Which country is best for gorilla trekking? When comparing gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda, one thing needs to be made clear – mountain gorillas look the same in the two countries and Congo. There is nothing like cuter or bigger in one country over another. The gorilla parks have similar management systems in place and work closely to coordinate conservation related projects. Mountain gorillas sometimes move between the four parks found in the three countries. The main difference in our opinion is the experience you get while tracking in each of the countries. We will delve into the topic more in the following chapters:-
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda Vs Rwanda – Which country is better or best.
We recommend a wildlife safari in Rwanda for those visiting for a short time because of a tight schedule. The volcanoes national park in Rwanda is much easier to access from the capital – only three hours drive and on excellent roads. Some might claim that tracking gorillas in Rwanda is less strenuous and time consuming because the park is smaller. People who go with Rwanda also claim that gorilla families are easier to find but it really depends on which gorilla group you get assigned.
There are also those who might argue that the predominantly bamboo forests in the volcanoes national park of Rwanda allows for better photography unlike the denser forests of Bwindi in Uganda. If you worry about the dense forests in Bwindi, you can choose to track the primates in Uganda’s Mgahinga National Park. Mgahinga has similar conditions to the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda with lots of bamboo.
Those who vouch for Rwanda also like to point out that the services at the Volcanoes national park are delivered more professionally. This is subjective and open to debate. Ugandan’s may think that their services are not staged and generally more authentic.
When comparing safaris in the three countries, it’s important to note that Rwanda dedicates more resources to marketing her tourism destinations. It is something Uganda and Congo can learn from considering that they have far much more to offer. Rwanda is attempting to position herself as a luxury gorilla trekking destination and has gone to great lengths to achieve that. She has some of the most luxurious hotels in East Africa.
Because of the shorter driving distance to her national park and other advantages, Rwanda increased the price of a gorilla permit from $750 to $1500. This has made the country a less appealing destination for tourists interested in budget gorilla trekking.
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda Vs Rwanda – Pros and Cons
Uganda’s advantage is that it has a variety of tourism destinations and other things on offer. We recommend Uganda for those who have time to spare and wish to combine an authentic general wildlife safari with gorilla trekking. Uganda has more gorillas and habituated families than any of the other countries. 
There are those who think gorilla trekking in Uganda is more strenuous because of the vast size of Bwindi Impenetrable forest. They claim that the gorillas go deeper into the forest. But in reality, it all depends on which gorilla family you choose. Uganda has 19 habituated gorilla families compared to the 10 in Rwanda. This means that tourists get to choose an ideal group from the many. Some habituated gorilla families live just next to the park lodges or offices. A gorilla permit in Uganda costs $700 which we think is relatively more affordable.
Uganda’s major disadvantage as a gorilla trekking destination is mainly because of the long distance from the capital Kampala to her national parks . To get to Bwindi and Mgahinga, one has to endure between 8 to 9 hours of driving. This long has not stopped tourists with some finding the long journey very interesting and an opportunity to observe the African countryside. Those who can’t handle the long drive can book a flight from Entebbe to Bwindi in a journey taking only one hour. Tourists can also enter Uganda by road through Rwanda in a journey taking 4 hours. You can find out more from our 1 Day Uganda Gorilla Tour package starting from Kigali.
All in all, a Uganda safari is a better choice for those staying longer and wish to see more of the wildlife than just mountain gorillas. Uganda is an English speaking country and the locals have excellent command of the language compared to Rwanda. Uganda also has more affordable lodges built right inside the park unlike Rwanda whose lodges are in nearby towns like Ruhengeri.
Congo: Bad press and occasional insecurity has kept many visitors from visiting Congo. That is sad because it is only in Congo that you will get a true sense of visiting the real Africa as it used to be. In terms of biodiversity, Virunga national park is one of the most stunning national parks in Africa. If peace prevails, Congo will be no match for Uganda or Rwanda given what she offers. The country has not only mountain gorillas but also Eastern and Western Lowland Gorillas. A mountain gorilla Permit in Congo is sold at $400 with possible discounts during the low season.
Visitors to Virunga national park also have a chance to hike mount Nyirangoro and see the famous boiling lava lake after gorilla trekking. In the Senkwekwe Centre, Virunga National Park has the only mountain gorilla orphanage in the world. Tourists can visit the Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage after tracking gorillas in the wild.
In conclusion, we can say that all countries have an advantage which draws tourists. Some tourists are more ambitious and want to have a taste of all three. They can track gorillas in Uganda, head to Rwanda and then to Congo. Why not be equally ambitious by tracking gorillas in all three countries? We hope the information we have just shared will help you make an informed decision.
