Are you planning for a gorilla trekking tour in 2023 – 2024, choosing the Best Destination for Gorilla trekking will make your trip more memorable. The major gorilla trekking destinations in Africa are Rwanda and Uganda both countries are safe for mountain gorilla trekking. However, if you are looking for a place to go for gorilla trekking, you will have to understand some facts about these destinations and here we provide all you need to know before choosing your Best Destination for Gorilla trekking 2023 – 2024.
Best Destination for Gorilla trekking – best place for mountain gorilla trekking in Africa. Both Uganda and Rwanda are good for mountain gorilla safaris however, if you are looking for accessible gorilla trekking, Rwanda emerges as the best choice while those looking for the absolute gorilla experience in the wild African jungles, Uganda has much more to offer with impressive thick tropical rainforests that habituate more than just gorillas.
Despite both Uganda and Rwanda being good destinations for gorilla trekking, each country has an advantage over the others that will help you choose the best choice for gorilla trekking in Africa.
The advantage Uganda has over Rwanda is the price of the gorilla permit, Uganda’s Gorilla permit costs around $ 700, much cheaper than the Rwandan Gorilla Permit which costs about $ 1500. For those looking for an affordable gorilla trekking destination, Uganda emerges as the best choice for you. Uganda’s normal gorilla permit will allow you to spend one hour with the gorillas in the wild just like Rwanda’s normal gorilla permit which is much more expensive.
The other reason why you will consider trekking in Uganda is that Uganda has another gorilla trekking experience known as the Gorilla Habituation Experience. Unlike the normal gorilla trekking that allows you only one hour with the gorillas in the wild, Habituated gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda allow travelers exclusive four hours with the gorillas in the wild. The habituation experience is one of a kind in East Africa and can only be done in Uganda. The Gorilla Habituation permits in Uganda however are a little more expensive than the normal gorilla trekking permits that allow you only one hour. The habituation permits cost around $ 1500 in Uganda – Habituation experience is done in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Despite Uganda being a fantastic destination for Gorilla trekking safaris, one may still choose Rwanda for a gorilla trekking Tour for the following reasons;
Accessibility, Rwanda offers the most accessible gorilla trekking safaris compared to Uganda. A journey from Rwanda’s capital to Volcanoes National Park by road is approximately 2 hours drive unlike the long and hectic journey from Entebbe to Bwindi which is approximately 9 hrs. 42 min. Rwanda will then be the best choice for travelers with less time on their vacation and yet would like to trek gorillas.
Rwanda’s Gorilla trekking experience guarantees a gorilla sightseeing experience just like in Uganda, however, Rwanda gorillas can be located easily compared to those in Uganda, this is because of the thickness of the Bwindi forest. For those who are interested just in seeing gorillas and not interested in experiencing the jungles, Rwanda will be the best choice for you.
Other frequently asked questions
Which country is best for gorilla trekking?
The most well-liked destination to go gorilla trekking is Rwanda. Of all the destinations where mountain gorillas are found, this is the one with the easiest access. Mountain gorillas in Northern Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park are f guarded by the country as a national resource.