Gorilla trekking: Rwanda or Uganda?
Permit prices, travel times, fitness and the best months, compared side by side by our Nairobi planning team.
In both countries you spend one hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family. The real differences are the permit price, how you get there and how the walking feels. Here they are side by side, from our planning team in Nairobi.
Rwanda against Uganda at a glance
| Factor | Rwanda: Volcanoes National Park | Uganda: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park |
|---|---|---|
| Permit, foreign non-resident | US$1,500 per person per trek | US$800 per person per trek |
| Getting there from the main airport | About 2.5 to 3 hours by road from Kigali (estimate) | Scheduled flight from Entebbe to Kihihi or Kisoro, then a short transfer; a full day by road |
| Terrain | Steep volcano slopes, bamboo and forest, starting at altitude | Steep, dense, often muddy rainforest ridges |
| Places to stay | From mid-range lodges to high-end lodges such as One&Only Gorilla’s Nest | From mid-range lodges to options such as Mountain Gorilla View Lodge and Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge |
| Typical trip length with Volcan | 3 days from Kigali | 3 to 4 days with flights from Entebbe |
Your questions, answered
How much does a gorilla permit cost in Rwanda and Uganda?
A permit for one trek costs US$1,500 per person in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and US$800 in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for foreign non-residents. Uganda kept its US$800 rate in the tariff that took effect on 1 July 2026. Rwanda offers lower promotional rates to East African and African residents until 31 December 2026, except from June to October. Fees change, so we confirm the current rate in every quote.
How do I get to the gorillas from the airport?
Rwanda is the quicker trip: Volcanoes National Park is roughly a 2.5 to 3 hour drive from Kigali on paved roads. In Uganda, Bwindi is far from Entebbe by road, so our Uganda gorilla itineraries use a scheduled flight to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip, followed by a short transfer to the lodge. Times are estimates and depend on traffic, weather and flight schedules.
How fit do I need to be?
You need to be comfortable walking for several hours on steep, muddy and uneven ground at altitude. A trek can take from about one hour to most of the day, depending on where the gorilla family is; once you find them, time with the gorillas is limited to one hour. Bwindi’s forest is usually steeper and denser underfoot, while Volcanoes treks start higher on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes. Porters can be hired at the start of the trek, and the minimum age is 15 in both countries.
When is the best time to go?
Gorilla trekking runs all year in both countries. The drier months, roughly June to September and December to February, usually mean firmer trails and easier walking, but permits sell out faster then. In the wetter months trails are muddier, and Rwanda’s promotional resident rates do not apply from June to October.
Can Volcan combine gorillas with a Kenya or Tanzania safari?
Yes. Our Nairobi team plans gorilla treks as a short trip or as an extension to a Kenya or Tanzania safari, and books the permits, flights and transfers with the rest of your route. Your itinerary names every flight, border crossing and handover, and the permit is included in the quoted price. Our sample trips are the 3-Day Rwanda Gorilla Safari from US$2,600 and the 4-Day Bwindi Gorilla Safari from US$3,400 per person.
Gorilla itineraries to start from
- 3-Day Rwanda Gorilla Safari
- 3-Day Nkuringo Gorilla Safari
- 4-Day Bwindi Gorilla Safari
- 4-Day Fly-in Gorilla Trekking Safari, Uganda
- 6-Day Rwanda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari
Not sure which country suits you? Tell us your dates and how much walking you enjoy, and a Nairobi planner will suggest the better fit, with an itemised quote that is free and without obligation.
