IS IT BETTER TO SEE THE GORILLAS IN RWANDA OR UGANDA?

Choosing either Rwanda or Uganda for you to see the gorillas comes down to balancing your budget, gorilla permit costs, travel time, and more. Rwanda and Uganda stand out as Africa’s leading destinations for gorilla trekking. Each destination promises captivating encounters with the unique mountain gorillas in a natural setting. Today, the commonly asked question by travelers is “Is it better to see the gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda?”

We have weighed the pros and cons each gorilla safari destination has over the other. At the end of this article, you can be in a position to make a better choice of where to go to see the gorillas in Africa.

Gorilla permit prices –Rwanda Vs Uganda

There is a huge difference between Rwanda and Uganda gorilla trekking permit prices. In Rwanda, a visitor can secure a gorilla permit at USD 1,500 per person. The price difference is big compared to Uganda, with gorilla permits currently costing USD 800 per person. We can say Rwanda is an excellent match for travelers in search of high-end gorilla experiences. On the other hand, Uganda is an ideal spot if you are interested in a budget-friendly gorilla destination.

Note that the gorilla trekking permit rates are set by the respective park authorities in Rwanda and Uganda. In Rwanda, it is the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) that is in charge of gorilla permit fees, and in Uganda, it is the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). It is also important to note that the set permit costs in each country (Rwanda and Uganda) include the extraordinary one-hour visit with a family of gorillas, park guides, trackers, and rangers.

The cost of the gorilla permits excludes transportation, accommodation, personal expenses, and the rest of the activities that you may desire to enjoy. The park authorities have a standard number of visitors and an acceptable age limit to engage in a trek to see gorillas. All this is done to ensure the gorillas are well-protected.

Fitness Level

Knowing the fitness level required to tackle the terrain at each gorilla destination is key. This can guide you when choosing whether to visit Rwanda or Uganda to see the gorillas. The two countries differ in their physical landscapes and require different fitness levels. The general terrain of Rwanda’s and Uganda’s top gorilla trekking destinations is characterized by steep ridges, narrow rivers, and high altitudes.

In Rwanda, the elevation range is 2,400 to 4,507 meters, with the landscape largely dominated by a chain of the extinct and dormant Virunga Volcano Mountains (Sabyinyo, Bisoke, Karisimbi, Gahinga, and Muhabura). In Uganda, expect to embark on a gorilla trek at an elevation range of 1,160 to 2,607 meters (Bwindi) and 2,227 to 4,127 meters (Mgahinga).

Difference in destinations

The choice of gorilla safari destinations in Rwanda is limited to only Volcanoes National Park. In the case of Uganda, visitors can decide to visit either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

A visitor has a higher chance of engaging in a trek with mountain gorillas in Uganda than in Rwanda. This is considering not only the number of gorilla parks but also the diverse habituated gorilla groups.

Currently, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park shelters about 13 families of habituated mountain gorillas. Over 26 gorilla groups in Uganda are all dedicated to tourism. Daily gorilla trekking shifts in Volcanoes National Park start in the Kinigi area with orientation, verification, and allocation of park guides plus gorilla groups.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a dense rainforest protected area with steep slopes. It is comprised of 4 main sectors for gorilla trekking (Ruhija, Nkuringo, Buhoma, and Rushaga). Each of these trekking regions features fully habituated gorilla groups to be trekked by tourists. Located in southwestern Uganda, Bwindi’s boundaries currently span Kisoro, Kabale, and Kanungu districts. It is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, lying at an altitude of 1,160 and 2,607 meters.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Lying in the Virunga circuit, southwestern Uganda, Mgahinga is another signature gorilla destination worth exploring in Africa. It is compact, with currently one habituated gorilla group –Nyakagezi. Mgahinga is an ideal place in Uganda to enjoy intimate gorilla treks. Each gorilla trek takes a maximum of 8 pax. Beyond visiting gorillas, tourists can also engage in the search for golden monkeys.

Accessibility

If you are looking for easy-to-reach destinations, then Rwanda is the best place. Visitors can drive from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park within a duration of about 2 to 3 hours. This is not the case in Uganda, where it takes 8-9 hours to reach Bwindi or Mgahinga. But there are also alternatives, including driving from Kigali via Katuna or Chanika to Bwindi/Mgahinga, which is a 4-5 hour drive. Or you can take 2 hours or less on a flight to Kihihi Airstrip or Kisoro Airport and then drive to Bwindi or Mgahinga in less than 1-2 hours.

Alternatives

Rwanda generally has fewer alternative destinations to add to gorilla trekking. Overall, Rwanda has 4 parks: Volcanoes National Park, Gishwati-Mukura, Nyungwe Forest, and Akagera National Park.

In Uganda, a visitor has multiple options to choose from beyond Mgahinga and Bwindi, including 4 savannah parks (Lake Mburo, Kidepo, Queen Elizabeth NP –perfect for seeing the tree-climbing lions, and Murchison Falls NP). Up to 5 spots for you to see chimpanzees in the wild, including Kibale National Park, Toro-Semuliki, Kyambura Gorge, Budongo Forest, and Kalinzu Forest Reserve.

Even if you are interested in mountaineering adventures, Uganda never disappoints. Exceptional mountain hiking or climbing spots worth conquering in Uganda include the Rwenzori Mountain ranges & Mt. Elgon, etc.

Conclusively, both Rwanda and Uganda promise amazing encounters with mountain gorillas in the natural setting. The challenge most tourists face is choosing the best option, which is why you should reach out to Standard Safaris as your ground expert to guide you. We offer the most affordable gorilla safaris across Rwandan and Ugandan destinations.

Soledad Gomez

Fun Safari. Loved it. Godwin was an amazing guide! He was informative, funny and took us around well. He was able to find so many animals and the weather was amazing. He allowed us to take time at each spot when we saw an animal we were looking forward to seeing. All our lodges were carefully chosen by Coleb and we all loved them. We booked the 6 days safari and highly recommend it to everyone visiting Uganda. We had a wonderful time!. 10/10 recommended!!

Maria Torondel

We rated this experience top of everything, because it truly was outstanding in every way! From our pickup which was punctual, quick and comfortable to our Safari in Murchison falls, Kibale and Bwindi NP, Standard safaris delivered to the dot. Our guide was a very Kind, punctual and extremely knowledgeable person who could tell us many facts about each and every animal we encountered. Due to his insights we were able to spot 4 of the Big Five, the Rhinos, buffaloes, lions and Elephants multiple times, as well as Hippos, Crocodiles, Giraffes and many more. Thanks to his calm and patience we were even able to watch an elephant fight right in front of us without any safety concerns. It was truly a very memorable day with a lot of fun and also good food.This is truly an experience for everyone, from solo travellers to big groups! Great tour company with a great guide!!!!!!!

Alexis F

This was an amazing experience organised by Standard Safaris through Coleb. During the tour itself, we got a chance to see so many animals and we learned a lot of interesting facts from our tour guide Godwin. He was funny and made sure we all got a chance to speak and see the full beauty of Uganda. We had an excellent time and a good tour for the whole family.

Elena Hoya

It was my first time in Uganda and honestly it was an amazing tour. Our pick up and drop off were comfortable. Our guide throughout the safari was excellent at his job. He was attentive with everyone and was very knowledgeable about all the cultures and landscapes of the country. During planning, Coleb did his best in tailoring our itinerary to fit our travel needs. I'm so glad we booked this tour. It was one of a kind.

E A

My wife and I had the trip of a lifetime, an unforgettable experience from start to finish. From gorilla trekking to game drives, every moment was magical and the wildlife encounters were simply breathtaking. Our guide Godwin was knowledgeable and attentive, and every detail of the trip was perfectly organized. Uganda’s beauty exceeded all our expectations, and the team took wonderful care of us throughout. Thank you for showing us the Pearl of Africa, we’ll cherish these memories forever. Highly recommended

KLAU conde

I LOVE MY SAFARI WE DID GORILLA TREKING AND WE WERE LOOKING FOR THE BIG FIVES, Everything was phenomenal the drivers the lodges my favorite one was Acacia Lodge, where you open the door of your lodge and you have the Elephants and hippos there . we also went to the Ecuatorian line very cool

Elisa Peralta

We spent a WONDERFUL time in Rwanda, thanks to Standard Safaris and especially thanks to our amazing driver George. If you plan to go on safari in Rwanda with Standard Safaris, ask him as your driver guide. He will share all his knowledge and experience about animals, nature, people, food etc… He drives very safely and is friendly. Thanks to him we saw a lot of animals ( especially the big 5😃 in Akagera NP) and Know so much more about Rwanda. We were travelling with our 2 children (7 and 11 years old), and they were delighted. We feel very lucky and we are grateful for this wonderful safari in East Africa.

Susana Lara Valenciano

We booked a 9-Days safari in Uganda with Standard Safaris, all-inclusive with a driver guide, all tour activities, permits and lodges. Honestly, we were very happy to have George as our guide. He drove us safely around the country and explained many things along the way. Thanks to him, we were able to spot many animals in the national parks, and we always stayed on track with our itinerary. The jeep was new and well maintained, however, the seats in the back were quite high with small windows, which made it difficult to look outside. But nevertheless, we still had a 10/10 safari experience in Uganda. We look forward to returning for another safari next year and telling our friends about Standard Safaris.

Pablo Sanchez Rubio

My wife and I had a gorilla safari of a lifetime in Uganda late last month. Our driver/guide Denis was incredible. He gave us so much information about Uganda and was so knowledgeable about the wildlife, cultures, people, politics, the geography, etc. By the end of the week we considered him a friend and we will recommend him and Standard Safaris to anyone looking to go to East Africa. Thank you so much guys!

Salome Ochando

If there were 10 stars I would give them. From my first "Hello" with Coleb to our last set of selfies on the equator with Denis, this tour company out-did themselves!! Absolutely professional and helpful from beginning to end. We're already booking another trip for next year! They had organised everything- gorilla permits, chimpanzee permits, all national park entrance fees, lodgings, every meal included. It was so easy I didn't even know where we were going until we were there! Pure relaxation. We had a few extra free days at the end so Coleb suggested adding on Mabamba Wetland and this was a wonderful experience with the shoebill and all these beautiful birds. Denis is the best tour guide I've ever met. 100% knowledgeable and professional and accommodating and..a new friend😊.. Thank you Standard Safaris!!