Gorilla Trekking Rwanda Vs Uganda Vs Congo, Comparing Best Gorilla Safaris in Africa

Meeting face to face with mountain Gorillas in the jungle is one the most breathtaking and unforgettable experiences for trekkers but planning on where to go, when to go and what to pack is important before you head for you mountain Gorilla trekking destination.

Mountain Gorillas are found only in Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo.This therefore means that they can trekked in four National Parks found in these three countries; Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda), Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic Congo), Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Uganda) and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Uganda). It is important that you get enough information concerning the comparison of whether to trek gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda or DR Congo.Therefore the question usually asked by most tourists is; which country is better than the other? The answer is in the comparison below.

Rwanda

Delivering Africa’s most accessible gorilla trekking,Rwanda is a country that punches way above its weight in sheer natural beauty. Its flagship reserve, Volcanoes National Park, lies only 80 kilometres (50 miles) about two hours by road from Kigali International Airport.

Where to See Gorillas in Rwanda

The stunning Volcanoes National Park is situated in north-western Rwanda and covers 160 square kilometres (62 square miles) of prime rainforest, encompassing five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains range. Gorillas are critically endangered primates and highly sociable creatures that spend most of their waking hours searching for food on the ground, moving less than 1 kilometre (0.6 miles) a day – which makes them easily trackable. You’ll be guided by an experienced gorilla tracker through the park’s towering African redwoods and bamboo, weaving vines, and flowering lobelias to the area where you’ll experience a soul-stirring, face-to-face encounter with one of mankind’s closest living relatives.

Volcanoes National Park was the base for pioneering primatologist Dian Fossey, which makes it authentic Gorillas in the Mist country, you can even pay your respects at Fossey’s grave. It’s a well-protected and monitored reserve full of monkeys (including the rare golden monkey) and forest birds. At least 10% of the revenue from tourism goes to community projects around the park, reinforcing the positive impact of gorilla trekking in Rwanda and making conservation of these great apes meaningful to rural communities in a very practical way. Reformed poachers are employed by conservation projects that allow them to earn a legitimate income.

Where to Stay:

Bisate Lodge

Activities travellers enjoy:

Gorilla tracking
Sundowners
Wine tasting
Bird watching
Cultural Visits
Guided walks

Volcanoes Virunga Lodge

Activities travellers enjoy

Animal tracking experience
Bird watching
Guided walks
Hiking
Historical tours
Live music & entertainment
Local village visits
Cultural Visits
Gorilla tracking

One & Only Gorilla’s Nest

Activities travellers enjoy:

Day tours

When to Go: Best Time to See Gorillas in Rwanda

Although gorilla trekking in Rwanda is regarded as a year-round activity, the country’s dry seasons offer by far the easiest hiking conditions and the lowest risk of malaria.

Rwanda’s long rainy season lasts from about March to May. The long dry season then kicks off in June and lasts until about mid-September – this is generally the preferred time to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda. October to November sees a shorter rainy season, which is followed by a brief dry season from December to February. This is also a good time to see gorillas in Rwanda, although it can get a little more humid than the June to September period.

Gorilla Trekking Permits

The price of a permit is $1 500 USD per person for spending one hour with the gorillas in Rwanda. These are often sold out up to a year in advance for a trek during the long dry season (June to September), so we recommend booking your trip as soon as you know you want to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

Traveller Types: Best For

If you have limited time, then Rwanda is where to see gorillas in Africa. You can simply land in Kigali, be driven to your lodge, trek the next day and leave for the airport the following morning, making it possible to wrap up your gorilla trekking trip in five days or less,day tours are available.

Other Wildlife Experiences

Not only are you able to track gorillas in Rwanda, you can enjoy close-up encounters with Africa’s iconic Big 5: elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion and leopard. In 2015, lions were released in Akagera National Park, followed by Eastern black rhinos two years later. These successful reintroduction programmes have made Akagera a celebrated Big 5 safari destination for the first time in almost 20 years.

Mountain gorillas can survive only in their natural habitat, so trekking into their native forests like Uganda‘s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is your only chance to see these gorillas in the wild. There are strict regulations in place – like the Uganda gorilla trekking permit requirements – to ensure the health and safety of these animals. Daily viewings of each gorilla group are very limited, so we recommend you book your Uganda gorilla trekking trip about a year in advance. The good news is that the country’s trekking permits are among the most affordable, so Uganda is where to see gorillas in Africa if you’re on a tight budget.

Where to See Gorillas in Uganda

Uganda’s mountain gorillas live in the epically named Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, a cloak of tangled green that covers the country’s south-western mountains. It’s a day’s drive (about 10 to 11 hours) from the capital Kampala or a quick (but more costly) charter flight – so you’ll work a little harder to get there than in Rwanda, but it’s worth it!

Bwindi is a World Heritage Site of both montane and lowland forest that provides a verdant habitat for about 120 species of mammals, 350 bird species, 220 butterfly species, plus many more reptiles and amphibians. Thanks to the income generated from tourism, the park’s endangered mountain gorilla numbers have seen positive growth to about half of the world’s population. And, if you’re interested in seeing primate species other than gorillas in Africa, Bwindi will offer fantastic encounters with colobus monkeys and chimpanzees during your Uganda gorilla trekking adventure.

Tourists can also enjoy Gorilla Habituation, which involves spending about 4 hours with the gorillas unlike the 1 hour experience spent while trekking gorillas. The habituation permit costs $1500 per person per day which is better than paying $1500 in Rwanda to watch gorillas for 1 hour only. Besides visiting the gorillas, there are other 9 National Parks to enjoy compared to Rwanda’s 4! U can combine your gorilla trip with a visit to Kibale National Park which has the highest concentration of chimpanzees in Africa, or visit the Murchison Falls, trek Rwenzori and Mountain Elgon, go rafting on the Nile or visit one of the 52 tribes cultural displays and so much more.

Bwindi Forest National Park is located far from Entebbe International Airport, therefore the journey is tiresome and long especially if you are not having a stopover in any of the other National Parks. It is a 9 to 10hours drive from Entebbe or Kampala to Bwindi, if you are not interested in long drives you could take a scheduled flight to the Park. However most visitors that want to enjoy gorilla trekking in Uganda usually fly into Kigali and drive 4 hours to Bwindi which is much easier.