Comparing Gorilla Trekking Options in Rwanda, Uganda, and Congo

By: Scott Dubois, Fauna Travel Designer

Spending an hour with some of our closest wild relatives is possibly the most transformative wildlife experience on earth. We can enable your encounter with either mountain or lowland gorillas, but each experience is unique. Here we compare your options across Africa – from mountain gorillas in East Africa and lowland gorillas in the south.

Mountain Gorillas

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda are home to the last mountain gorillas. Only around 1,000 remain in the mountains between the two countries. Both places deliver an incredible experience, but prices are lower in Uganda, and lodges are more luxurious in Rwanda.

For example, Bwindi Lodge, one of our favorites in Uganda is $765-1275 per person per night. Compare that to their sister property, Virunga Lodge, in Rwanda which runs  $1135-2050 per person per night. World class luxury lodges in Rwanda like Singita Kwitonda can cost $3,525 per person per night. This difference is a result of the greater demand and development in Rwanda. Rwanda is one of the safest countries in Africa, while Uganda has had some unfortunate terrorists lately. Still, Ugandan tourist areas remain safe for travelers.

Permits must be purchased in advance, which are $700/day in Uganda and $1500/day in Rwanda.

In both countries, all travelers start their gorilla treks at the ranger station, where they are assigned a guide and a group of habituated gorillas. Depending on their location, it may involve a strenuous hike up the mountain. Porters are available to assist, and we suggest booking them to support the local economy. Once the gorillas are located, visitors are allowed to spend an hour with our gentle cousins quietly observing.

Western Lowland Gorillas

You can also see lowland gorillas in the dense rainforests on the western boundary of Odzala-Kokoua National Park in Congo. Lowland gorillas are smaller than mountain gorillas and spend more time in the trees. Congo is safe but undeveloped, and the camps are remote so you may be the only travelers in the entire park. We consider it one of the most exclusive wildlife experiences on Earth.

During gorilla treks, you depart directly from the lodge into the jungle with a guide or gorilla researcher, to find one of the habituated troops. On your trek you may also spot chimpanzees that are not habituated and forest elephants. This is also the rare place that gorillas may even roam about the camp.