Uganda Rwanda Gorilla Trekking

The debate between gorilla trekking in Uganda vs. Rwanda vs. Congo is long-standing. Uganda offers the best options and gorilla population, while Rwanda provides top-notch luxury and accessibility. Meanwhile, Congo offers breathtaking scenery when trekking with mountain gorillas in Africa, as well as an option for eastern lowland gorilla tours. Compare tours and costs for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda to discover which destination is ideal for you. Book your adventure now!

The mountain gorilla (scientifically known as Gorilla beringei beringei) is an exclusive species inhabiting only three countries: Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. These gorillas were previously endangered due to numerous threats, but today their population exceeds 1000 across their respective habitats. The conservation status of mountain gorillas in these countries is robust, with numerous organizations involved in the cause.

When comparing Uganda and Rwanda for gorilla trekking, keep in mind that the gorilla species is the same. Your choice should depend on the specific gorilla safari experience you desire, the time you have available, and your safari budget.

Mountain gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda takes place at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Volcanoes National Park. In DR Congo, it occurs at Virunga National Park.

A gorilla permit is required to see the gorillas, with prices varying by location. Permits cost $1500 in Rwanda, $800 in Uganda, and $400 in DRC Congo. However, discounted rates are available for Rwanda and Congo during the low season.

Buying a gorilla permit is an excellent way to save and protect gorillas. Gorilla tourism has contributed significantly to increasing the population of mountain gorillas, which were once on the brink of extinction due to various factors.

When preparing to go trekking with gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda, it’s advisable to book your safari ahead of time, especially if you plan to travel during peak season months. This enables us to book the best possible experience on your Uganda or Rwanda gorilla safari, as we are able to secure top-notch facilities and services ahead of time.

At our gorilla safari company, we don’t just provide tours for Uganda and Rwanda (gorilla trekking Uganda or Rwanda), but we also offer Congo safaris and East African safaris. This means that you can combine your Uganda or Rwanda gorilla tour experience with a wildlife safari in Maasai Mara or Serengeti National Park.

To compare gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda and Rwanda, it’s best to visit both destinations for a unique experience. Our company offers Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo gorilla safaris, as well as East African safari tours, all at discounted prices. Contact us for more information.

What to expect

Expect a tiresome journey when you go trekking with gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda. The hike can take up to 8 hours if unlucky. Lucky clients can even see gorillas after just 2 hours.

This depends on the current and previous day’s movement of gorillas and the speed at which your group is moving.

You should also expect to see gorillas. The chances of seeing these gorillas irrespective of whether you choose Uganda or Rwanda for gorilla tracking is 99.9%. The 0.1% is due to unforeseen obstacles that can prevent you from seeing gorillas and among these include sickness.

These include sickness before the trek, getting injuries before or as you trek and a few more obstacles. You should expect an adventure that will stay memorable in your life.

Trekking with gorillas is an absolute once in a lifetime opportunity and you will surely enjoy it, especially when booking with a gorilla safari company or specialist like us.

Best time to go

The best time to visit gorillas is when the trails are dry. It becomes much easier to hike to the habitat of gorillas. Rain can mess up the adventure sometimes, which is why each tourist is advised to book their tours for the best months possible.

These months include: June through late September and December to February. June to September turns out to be the best time to see gorillas in Africa – Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo in particular.

Booking outside these months is okay, but the chances of rainfall are usually high, which might mess up your trek. The worst month to book your gorilla safaris is April. This month has the highest amount of rainfall in a year.

The good thing is Uganda’s climate is tropical. Even if it rains, the sun usually comes out, dries the soil and the day gets back to normal like it never rained.

You can still book your safaris during the months of rainfall as some clients get lucky and finish their gorilla tours without seeing a single drop of rain.

Usually, the corresponding tour consultant from our gorilla safari company will advise on whether to pack for warm or wet weather.

Minimum age requirements for gorilla trekking

You must be 15 years or older to see gorillas. Children younger than this will not be allowed to trek gorillas irrespective of whether they choose Uganda or Rwanda for their trip. In some scenarios, children who are at least 14.5 years old can be allowed to join the trek only with clear consent from Uganda Wildlife Authority.

The parents have to write a letter to Uganda Wildlife Authority through our agency at least 3 months prior to their safari and wait for approval. Our gorilla tour company assists you in this process by talking to the officials in charge personally and requesting them to approve your application.

Once approved, your kid has to be strong enough to hike the trails and mature enough to follow whatever guidelines are communicated during the morning meeting.

Selecting the ideal company for your trek

We might not be the best gorilla tour company, but we are definitely among the best companies for gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda.

We mainly specialize in organizing gorilla tours alongside other safaris. This has since given us an edge over competitors and has helped us gain a lot of experience in organizing tours in Africa.

We not only book your tour, but we also advise you on the gear to buy, give you the rules and precautions and ensure you get the best mountain gorilla families to track. This is important information irrespective of your choice of visiting Uganda or Rwanda for gorillas.

We also give discounts to groups of 10 or more travelers. When you book with us, your comfort comes first! We book the best safari lodges for both luxury gorilla tours and budget gorilla safari trips.

Choosing your tour package

Your budget, schedule, and safari interests will determine how many days you are likely to spend on a gorilla trek, irrespective of whether you visit Uganda or Rwanda for gorillas.

If your only interest is meeting gorillas then you only need a minimum of three days for gorilla treks in Uganda from Kigali, two days for gorilla tracking in Rwanda, and at least three days for gorilla tracking in Congo.

For budget tourists, you can opt to arrive from Kigali in Rwanda and trek gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with our Uganda gorilla safari packages from Kigali.

If you can afford the $1500 gorilla permits fee for Rwanda, trekking gorillas in Rwanda is the shortest. You can even do it in one day. For longer trips, you can go for seven to twenty-one days depending on what you prefer.

Regarding the style, you can either go for budget or luxury trekking depending on your budget. A luxury gorilla safari will guarantee you a 4×4 safari land cruiser for transportation. This applies when you visit Uganda or Rwanda for gorillas.

Our budget and mid-range trips are carried out in 4×4 safari vans or super customs. For a hassle-free experience, we suggest you go for luxury.

Can you arrive through Rwanda and trek gorillas in Bwindi?

Arriving through Kigali in Rwanda, trekking gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and departing through Rwanda has become a trend nowadays.

It saves you permit fees. Rwanda gorilla permits cost $1500 each whereas Uganda gorilla permits cost $800 each. By arriving through Kigali, carrying out trekking in Bwindi and departing via Rwanda will save you about $900. Secondly, the distance is shorter.

It is about eight hours from Entebbe to Bwindi Forest National Park and just four hours from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This saves you about five hours of driving.

Lastly, you also get to explore two different countries in a single trip. We often advise most of our clients to begin and end their trips from Rwanda because of the reasons mentioned above.

Where to find mountain gorillas in Africa

Mountain gorillas can only be found in three countries in the whole world. These include Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Rwanda in Volcanoes National Park, and Congo in Virunga National Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is the only independent of these. Mgahinga, PNV, and Virunga all share the same region; The Virunga Conservation Area (VCA). Over half the remaining population of gorillas live in Bwindi Forest.

Rwanda has the second highest number of gorillas and Virunga comes in third. So if you want to see mountain gorillas in Africa, you should consider visiting any of the three countries.

It’s only in these destinations that you will see a gorilla walking in a bush. As you plan to visit Uganda or Rwanda for gorillas, you should know that Ugandan gorilla permits cost $800 each, Rwandan permits cost $1500 each, whereas Congo permits cost $400 each.

For a luxury gorilla experience, consider Rwanda first then Uganda second. Budget trekking is best done in Uganda and Congo respectively.

Gorilla trekking costs & discounts

The price of visiting gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda, and Congo are different. Rwanda stands out as a luxury gorilla tour destination because of their huge $1500 gorilla permits fee.

Uganda and Congo offer both luxury and budget trekking options.

To get the total cost of gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda, or Congo, you have to consider the permit fee, accommodation fee, transportation fee, and professional fees charged by your gorilla safari company to organize the safari for you among other minor charges.

Our tours are very affordable and start from as low as $1100 per person for a two or three-day package.

How to secure gorilla permits

You need a gorilla permit to trek gorillas. Ugandan permits are bought from Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters in Kamwokya, Kampala.

Rwanda gorilla permits are bought from Rwanda Development Board in Kigali, whereas Congo permits are bought from Virunga National Park in Goma.

Permits cost $800, $1500, and $400 for Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo respectively. They are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, hence ought to be purchased well in advance especially for competitive months like June, July, August, September, December, and January.

Why choose us?

Ever thought of booking your gorilla safaris with a gorilla tour company? We mainly specialize in organizing mountain gorilla safari holidays and have since gained experience in this. We bring your ideas and suggestions to life in the best way possible.

Whether you book a gorilla safari Uganda or Rwanda package, all our tour guides are experienced and knowledgeable enough to explain anything regarding gorillas to you. We keep you informed regarding the gear, weather, what to pack, and more.

All this ensures your experience goes as smoothly as it can.

Popular Gorilla Trekking Questions & Answers

Below are some of the most popular gorilla trekking questions and answers for Uganda and Rwanda.

• What is gorilla trekking? Gorilla trekking is walking in the forest to find and see wild gorillas.
• Where can I see mountain gorillas? You can see mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo.
• Is the gorilla species the same in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo? Yes, the mountain gorillas are the same in all three countries.
• Why are gorillas only found in these three countries? Mountain gorillas live in a special habitat that is found only in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo.
• Are mountain gorillas still in danger? No, their numbers are growing because of protection and tourism.
• Which country is the best for gorilla trekking? Uganda has the most gorillas, Rwanda has the best luxury options, and Congo is the cheapest.
• Where does gorilla trekking take place in Uganda? In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
• Where does gorilla trekking take place in Rwanda? In Volcanoes National Park.
• Where does gorilla trekking take place in Congo? In Virunga National Park.
• How much does a gorilla permit cost? $1500 in Rwanda, $800 in Uganda, and $400 in Congo.
• Can I get a discount on a gorilla permit? Yes, Rwanda and Congo offer discounts in the low season.
• Where do I buy a gorilla permit? In Uganda: Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), In Rwanda: Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and In Congo: Virunga National Park & Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
• When should I book my gorilla permit? Book early, especially for peak months like June to September and December to February.
• How long does gorilla trekking take? It can take 2 to 8 hours, depending on where the gorillas are.
• What are my chances of seeing gorillas? 99.9% chance, but sickness or bad weather may cause problems.
• Is gorilla trekking hard? Yes, it can be tough because of hiking and steep trails.
• What happens if I get sick before trekking? You may not be allowed to trek to protect the gorillas.
• When is the best time for gorilla trekking? June to September and December to February (dry season).
• Can I trek during the rainy season? Yes, but the trails can be muddy, making trekking harder.
• What is the worst month for gorilla trekking? April has the most rain, making trekking difficult.
• How many days do I need for gorilla trekking? At least 3 days for Uganda and Congo, and 2 days for Rwanda.
• Can I trek gorillas in Uganda but arrive in Rwanda? Yes, many travelers arrive in Rwanda and trek in Uganda to save money.
• What kind of transport is used for gorilla safaris? Budget trips use safari vans, while luxury trips use 4×4 safari land cruisers.
• Can I combine gorilla trekking with other safaris? Yes, you can visit Maasai Mara or Serengeti National Park.
• Do you offer budget and luxury tours? Yes, we have both options.
• What is the minimum age for gorilla trekking? 15 years old.
• Can a 14-year-old trek gorillas? Sometimes, with special permission from Uganda Wildlife Authority.
• What should I pack for gorilla trekking? Hiking boots, raincoat, long-sleeved clothes, gloves, snacks, and water.
• Can I touch a gorilla? No, you must stay at least 7 meters away.
• Why should I book my tour with your company?We have experience, book the best lodges, and offer great discounts!