Choose Uganda if you want better value (US$800 permits, US$600 in April, May and November), more gorilla families and a wider safari with chimps and savannah parks. Choose Rwanda if time is short: Volcanoes National Park is 2–2.5 hours from Kigali airport and treks are often shorter, but permits cost US$1,500. Many travellers trek in both.
Key takeaways
- Uganda permits: US$800 (US$600 in April, May and November). Rwanda: US$1,500.
- Rwanda is faster to reach; Bwindi is 8–10 hours by road from Entebbe, or a short flight.
- Uganda has more habituated families and the habituation experience.
- Uganda adds chimps, savannah parks and boat trips on one trip.
- You can trek in both, as Bwindi’s southern sectors are near the Rwanda border.
It is one of the questions we are asked most often. Both Uganda and Rwanda offer mountain gorilla trekking, both are safe and well organised, and both lead to the same extraordinary hour in the forest. But the experiences differ in important ways, and the right choice depends on your budget, your time and what else you want to see.
Permit prices
| Uganda | Rwanda | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard permit (foreign non-resident) | US$800 | US$1,500 |
| Low season | US$600 in April, May and November | 30% off (US$1,050) Nov–May with two nights in Nyungwe or Akagera |
| Habituation experience | US$1,500 (four hours, Rushaga) | Not offered |
For many travellers, price is the deciding factor. Uganda’s permit is around half the price of Rwanda’s, and the low-season rate makes it even better value. Read our gorilla permit guide and Uganda’s 2026 low-season permits explained.
Getting there
Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is 2–2.5 hours by road from Kigali International Airport, so you can land, trek and leave within two days. Uganda’s Bwindi is 8–10 hours by road from Entebbe, which is why most visitors combine it with other parks or take a short scheduled flight to Kihihi or Kisoro. Interestingly, Bwindi’s southern sectors are only 4–5 hours from Kigali, making a Uganda trek from Rwanda a popular option.
The trek and the terrain
In Bwindi, the forest is dense, steep and ancient, with gorillas often feeding on hillsides tangled in vines. Treks can take from one to six hours. In Volcanoes, you walk through farmland to the park wall and into bamboo and hagenia forest on the volcano slopes. Many families are reached in one to three hours, and the open bamboo can give better light for photographs.
Number of families
Bwindi has more than 20 habituated families across four sectors, plus one in Mgahinga, so permits are easier to find. Rwanda has around a dozen. In peak months both countries sell out, so book early either way.
What else each country offers
- Uganda: chimpanzees in Kibale, Queen Elizabeth’s Kazinga Channel and tree-climbing lions, Murchison Falls, the shoebill at Mabamba and Lake Bunyonyi. It is a complete safari destination. See our 7-day primates and wildlife safari.
- Rwanda: golden monkeys, the Dian Fossey hike, Lake Kivu, Nyungwe’s chimpanzees and canopy walk, Akagera’s Big Five and Kigali’s food and culture, all within short drives.
Lodges
Both countries have lodges from community guesthouses to some of Africa’s most luxurious forest lodges. Rwanda’s lodge scene leans towards the high end; Uganda has a wider range of mid-range and budget options.
Our recommendation
- On a budget or want variety: Uganda.
- Short on time: Rwanda, or a Uganda trek from Kigali.
- Want the most complete primate experience: trek in both, as on our 6-day Uganda and Rwanda double gorilla safari.
Decide on dates first and check permit availability before booking flights. Permits are the scarcest part of any gorilla trip.
The bottom line
There is no wrong choice. The hour you spend with a gorilla family will be the same in either country. Choose based on your budget, time and the rest of your trip, and if you can, experience both. For the full background, read our gorilla trekking guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is gorilla trekking better in Uganda or Rwanda?
The encounter itself is the same: one hour with a habituated family. Uganda offers better value and more variety; Rwanda offers speed and convenience.
Which country has more gorillas?
Bwindi in Uganda holds about 459 of the world’s roughly 1,063 mountain gorillas; the rest live in the Virunga volcanoes shared by Rwanda, Uganda and Congo.
Are treks harder in Uganda?
Bwindi’s terrain is steeper and denser, so treks can be harder. In Rwanda, treks start in open bamboo and are often shorter, though some families live high on the volcanoes.
Can I trek in both countries on one trip?
Yes. Bwindi’s Rushaga sector is 2–3 hours from Volcanoes National Park via the Cyanika border.
Which country is better for a short trip?
Rwanda, because the park is close to Kigali’s international airport. A Uganda gorilla trek from Kigali is also possible in two or three days.
Written by our Kampala-based planners and guides, who arrange these trips every season. Prices and rules are checked before every quote.
