From Extinction to New Life: Here's How Tourism Is Helping Uganda’s Endangered Mountain Gorillas

From Forest Traps to Forest Treks: How Tourism is Saving Uganda’s Mountain Gorillas

Not long ago, the mountain gorilla’s fate looked grim. Hunted by poachers, threatened by shrinking habitats, and caught in the crossfire of human activity, the species seemed destined for extinction.

But in the misty forests of southwestern Uganda, a remarkable turnaround is unfolding. Today, the mountain gorilla population has climbed past 1,000 — a rare conservation success story. And the unlikely driving force behind this revival? Tourism.

A Pricey Permit That Changes Lives

Deep inside Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, tourists from around the world pay $800 each for a chance to spend an hour with a gorilla family. That fee is far more than just an entry ticket — it’s a lifeline. A portion of every permit goes directly into nearby communities, funding schools, water projects, and health care. Twenty percent of annual park revenue is also shared locally, ensuring villages see tangible benefits from gorilla conservation.

The result has been transformational. Once reliant on poaching, many locals now make a living as porters, guides, or rangers. Women who never imagined working in tourism now carry gear for trekkers. Even former poachers, once setting traps in the forest, now patrol the park to protect the very animals they once hunted.

From Poachers to Protectors

Philemon Mujuni remembers following his father, a seasoned poacher, into the forest as a boy. Gorillas, he believed, were dangerous enemies. But the killing of Rafiki, a beloved silverback, in 2020 became a turning point. Shocked by the loss, Mujuni and others abandoned poaching and formed a group of reformed hunters dedicated to protecting gorillas.

“I can’t go back,” he says. “Through conservation, we earn more from living gorillas than we ever did from killing them.”

Today, his group acts as community watchdogs, alerting rangers if anyone tries to sneak into the forest with snares. Some even guide tourists — earning honest money from the very creatures they once feared.

A Species Reborn

Bwindi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to 27 gorilla families habituated to human visitors. Rangers track them daily, ensuring their health and safety. Half the world’s mountain gorilla population now lives in Uganda, making the country the heart of the species’ survival story.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has upgraded the gorilla’s status from “critically endangered” to “endangered” — still at risk, but no longer teetering on the edge of extinction.

For ranger-guide Joyleen Tugume, who spends even Christmas Day with the gorillas, their recovery feels personal. “Whenever a gorilla is sick, everyone in the community is worried,” she says. “We all feel it, because we all depend on them.”

More Than Conservation

The gorilla comeback isn’t just about saving a species; it’s about reshaping an entire economy. In Buhoma, the town at the edge of Bwindi, rangers and porters gather each morning, hoping for trekking assignments and the generous tips that follow. Tourists who struggle up the forest’s steep slopes can even hire porters to carry them — sometimes earning as much as $300 for a day’s work.

“The value of gorilla tourism is critical,” says Gessa Simplicious of the Uganda Tourism Board. “It builds trust, supports families, and reminds everyone why conservation matters.”

(With inputs from AP)