Seeing the majestic mountain gorillas in the wild is one of the most inspiring and magical experiences one can ever have in their life. Though it is not always easy to prepare for a gorilla safari to Africa or find useful and correct information regarding the choice of country to visit for this mesmerizing adventure, it is nevertheless necessary to carefully scrutinize and compare the gorilla trekking experiences in Uganda vs. Rwanda.
Mountain gorillas are known to dwell only in Africa’s Virunga massif, a region that spans across three countries – Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Therefore, gorilla treks can only be done within national parks that are encompassed within this diverse region, namely Bwindi National Park, Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in D.R. Congo.
Other parts of the continent, mainly Western and Central Africa, are prime habitats for other subspecies of gorillas, like eastern and western lowland gorillas.
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is primarily done in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and on a smaller scale in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. While Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is within the larger Virunga conservation area together with Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in D.R. Congo, Bwindi National Park is outside of the Virunga massif.
Uganda is home to over 500 mountain gorillas split into 37 social groups, with 36 of them in Bwindi and only 15 fully habituated to human presence and trackable on a daily basis, while Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has only one group, the Nyakagezi family.
One advantage that Uganda has over other gorilla destinations like Rwanda is diversity; other than mountain gorillas, Uganda offers everything that a nature lover and adventure enthusiast longs to see and experience in the world. Ranging from meandering rivers and shimmering lakes to the climbing lions of Ishasha, chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, profusion of wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park, and the rugged mountains.
In addition, gorilla permits in Uganda are much more affordable than in Rwanda at only $600 per person per day. Since the cost of a gorilla permit is the main deciding factor for most travelers when choosing the best destination for their gorilla trip, Uganda is often preferred over Rwanda, which has permits priced at $1500 per person.
Although Uganda’s infrastructure is not as developed as Rwanda’s, the country still offers significant advantages when it comes to authentic gorilla experiences. A definite advantage of Uganda is that it is notably a cheaper destination with permits at $600 and offers a variety of lodging options, from budget to luxury.
However, a gorilla trek in Uganda tends to be more hectic and challenging than in Rwanda. Often in Bwindi, it rains, even in the dry season, causing road conditions to worsen, become slippery, and almost impassable.
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park is the prime home of the mighty mountain gorillas in Rwanda. The park is located in the Northern Province, in the remote village of Kinigi, only a 3-hour drive from Kigali, Rwanda’s capital.
The park is within the larger Virunga conservation area and hosts approximately 150 habituated mountain gorillas. These are split into 12 distinct families, with several wild gorillas still roaming the forest. This number allows for up to 96 visitors to trek the park daily in search of these magnificent animals.
Rwanda’s recent decision to increase the cost of gorilla trekking permits from $750 to $1500 has made it the most expensive gorilla destination in the region, ahead of Uganda and D.R. Congo. Rwanda argues, however, that this increment is aimed at attracting high-end tourists and ensuring low-impact tourism.
On the other hand, Rwanda’s terrain is generally considered flatter and easier to traverse compared to Uganda, making gorilla trekking less challenging. Like Uganda, Rwanda’s diversity is a key benefit. Volcanoes National Park, with its other rare primates like the golden monkeys, adds another iconic experience to complement gorilla trekking tours.
For magnificent encounters with both mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, travelers find this park to be the best spot. Another advantage Rwanda holds over Uganda is that meetings and incentives travelers find it easier and feasible to combine with gorilla trekking tours, thanks to the discounted offers in place and excellent infrastructure connecting different destinations in the country.
Rwanda has recently become Africa’s most popular destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events (MICE), as ranked by the International Congress and Convention Association. Despite mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda residing in the same Virunga conservation area and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, your packing list for a gorilla trek will slightly differ depending on the particular national park or country you track gorillas from.
All in all, spending just an hour with these majestic mountain gorillas in either Rwanda or Uganda is doubtlessly a bucket-list experience for many travelers and one of the most inspiring wildlife encounters one can ever have in Africa. Aside from the cost of gorilla trekking permits and concerns about accessibility and terrain, you will have memorable encounters whether you do gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda.
