Best places to see gorillas in the wild: Only 3, Rwanda, Uganda or the DRC?

Adventure Travel Best places to see gorillas in the wild: Only 3, Rwanda, Uganda or the DRC?

So, you’ve got your eyes set on gorillas, but don’t know which destination to head to. We’ve got you covered, here are our recommendations on the best places to see Gorillas in the wild.

To trek with mountain gorillas, you need to head to Rwanda, Uganda, or the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). All locations offer an amazing gorilla trekking experience and we’ve outlined a little about each location below to help you make a decision about where you should trek with gorillas.

Trekking with gorillas in Uganda - Our Pick

Uganda is our favourite place to trek with gorillas because it is cheaper than Rwanda, and it is a safer and easier place than the DRC. Uganda also has a range of other incredible adventures, including:

Chimp trekking in Kibale
A safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park
White water rafting down the Nile River
Murchison Falls, one of the the most powerful waterfall in the world, with pressure so great you can feel the ground rumble
Fishing or sailing on Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake by area with over 200 species of fish and breathtaking views of the natural landscape
And much more.

Here are the highlights of what you need to know about gorilla trekking in Uganda:

Best National Park to trek with gorillas	Bwindi Impenetrable Forest It is also possible to trek with gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park but Bwindi has a much larger gorilla population. It really is one of the best places to see gorillas in the wild.
Number of habituated families	14 habituated gorilla families live in Uganda with each group comprising of 10 to 40 members
Recommended for	Anyone who can complete at least 1 hour of continuous exercise. Older and less fit people will be allocated to closer groups and it is possible for porters to carry you if you are disabled or injured.
Gorilla permit cost	USD$700pp
Best time of year	Jul – Oct or Jan – Feb Mar – Jun and Nov – Dec are wetter months which may impact on your experience. Some lodges are not open between Mar – Jun.
Getting there	The best point of entry is Kigali (Rwanda). Bwindi is a 4 hour drive from Kigali and entering here allows you to also visit the Rwandan Genocide Memorial. It is also possible to fly into Entebbe (Uganda) and take a small charter or domestic flight to Bwindi.
Visas	You can apply for a tourist visa online at https://visas.immigration.go.ug If you are visiting Rwanda and/or Kenya as well, apply for the East African Visa which will allow you to enter Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya multiple times.
Itinerary length	This is dependent on what you want to do: Gorillas only: 3 – 5 days Gorillas, chimps and safari: 8 – 10 days Gorillas, chimps, safari and white water rafting: 10+ days
Favourite lodges	Mid-range: Mutanda Lake Resort (from US$195pp/night) Luxury: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp (from US$440pp/night)

Trekking with gorillas in Rwanda

Another option for your Gorilla trekking adventure is Rwanda. Rwanda was the 9th safest country in the world in 2017, as voted by the World Economic Forum, and is consistently ranked as one of Africa’s safest countries.

Home to 10 habituated mountain gorilla families (known as troops), Rwanda is the best established place to trek with gorillas. Rwanda is also known for its exceptional wildlife and vegetation, as well as its many sweeping, green hills, volcanoes, and friendly locals. Take in some of the amazing natural landscapes with renowned hikes such as the Canopy Walkway suspended above the Nyungwe National Park, or take a guided tour along the Igishigishigil, Imbaraga or Umuyove Trails.

Here are the highlights of what you need to know about gorilla trekking in Rwanda:

Best National Park to trek with gorillas	Volcanoes National Park
Number of habituated families	10 habituated gorilla families live in Rwanda with each group comprising of 10 to 40 members
Recommended for	Anyone who can complete at least 1 hour of continuous exercise. Older and less fit people will be allocated to closer groups and it is possible for porters to carry you if you are disabled or injured.
Gorilla permit cost	USD$1,500pp
Best time of year	Jul – Oct or Jan – Feb Mar – Jun and Nov – Dec are wetter months which may impact on your experience. Some lodges are not open between Mar – Jun.
Getting there	The best point of entry is Kigali (Rwanda). Volcanoes National Park is a 4 hour drive from Kigali. There are no domestic flights but Akagera Aviation offers charter helicopter transfers.
Visas	You can apply for a tourist visa online at https://irembo.gov.rw/rolportal/en/web/dgie/single-entry-visa?menu-highlight=CAT#VSA.SENV ( Rememeber to change your language from Kinyarwanda to English on top right) If you are visiting Uganda and/or Kenya as well, apply for the East African Visa which will allow you to enter Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya multiple times.
Itinerary length	This is dependent on what you want to do: Gorillas only: 3 – 5 days Gorillas and chimps: 5 – 7 days Gorillas, chimps and Lake Kivu: 7 – 10 days
Favourite lodges	Mid-range: Byiza Lodge (from US$150pp/night) Luxury: Bisate Lodge (from US$1,750pp/night)

Rwandan Genocide Memorial

Between 7 April and 15 July 1994, approximately one million Tutsi’s (An ethnic minority tribe in Rwanda)lost their lives in one of the worst genocides in history. Visiting the Rwandan Genocide Memorial is your chance to learn from this tragedy and to pay your respects to those who lost their lives. Although the visit is an extremely confronting experience, we recommend it because it is also a very educational experience that tells the story of an international disaster that could, and should, have been prevented.

Rwanda is also an incredible story of survival and hope. The country has come a long way since 1994. It is now a thriving economic hub with a stable government and it is consistently ranked as one of Africa’s safest countries. If you’re after the most comfortable, and are happy to pay a premium for it, then Rwanda is the best place to see gorillas in the wild.

Trekking with gorillas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Gorilla trekking originated in this part of the world, and Virunga National Park is Africa’s first National Park. Approximately 300 gorillas live in Virunga National Park and trekking here is a once in a lifetime experience.

Virunga is often referred to as the lungs of Africa and it is the African equivalent of the Amazon. Virunga is home to 218 mammal species, 706 bird species, 109 reptile species and 78 amphibian species. It is also home to more than 3,000 fauna and flora species, as well as two active volcanoes, one of these being Mount Nyiragongo, standing at 3,470m elevation.

Here are the highlights of what you need to know about gorilla trekking in the DRC:

Best National Park to trek with gorillas	Virunga National Park
Number of habituated families	10 habituated gorilla families live in the DRC with each group comprising of 10 to 30 members
Recommended for	Experienced and fit travellers with a high risk tolerance and who want to get off-the-beaten-track
Gorilla permit cost	USD$400pp Discounts are sometimes available in low season
Best time of year	Jun – Oct or Jan – Feb Mar – Jun and Nov – Dec are wetter months which may impact on your experience. Some lodges are not open between Mar – Jun.
Trek difficulty	Hard – extremely difficult: Gorilla trekking in the DRC can be treacherous at times and is not recommended if you are older or are not fit. With a little less tourist-touched terrain and rugged wilderness you can find your guides and trackers hacking through the vegetation with machetes to create trails to follow. It can also be very muddy and the terrain can be very steep.
Getting there	The best point of entry is Kigali (Rwanda). From here, you drive to the Rwanda – Congo border and cross into Goma.
Visas	You have to purchase your visa with your gorilla permit and it is best for your tour provider to do this.
Itinerary length	If you are going to the DRC, we highly recommend you do gorillas, chimps and Nyiragongo volcano. For this, you will need 3 – 5 days, just to be in the country, not including your travel and transit time in neighbouring countries. Because of the logistics of this we don’t consider the Democratic Republic of Congo in our best places to see gorillas in the wild list.
Favourite lodges	All accommodation is run by Virunga National Park. There are limited options available and they range from USD$150 – USD$600/night. It is inadvisable to stay in other accommodation for safety reasons.

Safety in Virunga National Park - Serious Adventurers/Risk Takers only

Virunga National Park is regularly closed for short periods of time due to unrest and this is not a destination for inexperienced travellers. The National Park does an incredible job keeping tourists safe and during your visit you will be accompanied by an armed ranger. Travel after dusk is not allowed and security around tourist attractions is tight. For specific information about travelling to the DRC, visit the Smart Traveller website. Because of this, we do not recommend DRC in best places to see gorillas in the wild, even though it offers an unparalleled experience for those daring enough to go.

Now that you’ve got all of the information to choose where you want to trek with gorillas, you’re next steps are to pick the time of year you want to travel, and pick your accommodation style.

The best time for Gorilla Trekking in DRC is early in January and February, or mid-year around June to September. It’s best to avoid April and May due to heavy rain. DRC Gorilla trekking can be treacherous at times, with a little less tourist-touched terrain and rugged wilderness you can find your guide hacking through the vegetation with machetes to create trails to follow.

If you’re not feeling like tripping over any roots or finding yourself tangled in vines, kick up your feet on the banks of Lake Kivu, the 3rd deepest lake in Africa at 485m. This spot doesn’t home hippos, crocodiles or any other unwanted swimming partners, making it the perfect spot for a dip and a day of relaxation.

Speaking of relaxation, both DRC, Rwanda and Uganda hold varying options for accommodation. Costs range from US$50 per person/night, all the way to upwards of US$5,000, depending on your level of comfort. If money is tight, budget spots can set you back between $50 to $150 per person/night. But a mid-range price will be roughly $200 to $400 per person/night.