Few wildlife encounters are as powerful or more moving as meeting the brown-eyed gaze of a mountain gorilla. But if you’re planning a trek, the big question is often: Rwanda or Uganda? Both offer unforgettable experiences, but there are some key differences that can help you decide.
Gorilla tracking in Africa is often up there on many people’s top ‘bucket list’ experiences. You may have to trek for up to 6-7 arduous hours for the reward of a magical encounter with a 220kg ‘silverback’. But the euphoria of the hour-long audience will match the anticipation.
In the past, uncontrolled hunting and the accelerating human encroachment into its habitat meant that the mountain gorilla was on the brink of extinction. However, due to conservation efforts funded by tourism, numbers are once again slowly increasing. Now there are over 1,000 individuals in the wild.
Where do the Mountain Gorillas live?
Roughly half of the word’s mountain gorillas live in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. And the remainder in the volcanic Virunga Mountains. Gorilla families can roam freely in the Virunga Mountains, crossing borders between Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda protects both the Virungas mountains and its wildlife. Here a handful of family groups have become habituated to limited human contact.
In the Volcanoes National Park, in Rwanda there are 12 habituated, and highly protected, mountain gorilla families. This is one of the best places for gorilla tracking in the world. The number of gorilla tracking permits is strictly limited. Only eight people a day can visit each family and can stay for just one memorable hour. That means a maximum of 56 permits per day (as only 7 families are visited on any one day). You can book the permits up to two years in advance and we recommend booking as early as you can.
The gorilla tracking permits are expensive (currently $1500 per person in Rwanda and $800 in Uganda). However this money gives these poor countries an economic reason to conserve this highly endangered primate. Armed trackers guard each group of gorillas 24/7.
Comparing Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and Uganda:
This is the fifty million dollar question!
Ease of Trekking
Broadly speaking Gorilla tracking in Rwanda is a little easier than in Uganda.
Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park tends to offer shorter treks, with some gorilla families found lower down the slopes, especially in the summer months of December to February. This means less far to trek and at lower altitude.
Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest lives up to its name — treks can be longer and involve more challenging climbs. But for many, that sense of adventure makes the encounter even more rewarding.
Plus in Bwindi, sometimes you start high and need to trek downwards to reach the gorillas. What goes down must come up which means you are often hiking uphill later in the day. BUT often the gorillas are found at a higher altitude in Rwanda so the effort of covering the same distance can be greater there.
Each trekking group is assigned to a group of gorillas. This means your gorilla tracking experience can vary from 3 hours (2 hours hiking, one hour with the gorillas) to up to 6 or 7 hours. (They consider fitness when assigning walkers to specific groups. The fitter walkers will head to the furthermost groups of gorillas. However this is not an exact science as you can imagine!)
So you may have to walk for some hours in very muddy wet conditions. (Said from personal experience!)
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Chat to one of our experienced consultants that’s here to help and guide you. We use our expertise to narrow down the choices and present feasible ideas, so you can relax and ENJOY the planning process! Contact us!Distance and Logistics
Rwanda wins for convenience: The Volcanoes National Park is just a 2.5–3 hour drive from Kigali, making it easy to slot a gorilla trek into a longer East Africa safari. You can get away with just 3 nights sometimes.
You can stay only 2 nights in the Volcanoes region and get in two gorilla hikes or a gorilla trek and a golden monkey trek on the second day. As you can travel back to Kigali in the afternoon for an onward evening flight.
The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda is further afield, requiring a flight from Entebbe and usually a minimum of 3 to 4 nights. You’ll need 3 nights in the Bwindi area if you want to do activities over 2 days.
Permits and Costs
Here’s the elephant (or gorilla) in the room: Rwanda permits cost $1,500 per person, while Uganda’s are only $800. If you’re considering a second trek, Uganda makes that much more affordable.
Rwanda, however, has positioned itself as a high-end safari destination, with some of Africa’s most luxurious lodges.
Both Parks have other excursions on offer if you do stay two or three nights, with chimpanzee tracking in Bwindi and golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
Safari Add-ons?
Uganda offers a more complete safari experience if you are only visiting Rwanda or Uganda. It has more national parks, more variety. Rwanda has fewer options but still offers superb experiences in Nyungwe Forest (chimpanzee trekking) and Akagera (Big Five). Both can keep you busy for 8 to 12 nights.
Interested in a Gorilla tracking safari?
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Enquire NowSo, which is better? Honestly, neither. Rwanda is perfect if you’re short on time. Or want a more seamless, high-end experience. Uganda shines if you’re after adventure, a second trek, or a more rounded safari.
Personally I loved Rwanda, but other colleagues have loved Uganda equally as much. For a more personal sense of what it’s like, ask Kate, Ginny, Mari or Milandi, as between us, we’ve been lucky enough to track the gorillas in both Rwanda and Uganda!
Many of our clients love both for different reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Level of Fitness Required
Tip: We strongly recommend taking a ‘porter”. Not so much to carry your daypack. But to provide a very useful helping hand in muddy conditions. I also found it reassuring to know that if I fell in the mud (which luckily, I didn’t), my camera in my daypack would be safe!
Chances of seeing the Gorillas?
If your budget allows, why not stay longer than one full day and purchase two permits for gorilla trekking. We always stay 2 nights in the Volcanoes area so that this is nearly always a possibility.
What is the terrain like?
Why are Rwanda permits more expensive than Uganda?
Rwanda issues 96 permits per day (8 people per gorilla tracking group visiting 12 different gorilla families.) Whereas Uganda issues approx. 200 passes a day as they visit more gorilla families in two different parts of Bwindi as well as in Mgahinga.
Can I combine Rwanda and Uganda in one trip?
Other Articles on Gorilla Trekking
Mila’s Photo Blog on Goilla Trekking in Rwanda
Peter’s Gorilla Trekking impressions – Part 2
Costs of Gorilla Trekking – Rwanda versus Uganda
Want to get started on planning a gorilla trek?
Still deciding between Rwanda and Uganda? You’re not alone — both offer unforgettable encounters with the mountain gorillas, but the experiences are subtly different. Rwanda has shorter transfer times; Uganda often offers lower costs. We’ll talk through your preferences — time, budget, and style — and help you choose the country that fits perfectly.
Let's help you to decide between Rwanda and Uganda.
Whether you want shorter hikes and high-end lodges in Rwanda, or wilder treks and more affordable permits in Uganda, we’ll design a safari that's right for you.
Contact Us Now“Gorilla Trekking in Uganda vs Rwanda” was written by Kate of Cedarberg Africa
Who is Cedarberg Africa? We’ve trekked in both countries and can guide you through the options, matching your time, budget, and style to the perfect gorilla experience. Our job is to cut through the noise and help you choose so that your gorilla safari is effortless, seamless, and exactly what you imagined.
