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A comparison of the three gorilla trekking regions in East Africa.
There are only three countries in the world where you can see Mountain Gorillas. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda. But which country offers the most bang for your buck experience when it comes to the actual trek? This blog post will break down what to expect in each country and look at the costs associated with the experience to help you decide which destination is right for you.
Our Guide to the Best Gorilla Trekking in Africa
Here’s everything you need to know about this once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience. Keep in mind you MUST be 15 years or older to trek with gorillas. You’ll also be required to wear a mask in the presence of mountain gorillas. Both these measures are to prevent transmission of disease to the highly endangered species.
Read More: The Ultimate Uganda Road Trip (including the best gorilla trekking in Africa).
How *Exactly* Does Gorilla Trekking Work?
There is a limit of 8 people per gorilla family for all gorilla treks.
This means you must book your permits far in advance (usually three months) to secure the permit for the date and region you want.
The trek itself can be anywhere from 20 minutes to 4 hours, depending on which gorilla family you are assigned, but the guides assign the families according to their fitness level. Your group should have about the same fitness as you. If you show up without a tour, you’ll be put into another group as you MUST trek with a guide. But you do not need to book an expensive gorilla trekking tour to trek to see them. All you need is a government permit. I’ll dive into how you get a permit for each country below.
If you’re under 40 and reasonably fit, expect to go to the furthest possible gorilla unit. There are many visitors in their 60’s and 70’s who will go to the closest families.
When you reach the gorillas (there is a 99.99% chance of finding them), you get 1 hour in their presence. Rangers stay out here to guard the gorillas and radio back where they move, which is why it is so likely you will see them each day. It is customary to tip the rangers when you leave.
Then you trek back the way you came. The whole experience usually takes until mid-day if you’re in the long trek group.
The experience itself runs the same in all three of the countries with mountain gorillas. But there are several factors to consider when choosing with experience is “best” or right for you.
How to Trek with Gorillas in Congo (DRC)
All gorilla trekking is done via Goma in Virunga National Park—an incredible park with an equally incredible landscape. The big problem with Goma and the DRC in general is the security situation. In 2018, two British tourists were kidnapped and their guide killed in Virunga National Park. In response, the government closed and has yet to re-open the volcano hike they were on when the incident occurred. The Gorilla Trekking area, however, is open. Unfortuntely, due to a civil war and other unrest in the country, the DRC remains a difficult place to visit and only for those with a high tolerance for risk.
The two main reasons travelers consider Goma + Virunga National Park is the lower cost of trekking permits and the opportunity to have the gorillas all to yourself.
Here’s the problem with both those theories.
- While the permit only costs $500 per trekker, the VISA FEE for most travelers is $100 and your required guide, driver, and security officer fees that are tacked on later drive the price up to around $800 per person. The same as in Uganda.
- No matter what country you trek in, you will have a MAXIMUM of eight people in your gorilla group. While Congo obviously sees far fewer tourists, they DO get trekkers and you’ll almost surely end up in a small group.
If you decide Congo is the route for you, book your permits via a tour operator like Active African Vacations (who knows Congo well).
How to Trek with Gorillas in Uganda
Uganda offers two national parks where you can trek with gorillas. Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks. Mgahinga has 2 trekking groups while Bwindi has 15 groups (and growing). Both have a similar mountainous habitat and both book up in advance. Although, Mgahinga fills up slower than Bwindi.
You cannot buy your gorilla permit online or in person without a tour agency. To actually book your permit, you will need the help of a tour operator. I recommend Active African Vacations (again) as this is who we used and had no problems with. We also booked our 4×4 rental car and pop-tent with them.
You used to be able to book your permits online independently via the government website in Uganda, but this has been discontinued.
Which Uganda National Park is Best for Gorilla Trekking?
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest reigns supreme in terms of terrain, scenery, wildlife, number of gorilla families, all of it.
Some people are turned off because it is the most popular in Uganda, but popularity doesn’t matter when the numbers are strictly limited. Your gorilla group WILL be full no matter which park you choose, so you might as well choose the place with the best experience.
This is not to say Mgahinga is not an exceptional park with a worthwhile gorilla trekking experience, just that given the choice I would choose Bwindi.
Read More: Self Driver’s Guide to Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda
Which Gate is Best?
Each national park has a few “gates”. In Bwindi National Park, when you book your gorilla permit, you choose which gate. This cannot be changed. So, it’s important to know which region of the park you want to trek in.
This is all a matter of personal preference. There are four different gates in Bwindi NP, and when you book your permit, you will need to decide which of the four you want to trek at.
Ruhija is the gate we ultimately chose due to its central location deep within Bwindi NP and the lush jungle terrain. Ruhija is known for large families, so trekking here nearly guarantees you’ll be able to enjoy a wide age range of gorillas during your visit.
We also considered Buhoma Gate. Buhoma is on the northern edge of the park and sits very close to Pangolin Rescue Center (a must-visit Uganda wildlife destination). If you are planning to visit the Pangolin Sanctuary, you might consider this gate instead. This is one of the most popular and I found the terrain in this part of the park to be less forested and lush.
Rushaga Gate with its seven gorilla families sells the most permits and is therefore, the most popular for trekkers. Located in the southern sector of the park it’s also the easiest to reach.
Nkuringo Gate has one gorilla family but offers views of the Virunga volcanoes. The terrain here is pretty steep so for travelers with low fitness or older members in their group, I would skip this one.
Read More: Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda with Kyambura Gorge Lodge
How to Trek with Gorillas in Rwanda
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda happens in Volcanoes National Park. It is not as dense of a jungle as Bwindi NP but is undeniably beautiful in other ways, like the diversity of its plants. Rwanda is the most expensive option, but permits can be purchased without the help of a tour agency on this government website.
Which Country Offers the Cheapest Gorilla Trekking in Africa?
On the surface, it might appear that DRC has the cheapest mountain gorilla trekking, but it’s actually the same price (or more) as Uganda.
We looked into the logistics, and to hike to see mountain gorillas in DRC, you must hire a driver and (typically) armed escort to enter the park. This, alongside a $100 per person visa to visit the country, makes the $500 DRC permit increase dramatically. Add to that an ever-changing security situation and the declining gorilla population due to poaching and conflict — and Uganda, with its $800 permit, is actually a much cheaper and more sure-fire destination for mountain gorilla treks.
Rwanda is the most expensive option at $1,500 per person.
Read More: Is a Self-Drive Safari ACTUALLY Cheaper?
Which Country Offers the Best Gorilla Trekking in Africa?
I chose Uganda and was very happy with my decision. Uganda is the most popular of the three, but it actually isn’t the most “commercial” of the three destinations.
Rwanda is. Rwanda is the best choice for those with mobility issues or those who require a city with amenities like luxury places to stay. This is why it is the most expensive of the three options. That and Rwanda’s deep commitment to protecting the gorillas, of course.
If you’re looking for the best gorilla trekking in Africa in terms of experience, Uganda offers a wide variety of gorilla experience but all a little more rugged than Rwanda. We were impressed with the guides, the terrain, the landscape, and the diversity of wildlife, and we got to see a family of 16 Mountain Gorillas including 6 infants.
DRC is definitely the most rugged and raw, but it’s also the least likely to be successful of the three treks, and at times, the park will close entirely due to conflict. If you want the truly off-the-beaten-path experience, I wouldn’t blame you for trying your luck here instead. The jungles are beautiful, and the terrain rough, so be ready to hike.
Overall, the three countries offer similar experiences and have similar terrain. This is gorilla habitat, after all.
Read More: Best Wildlife Destinations in All of East Africa
Is Gorilla Trekking Worth the Money?
You Google it, and everyone says the same thing. Absolutely. But is it because they already paid the money and don’t want to feel like a chump or is it genuine sentiment? It’s probably a mixture, depending on the person.
Because yes, this is a wallet-shocking price tag even in the most budget country.
Here’s the unfiltered truth.
I would happily pay $800 to see the world’s last mountain gorillas. We had an incredible hour with them in the jungle. It went by fast and was mostly spent taking photos, videos, and moments to marvel at them. But if you’re not obsessed with wildlife and dreaming about seeing mountain gorillas — then maybe this ISN’T right for you. It’s a unique and up close encounter with a rare species, but that won’t make it worth your money if you don’t appreciate wildlife that much.
We did not regret spending the money. But there are also a lot of other far cheaper wildlife experiences in Uganda that are equally rewarding.
In hindsight, we are very happy with our decision to trek to Ruhija Gate in Bwindi National Park, Uganda. While we obviously did not gorilla trek in all these destinations, we compared the experiences we had with other travelers and did extensive research online to determine the best choice for our trip and budget. We also visited Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, we just did a volcano hike rather than a gorilla trek.
The truth is…there is no bad gorilla experience, and sharing the jungle with these incredible creatures is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that can’t be missed. But if forced to choose the best gorilla trekking in Africa, I would have to go with Uganda.
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