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You know you want to trek to see the gorillas, but you still have three locations to choose from - Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). To make things easy, we recommend trekking in Uganda, as it is cheaper than Rwanda and safer and easier than the DRC.
However, gorilla trekking is an experience that is unique in each country, so we have put together three handy guide that will help you decide which trek is best for you. To help you decide which country is the best fit for your gorilla trek, we’ve put together our recommendations for gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda, a summary
Uganda is our favourite place to trek with gorillas. It offers the best value for money and luxury experiences, is located in a stunning part of the world, is reasonably easy to get to and allows you to easily add a safari, chimp trek, golden monkey visit or cultural excursion.
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Best National Park to trek with gorillas in Uganda |
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest There are four main trekking regions in Bwindi:
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| Number of habituated gorilla families in Uganda | 12 habituated gorilla families live in Uganda. Each group comprises of 10 to 40 members. |
| Trekking with gorillas in Uganda is recommended for |
Anyone who:
If you are older or less fit:
If you are injured or have a disability, it is still possible to trek with gorillas. Simply ask for extra porters to carry you to see the gorillas. |
| Best time to trek with gorillas in Uganda |
July - October or January - February March - June and November - December are wetter months, which may impact on your experience. Some lodges are not open between March - June, as this is the low season for tourism. |
| Gorilla permit cost in Uganda |
USD$800pp (April 2024) Permits sell out up to 1 year in advance and entitle you to a guided trek, and one hour with the gorillas. |
| Getting to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest |
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is located in Uganda’s southwest. Flying is the fastest way to reach Bwindi, with one - two daily flights available to each section. All commercial flights depart from Entebbe International Airport, near Uganda’s capital Kampala. There are also chartered flights available. To visit the Rushaga or Nkuringo sectors:
To visit the Buhoma or Ruhija sectors:
From Queen Elizabeth National Park, the drive will be easier, but will likely take between 6 - 10 hours. If you intend to drive yourself to Bwindi, make sure you drive with care and leave plenty of time to arrive at your destination as roads can vary in quality. If you are traveling on an Adventure Out Loud tour, we will take care of the transport for you! |
| Ugandan Tourist Visas |
You must apply for a tourist visa online at https://visas.immigration.go.ug before you arrive in Uganda. If you are visiting Rwanda and/or Kenya as well, apply for the East African Visa which will allow you to enter Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya multiple times. |
| Itinerary length | This is dependent on what you want to do:
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| Favourite lodges around Bwindi |
Mid-range:
Luxury:
For more information about accommodation on a Uganda gorilla trek, visit our ‘Where to stay’ blog. |
| Other attractions in Uganda |
For more information about the things you can do before or after your gorilla trek, visit our blog |
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda, a summary
Rwanda was the ninth safest country in the world in 2017, as voted by the World Economic Forum, and is consistently ranked as one of Africa’s safest countries. For more information on the safety of gorilla and chimp trekking, read through our blog How safe is travel in East Africa to learn more. Home to 10 habituated mountain gorilla families (or troops), Rwanda is home to the most well-established gorilla treks.
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Best National Park to trek with gorillas in Rwanda |
Volcanoes National Park |
| Number of habituated gorilla families in Rwanda | 10 habituated gorilla families live in Rwanda with each group comprising of 10 to 40 members. |
| Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is recommended for |
Anyone who:
Trekking with gorillas in Rwanda is generally considered to be slightly easier thank in Uganda. |
| Gorilla permit cost in Rwanda | USD$1,500pp (April 2024) |
| Best time of year to trek with gorillas in Rwanda |
July - October or January - February March - June and November - December are wetter months, which may impact on your experience. Some lodges are not open between March - June, as this is the low season for tourism. |
| Getting to Volcanoes National Park |
The best point of entry is Kigali International Airport (Rwanda). Volcanoes National Park is a four - five hour drive from Kigali. There are no domestic flights, but Akagera Aviation offers charter helicopter transfers, but expect to pay many thousand USD. |
| Tourist visas for Rwanda |
You can apply for a tourist visa online at https://irembo.gov.rw If you are visiting Uganda and/or Kenya as well, apply for the East African Visa which will allow you to enter Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya multiple times. |
| Itinerary length | This is dependent on what you want to do:
|
| Favourite lodges in Rwanda |
Mid-range:
Luxury:
For more information about accommodation on a Rwanda gorilla trek, visit our ‘Where to stay’ blog. |
| Other attractions |
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Gorilla trekking in DRC, a summary
Gorilla trekking originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Virunga National Park is Africa’s first National Park. Approximately 300 gorillas live in Virunga National Park and trekking here is a once in a lifetime experience.
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Best National Park to trek with gorillas in the DRC |
Virunga National Park |
| Number of habituated gorilla families in the DRC |
10 habituated gorilla families live in the DRC with each group comprising 10 to 30 members. |
| Gorilla trekking in the DRC is recommended for |
Experienced and fit travelers with a high risk tolerance and who want to get off the beaten track. |
| Gorilla permit cost in the DRC |
USD$400pp (April 2024) Discounts are sometimes available in low season. |
| Best time of year to trek with gorillas in the DRC |
June - October or January - February March - June and November - December are wetter months, which may impact on your experience. Some lodges are not open between March - June, as this is the low season for tourism. |
| Gorilla trek difficulty in the DRC |
Gorilla trekking in the DRC can be treacherous at times and is not recommended if you are older or are not fit. With a less tourist-touched terrain, guides and trackers must hack through the vegetation with machetes to create trails to follow. It can also be very muddy and the terrain can be very steep. |
| Getting to Virunga National Park | The best point of entry is Kigali (Rwanda). From here, drive to the Rwanda - Congo border and cross into Goma. |
| Tourist visas to the DRC | You have to purchase your visa with your gorilla permit and it is best for your tour provider to do this. |
| Itinerary length |
If you are going to the DRC, we highly recommend you make time in your itinerary for gorillas, chimps and the Nyiragongo Volcano. For this, you will need a minimum of 4 - 5 days. |
| Favourite lodges in Virunga National Park |
All accommodation is run by Virunga National Park. There are limited options available and they range from USD$150 - USD$600/night. It is inadvisable to stay in other accommodation for safety reasons. |
| Other attractions |
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For more information about the things you can do before or after your gorilla trek, visit our blog ‘Things to do before or after your gorilla or chimp trek’.
Now that you’ve got all of the information to choose where you want to trek with gorillas, your next steps are to pick the time of year you want to travel, and pick your accommodation style. Head to our Ultimate Guide to Trekking with Gorillas and Chimps to find out more.
Gorilla & chimp itinerary ideas
About The Author:
Nicole Rowles
PR & Content Manager
Nicole is an outdoor enthusiast with a passion for travel and adventure. A publicist, podcaster and former journalist, she loves to weave words into magic!