Uganda or Rwanda for gorilla trekking?
Both countries offer genuine, well-managed encounters with mountain gorillas. The right choice depends on your budget, your time and what else you want from the trip. We operate in Uganda, so read this as an honest but interested view.
The permit cost
Rwanda positions itself as a premium destination, and its gorilla permit costs significantly more than Uganda's. For many travellers this alone is decisive: in Uganda, the same hour with a habituated gorilla family costs considerably less, leaving budget for a longer trip.
The trek itself
Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park is compact and close to Kigali — you can land and be at the park the same day. Treks there are often shorter.
Bwindi is a larger, older and denser forest, further from Entebbe. Treks can be longer and the terrain steeper, but many travellers find the ancient rainforest itself — one of Africa's most biodiverse — a large part of the reward.
What else you can combine
This is where Uganda stands out. Within one itinerary you can add chimpanzee trekking in Kibale, classic savannah wildlife in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls, rhino tracking at Ziwa, shoebill searches at Mabamba and the source of the Nile at Jinja. Rwanda's offer beyond the gorillas is narrower.
If gorillas are one highlight among several, Uganda usually gives more for the journey. If you have very limited time and want the shortest possible gorilla trip, Rwanda's convenience is real.
Our view
Uganda rewards travellers who give it a few more days: more habitats, more species, and a permit price that makes the whole trip more accessible. That is why we work here — and we are happy to help you judge whether it fits your plans.