Choosing a country
Uganda or Rwanda for gorilla trekking?
Neither country is better — they suit different trips. Rwanda is quicker to reach and gentler to walk, and costs more per permit. Uganda is cheaper per permit, takes longer to reach, is steeper underfoot, and is the only country where you can spend four hours with a gorilla family rather than one.
Side by side
| Uganda | Rwanda | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you trek | Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga | Volcanoes National Park |
| Permit (foreign non-resident) | US$800 | US$1,500 |
| Reduced rate | US$600 in April, May and November | US$1,050 when the itinerary adds Akagera or Nyungwe nights |
| Getting there | A long drive or a domestic flight from Entebbe | Two to three hours by road from Kigali |
| Terrain | Dense montane rainforest, steep and often muddy | Bamboo and open forest on volcanic slopes, gentler |
| Habituation experience | Yes — four hours, US$1,500 | Not offered |
| Minimum age | 15 | 15 |
| Issued by | Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) | Rwanda Development Board (RDB) |
Permit figures compiled from the authorities’ published tariffs as reported in June 2026. Fees are set by the wildlife authorities and change on their schedule, not ours — we confirm the current rate with every quote.
Which should you choose?
Choose Rwanda if
- You have a short trip and want the trek without a long drive.
- You would rather walk gentler ground.
- You are pairing gorillas with Nyungwe or Akagera, which brings the permit rate down.
Choose Uganda if
- The permit price matters to your budget.
- You want four hours with a family rather than one.
- You want a longer safari — chimpanzees in Kibale, the Kazinga Channel, Murchison Falls.
And if you have the days, do both. The countries share a land border, the parks are within reach of one another, and one route can take in Bwindi and the Volcanoes — see our two-country itineraries.
Common questions
- Is it better to trek gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda?
- Neither is better — they suit different travellers. Rwanda is faster to reach and gentler underfoot, and its permit costs US$1,500. Uganda's permit costs US$800, the journey in is longer and the terrain steeper, and it is the only country offering the four-hour habituation experience.
- How much does a gorilla permit cost in Uganda and Rwanda?
- A Uganda permit is US$800 for a foreign non-resident, falling to US$600 in April, May and November. A Rwanda permit is US$1,500, with a reduced rate of US$1,050 on itineraries that add nights in Akagera or Nyungwe. Permits are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and Rwanda Development Board (RDB) respectively.
- Which country is easier to get to for gorilla trekking?
- Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park is a two-to-three-hour drive from Kigali airport, so a trek is possible on a short trip. Uganda's Bwindi is a full day's drive from Entebbe, or a domestic flight, which is why Uganda itineraries tend to be longer and take in more parks.
- Is gorilla trekking harder in Uganda than Rwanda?
- Generally yes. Bwindi is dense montane rainforest on steep, often muddy slopes; Volcanoes is bamboo and open forest on volcanic terrain that tends to be gentler. Both are led at the group's pace with rangers, and porters are available in both.
- Can I visit both Uganda and Rwanda on one trip?
- Yes, and many travellers do. The two countries share a land border and the parks are within reach of one another, so a single route can take in Bwindi and Volcanoes, or pair one gorilla trek with chimpanzees in Kibale or Nyungwe. The East Africa Tourist Visa covers both on one multiple-entry visa.
Still weighing it up?
Tell us how long you have and roughly when you want to travel, and we will say which country fits — including when the answer is neither, or both.