Gorilla Trekking: Uganda or Rwanda?

Sitting quietly with a family of mountain gorillas is one of the great wildlife experiences on Earth. You can do it in Uganda or Rwanda, and both are excellent. The main differences are price, travel time and what else you want to see.

The trek is the same in both countries

In both countries you trek with a ranger and trackers to a habituated gorilla family. Groups are limited to eight visitors, and once you find the gorillas you spend one hour with them. Treks can take from one to several hours depending on where the family is, over steep and often muddy ground. The minimum age is 15.

Permit prices

• Rwanda: US$1,500 per person.
• Uganda: US$800 per person under the 2024 to 2026 tariff, about half of Rwanda's price. Uganda reviews its tariffs from time to time, so we confirm the current price when you book.
• Uganda also offers a gorilla habituation experience (about four hours with a family being habituated), at a higher price.

Permits are limited and sell out for the busiest months, so book several months ahead.

Getting there

• Rwanda: Volcanoes National Park is about two and a half to three hours' drive from Kigali on good roads. You can do a gorilla trek in a two-day trip.
• Uganda: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is about eight to ten hours' drive from Entebbe, or a short flight to Kihihi. It is also about four to five hours from Kigali, which is why many travellers fly into Rwanda and trek in Uganda.

Which should you choose?

• Choose Rwanda if you are short on time, want comfortable roads and do not mind the higher permit price.
• Choose Uganda if you want better value and more variety: chimpanzees in Kibale, tree-climbing lions and boat trips in Queen Elizabeth, and Murchison Falls.
• Do both to trek two different gorilla families on one trip.

When to go

Gorilla trekking runs all year. The drier months, June to September and December to February, have easier trails. The wet months are greener and permits are easier to find.

See our Uganda gorilla safaris and Rwanda gorilla safaris.

Frequently asked questions