monkeys: You frequently pass troops of Black-and-white colobus, L’Hoest’s, Red-tailed, and Blue monkeys, as well as Olive baboons.

Mammals: Forest Elephants – shy and smaller than savanna elephants, these rare giants occasionally cross trekking paths. Forest Buffaloes – a darker, smaller forest-dwelling relative of the Cape Buffalo. Small Antelopes – keep an eye out for Bushbucks and the Black-fronted duiker. Forest Pigs – giant forest hogs and bushpigs inhabit the undergrowth, though they are rarely seen.

Birds: Albertine Rift Endemics – the forests are a premier birding destination. Look out for the Rwenzori Turaco, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, and various sunbirds, hornbills, and barbets.

Reptiles & Amphibians: Chameleons and Frogs – colorful tree chameleons and unique amphibians are often spotted by eagle-eyed local guides on the trek.

the cultural experience to expect

Here’s what nobody tells you. The best part of going back isn’t the gorillas. It’s the people. After your first trek, you might do a village walk or watch a dance performance. That’s fun. But after your second trek, the Batwa elder who walked with you will invite you to sit on a log. He’ll show you a leaf that stops bleeding and a root that kills pain. He won’t rush. One afternoon, a coffee farmer in Rwanda remembered me from three days earlier. She laughed and handed me a hoe. “You help,” she said. We didn’t speak the same language, but we drank burnt sugar coffee and watched the mist burn off the hills. That’s when I stopped asking, “Can I trek the same gorilla family more than once?” and started asking how soon I could come back.

. The Bakiga Village Walk (Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda)

Just a few hours from Bwindi, Lake Bunyonyi is the perfect place to unwind and meet the Bakiga people. Take a traditional canoe to historic islands or walk through lush farmlands. Stop by a blacksmith’s hut, visit a family homestead, and share a simple, organic meal with village elders who welcome you like family.

3. Azizi Life Experiences (Rwanda)

Detour to the quiet town of Ruhondo after trekking in Volcanoes National Park. Here, you’ll roll up your sleeves—weave sisal crafts, farm the land, and cook alongside local families. What makes it unforgettable? The artisans often include genocide survivors and perpetrators’ relatives working together toward healing. It’s humbling and hopeful. Find more at Azizi Life.

4. Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village (Rwanda)

At the foothills of the Virunga Mountains, this village is led by former poachers who now dance instead of hunt. You’ll grind grain, shoot a bow and arrow, watch intore warrior dances, and visit a mock royal palace. But the best part? Sitting with your guides as they share how leaving poaching behind changed everything for them and their families.

The best time to visit

Everyone will tell you to go in the dry season—June to September or December to February. And sure, the trails are easier. Your boots stay cleaner. But here’s a secret I learned from a ranger named Innocent: the rainy season is when magic happens. March through May, and again in October and November, the parks are almost empty. You’re not fighting twenty other tourists for a view. And the gorillas? They don’t care about rain. They just sit there, looking like giant furry philosophers while water drips off their noses. Plus, the forest turns a shade of green that doesn’t look real. Yes, your pants will get heavy with mud. But you’ll have that silverback almost to yourself. And that’s worth a little laundry.

expected accommodations

Let me be honest. If you want to visit the same family more than once, you need to pick your lodge carefully. Don’t just book the fanciest place. Book the place closest to the trailhead for your gorilla family. In Bwindi’s Rushaga sector, I stayed at a simple eco-lodge where the manager remembered my name by breakfast on day two. By day three, the kitchen was packing me an extra chapati without me asking. Some lodges will even help you secure your second permit before you finish your morning coffee. That’s gold. The best ones keep a shelf of loaner boots and walking sticks. They know you’re going back into the mud, and they want you to be ready. You don’t need five stars. You need people who understand why you can’t stay away.

So yes, you can trek the same gorilla family more than once. And when you do, something shifts. The first visit feels like a dream you don’t quite deserve. The second visit feels like visiting old friends. You stop taking pictures every second and just sit there, smiling like an idiot, while a 400-pound silverback snacks three feet away. That’s the real trip. The one you didn’t know you were booking.