Is Rwanda or Uganda better for gorilla trekking?

Rwanda Vs Uganda: How to Choose the best Country for Gorilla Trekking In Africa

In Africa, Gorillas are found in only a few countries including Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo though Rwanda and Uganda are by far the main countries/locations for commercially-organized gorilla trekking in Africa. Both countries offer profound and transformative experiences for gorilla trekking as you watch a silverback and his family in their natural habitat.

The general say is that Rwanda is easier and Uganda is tougher when it comes to gorilla trekking but we have also heard some of our past clients have opposite experiences. We had a client who specifically chose Rwanda because they wanted a more easier and quicker trek only to end up hiking for nearly five hours through dense jungle to find their gorilla family. Meanwhile, our other client doing a standard trek in Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (a smaller park than Bwindi) found their gorilla family within 45 minutes of starting and we have also had clients trekking to their gorilla family within 3 hours in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. We therefore think that it all comes down to the location of the gorillas on the trekking day and the specific sector you are assigned.

We therefore think that choosing which country to go for gorilla trekking between Uganda and Rwanda largely depends on your travel style and preferences as each destination offers exceptional mountain gorilla viewing with 99% chances of seeing the gorillas whichever country you chose to visit.

The key difference is that Rwanda Mountain Gorillas stay in mainly bamboo as the main vegetation hence being “easily” accessible while Uganda mountain gorillas stay in the thick rain forest . The other notable difference between Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda Vs Uganda is that Gorilla trekking in Uganda is cheaper than gorilla trekking in Rwanda because one can do two gorilla treks in Uganda for less than the price of one Gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda.

Therefore if you are wondering whether to visit gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda, the answer is that the experience you get is the same whether you trek gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda though it is worth to note that a Uganda gorilla permit is more affordable (at 800$ Per Person ) than a Rwanda Gorilla Permit(at 1500$ Per Person ). We therefore highly recommend Uganda as the best choice for gorilla trekking if you are looking for budget friendly gorilla permit, accommodation and with high levels of fitness and Rwanda if you are interested in more luxurious accommodation and with average fitness levels. Please note that Rwanda also has budget friendly accommodation to cater for budget and mid-range travelers

Below we give you a detailed guide to gorilla trekking in Rwanda vs Uganda to help you find out which country suits you best for gorilla trekking in Africa.

Lets weigh up the pros and cons: Is Rwanda Or Uganda better for gorilla trekking?

1. The Ease of Trekking: Rwanda Vs Uganda

Geographically, the terrain in Uganda’s Bwindi area is often steep and muddy. Apart from the terrain and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is as dense as the name suggests which makes trekking through its jungle tricky and sometimes may require your guide to hack a path with machetes. Treks in Bwindi can take up to whole day since the gorilla families that inhabit this forest are spread across larger areas. This therefore makes gorilla trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi more adventurous though it will require a high degree of fitness. On the other hand, Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has lighter bamboo cover (similar to Rwanda’s) though the trekking takes place in steep places.

Compared to Uganda, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park largely covered by bamboo with less dense canopy has generally easier terrain to climb except on the longer tracks which can lead you into dense forest at altitude. Overall we think that Rwanda is a generally easier-going gorilla trekking destination compared to Uganda but our advise would be that whether you trek gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda, it’s wise to prepare well in advance for you your gorilla trekking excursion to ensure that you don’t be surprised when already in the wild forests.

2. Gorilla trekking permit Price: Rwanda Vs Uganda

From 2017 the Rwandan government through the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) made the decision to increase the cost of a gorilla permit from 750 USD per trek to 1,500 USD which meant that only the most affluent and financially well to do visitors would trek the Rwanda famous gorillas. On the other hand Uganda through the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has fixed its Gorilla trekking permit price at 800 USD .Therefore given the fact that one can do two gorilla treks in Uganda for less than the price of one Gorillas trekking permit in Rwanda, it makes sense for budget-conscious travelers to consider trekking gorillas in Uganda instead of Rwanda. Uganda also offers low season Months ( April, May and November) discounted price of Gorilla permits at USD$600 for Foreign Non Residents and USD$ 500 for Foreign Residents.

Generally speaking, gorilla trekking is more expensive in Rwanda than in Uganda with gorilla tracking permits and accommodations more costlier in Rwanda.

3. Accessibility to the gorillas: Rwanda Vs Uganda

For travelers with limited travel time especially business travelers, accessibility is crucial while choosing which country to do gorilla trekking. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable national park or Mgahinga national park are all easily accessible from Kigali International Airport with just 3-5 hours of road drive from Kigali City. However Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park is more accessible compared to Bwindi Impenetrable National park since the Rwanda gorillas are reached via a well-maintained tarmac road with an option of flying in by helicopter.

If not accessed through Kigali, Uganda Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be reached by road through Kampala-Masaka- Mbarara-Kabale-Kisoro Road on an approximate driving time of 10 hours on largely tarmacked roads with some parts marrum roads. The other option and arguably the best option would be to to take a scheduled or charter flight from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to an airstrip near bwindi depending on which sector you are tracking the gorillas from. For example if you are doing gorilla trekking in Buhoma or Ruhija, the nearest airstrip is Kihihi airstrip and if you are doing gorilla trekking in Rushaga, Nkuringo or Mgahinga the nearest airstrip is Kisoro airstrip.

4. Accommodation: Rwanda Vs Uganda

When it comes to where to stay or accommodation, both Rwanda and Uganda have some better options though Rwanda is seeing an increase in the number of more luxurious but affordable lodges being set up. These include the recently built One&Only’s Gorilla’s Nest lodge, Bisate lodge, Sabyinyo lodge, Volcanoes Virunga lodge and Singita Kwitonda lodge among others.

Therefore for travelers looking for luxury Gorilla trekking safari we think Rwanda gorillas are a better option. On the other hand Uganda which is known for lower priced accommodation options but with some luxury options with spectacular views and exclusivity such as Clouds mountains lodge, Sanctuary Gorilla forest camp, Volcanoes Bwindi and Kiho Gorilla Safari Lodge is a better option for travelers looking for peace and relaxation while on a gorilla trekking safari.

Please Note that Rwanda also has budget friendly accommodation to cater for both budget and mid-range travelers. These include Ingagi Park View Lodge, Davinci Gorilla Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge and Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge among others.

5. Gorilla Tour Duration: Rwanda Vs Uganda

In Rwanda, we highly recommend 3 days 2 Nights trip though its also possible to 2 Days 1 Night or even day trip since Volcanoes National Park is easily accessible from Kigali City or Airport. You can even decide to stay 3 nights by adding other activities like Golden Monkey tracking, Bisoke/Karisimbi Mountain Hike, Dian Fossey tomb hike or even another gorilla trekking excursion.

For Uganda, we highly recommend 3 days 2 Nights gorilla trip as a minimum and up to 5 days if you want to do double gorilla treks or add Gorilla habituation on your tour or visit the nearby Lake Mutanda or the batwa village. It is also possible to a 2 days 1 Night gorilla trip in In Uganda if you are staying in Kigali, Musanze, Kisoro or Kabale towns. Even a day trip to Bwindi or Mgahinga is possible if you are staying in Kabale or Kisoro town.

6. Gorilla Families: Rwanda Vs Uganda

Rwanda Gorilla Families

Currently, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National park has 12 main gorilla families that you can track among them are the following:

Susa Group (Susa A): Famously known for having been researched by Dian Fossey, this large group also has twins and its family members are often found high on Mount Karisimbi making it quite a challenging hike to watch them.

Agashya Group: This gorilla family is known for its quick growth in numbers and is often found on the slopes of Sabyinyo.

Kwitonda Group: This is special group of over 18 members that migrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). They are led by a silverback named Kwitonda meaning “humble one”.

Bwenge Group: This is the group that famously featured in the Movie, Gorillas in the Mist and it is often found on the slopes of Karisoke.

Sabyinyo Group: This group is Often referred to as the “Kardashians” of the park due to their popularity. They are normally the easiest to track because they frequently roam the lower slopes between Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Gahinga.

Uganda’s Gorilla Families

Uganda is home to over 20 habituated gorilla families, primarily located in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. These families are spread across the park’s four distinct sectors, each offering a different trekking experience and terrain.

Here are some of the main gorilla families that are habituated for gorilla watching experience:

Mubare: This is the oldest group habituated in 1991. The family was once led by the legendary silverback Ruhondeza a massive patriarch whose grave you can still visit near the park headquarters and today the family is led by silverback Kanyonyi.

Nshongi: This is also known as one of the largest groups ever with over 36 members.

Rushegura: For travelers interested in shorter treks, Rushegura family is the best bet. This group famously “self-habituated” by frequently wandering through local gardens and lodges. They are known for being remarkably calm and are led by the silverback Kabukojo.

Habinyanja: This family was habituated in 1997 although it was first visited by tourists in 1999. Originally the group was much larger led by a dominant silverback named Mugurusi but after his passing his two sons, Rwansigazi and Mwirima shared power for several years and currently the group is led by the silverback Makara.

Gorilla Trekking Starting Points: Rwanda Vs Uganda

While there is only one starting point for gorilla trekking in Rwanda, Uganda has four namely:

Buhoma: This is the classic northern sector of the park and the birthplace of the country’s gorilla tourism. It offers many established luxury accommodations and a generally gentle terrain.

Nkuringo: This is for the trekkers who want to earn their encounter. It’s set on a high ridge with 360-degree views of the Virunga Volcanoes. The treks here are exceptionally demanding.

Rushaga: This sector is located in the south of Bwindi and is home to the highest number of habituated gorilla families and many mid-range and budget lodges.

Ruhija: This Sector is located in the highest and coldest section of the park. It is also the most secluded and far away from most of the tourist paths.

7. Additional Safari experiences apart from Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda:

Each of the two countries has a lot to offer apart from gorilla trekking from wildlife viewing in major national park, adventure tours on major lakes and rivers, Chimpanzee trekking safaris to Cultural tours. However from client’s feedback, Uganda has much more to see and do compared to Rwanda even with the development of Akagera National Park and the reintroduction of the big five which is a big prospect.

Uganda is therefore a better option for travelers looking for a diverse experience with plentiful wildlife. For example if a traveler wants to spot elephants, hippos, crocs and birds on a cruise down the River Nile in Murchison Falls National Park, track tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park or track the chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park, Uganda has plenty to offer!

At Engabi tours and Travel, we also recommend and help to plan a combined gorilla trekking safari in one of the two countries with a wildlife viewing safari in Northern Tanzania parks of Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Tarangire or Lake Manyara with extensions to Zanzibar islands beaches. Note that Rwanda and Uganda have direct flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha Tanzania the safari capital.

CONTACT US for an inspiration, information or price Quotation for a gorilla safari or a combined East African Safari.