Rwanda and Uganda are the popular destinations for gorilla trekking in East Africa and visitors can also enjoy its rugged landscapes and the opportunity to see the legendary “Big Five” during a safari. Gorilla trek permits are required ($800-1500 USD) and they include park entry fees, a ranger guide and security from the tourism police. Gorilla trekking permits in DRC Congo are $500 per day, but the country is not safe to visit at this time.
Best International Airport for Gorilla Trekking
Kigali International Airport (KGL) in Rwanda is the ideal location for Gorilla Trekking in either country. From Kigali, tourists have the option to either drive 2-3 hours to Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda) or drive 4-6 hours to Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks (Uganda) for Gorilla Trekking.
Kigali to Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Kigali to Uganda National Parks
A Gorilla Trekking permit in Uganda costs $800 per person, but Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are 4-6 hours driving distance from the Kigali International Airport in Rwanda. Several companies (link) offer all-inclusive budget tours in Uganda and can pick you up from the airport or the town of Kigali.
Gorilla Trekking prices & logistics in Rwanda vs Uganda
Gorilla Trekking
Parameter | Volcanoes NP, Rwanda | Bwindi NP, Uganda | Mgahinga NP, Uganda |
Habituated Gorilla Groups | 10 | 21 | 1 |
Nearest major international airport | Kigali (KGL) | Kigali (KGL) | Kigali (KGL) |
Distance from Kigili airport | 2 hours | 3-4 hours | 4-5 hours |
Permit cost (USD) | $1500 | $800 | $800 |
Gorilla Habituation Permit (4-hours with gorillas) | N/A | $1500 | N/A |
Day trip from Kigili | Yes | No | Yes |
Multi-day treks | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Trekking times to see gorillas | Short | Longer | Short to long |
In both countries, the Gorilla Trekking permits are non-refundable, non-transferable and you are allowed to spend one hour with gorillas. A Gorilla Habituation permit in Uganda (link) costs $ 1500 per trek where you can spend 4 hours with the gorillas.
Uganda has a significantly larger population of mountain gorillas than Rwanda, but longer drive times and trekking distances are required to see them.
Best time to go for Gorilla Trekking
The best time to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda is between June to September and December to early February (dry season). Visitors should plan to pack waterproof clothing and shoes for Gorilla Trekking on muddy trails.
Award booking flights from the US to Rwanda (KGL)
For US-based visitors, I recommend booking flights with Ethiopian Airlines to reach KGL airport via Addis Ababa (ADD). Ethiopian Airlines is a Star Alliance partner and releases consistent award space 330 days ahead of time.
ANA Mileage Club to book round-trip business class Ethiopian Airlines flights
Compared to other Star Alliance programs (e.g., Aeroplan), booking Ethiopian Airlines round-trip business class with ANA Mileage Club will save at least 60K miles (see image below). You can transfer your Amex MR points to ANA Mileage Club (around 2-days transfer time) and complete the award booking.
Kigali Accommodation
If you choose to stay in Kigali town, Booking.com (link) has several well-rated accommodations. From your accommodation, it is easy to have a tour company pick you up and drive to whichever national park you decide on, either in Rwanda or Uganda for gorilla trekking.
One Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking from Kigali
One Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking at Volcanoes National Park can be purchased from several local companies. Our friends used Universal Adventures (link), which has great reviews on TripAdvisor (link). However, these companies charge significant fees for transportation to and from the national park. For example, there is an extra charge of $375 per person for group transportation in addition to the $1500 permit fee (see image below).
Ruhengeri Accommodation for Gorilla Trekking
If you want to save money on transportation, I recommend staying at Ruhengeri town (link) for Gorilla Trekking, which is located right next to Volcanoes National Park. The owners of the B&B you are staying at can pick you up from the airport for a fraction of the cost and they can also drop you and pick you back up from the Volcanoes national park starting point for the trekking. This should be prearranged to avoid any missed transportation that results in forfeiting expensive trek permits.
What to Expect During Gorilla Trekking
After the briefing, visitors will be divided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and an experienced park guide who is well conversant with trails in the jungle. Gorilla trekking duration can take between 2 to 4 hours to locate the gorillas since they like to move from one place to another in search of food. Once the gorillas are located you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you a chance to observe their behaviors, habits, watch them carry out their daily activities and take photos.
Conclusion
Gorilla Trekking is an expensive bucket-list item and it is easy to book flights with points to Kigali airport. Travelers must choose between Rwanda or Uganda based on their budget and time spent with gorillas. The permit cost DOES NOT include accommodation and transportation which must be booked separately.