Mountain gorillas survive in just three countries — Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. For most luxury travelers, the choice is between Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Both deliver one of the most profound wildlife encounters on earth: a permitted hour in the presence of a habituated gorilla family.
Here is how the two compare across the things that matter most.
Rwanda — Volcanoes National Park
Rwanda is the polished, convenient choice. Volcanoes National Park is just two to three hours by road from Kigali’s international airport, treks tend to be shorter, and the country is home to some of Africa’s most exclusive lodges. The trade-off is the permit price: a Rwanda gorilla permit costs USD 1,500 per person.
Rwanda suits travelers who want a shorter, more comfortable trip with the highest level of lodge luxury, and who may wish to add golden monkey trekking or the country’s moving genocide-memorial history.
Uganda — Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Uganda is the more adventurous, better-value option. A Uganda gorilla permit costs USD 800 per person, the country has more habituated gorilla families and trekking sectors, and it pairs naturally with savanna parks for big game, tree-climbing lions and chimpanzee tracking. The drive from Entebbe is longer (or a short charter flight), and treks can be more demanding.
The trek itself
Either way, you set off in the morning with rangers and trackers, hiking anywhere from one to six hours through dense, often steep and muddy forest to reach the gorillas. Once with them, you have exactly one hour. A reasonable level of fitness helps, but porters are available to carry bags and assist on the climbs, and groups are matched to ability where possible. The minimum age to trek is 15.
Permits & booking
Only a limited number of permits are issued each day, and they sell out in peak months. We secure permits as part of your package and pair them with the best-placed lodges, so your trek begins rested and on time.
Book gorilla permits 6–12 months ahead — they sell out fast in peak season.
