Gorilla Safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo

Gorilla safaris can be done in Bwindi impenetrable forest and Mgahinga national parks in Uganda, Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and the Virunga National park in DR Congo. The experience offers visitors a chance to walk through tropical forests with rangers and trackers in search of mountain gorillas. Once a gorilla family is located, visitors spend one hour watching them as they feed, play, groom one another and care for their young ones. Although Uganda, Rwanda and the DR. Congo all offer gorilla safaris, each destination provides a different experience. The countries diffre in the number of gorills, trekking conditions, permits prices and the type of gorilla that can be seen.

Lets go Tours Rwanda organizes a perfect gorilla trekking safaris with lasting memories ranging from 1 day gorilla tour to longer safaris combining different countries and different wildlife activities ranging from gorilla tracking, wildlife viewing, cultural tours, Big 5 safaris to Kenya and Tanzania and so much more tailored to suit clients plans and interest.Please look through our available gorilla safaris and selected the desired trip and send us an email to tailor made your personal holiday.

Gorilla Safaris in Uganda

Uganda is one of the best destinations for a gorilla safari because it has the largest population of mountain gorillas in the world. More than half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas live in Uganda with over 500 individuals found in the country’s protected forests. Gorilla safaris in Uganda take place in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Bwindi is the main destination with more than 25 habituated gorilla families spread across four trekking sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has one habituated family known as the Nyakagezi Gorilla Family.

Some of the gorilla families in Uganda include Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura, Katwe, Busingye, Bitukura, Oruzogo, Nkuringo, Bushaho, Christmas, Nshongi, Bweza, Mishaya, Kahungye, Mucunguzi and the Nyakagezi family. A Uganda gorilla safari begins early in the morning with a briefing from park rangers. Visitors are then placed into small groups of up to eight people and assigned to a gorilla family. The trek can last from one to eight hours depending on where the gorillas are that day. After finding the family, visitors spend one hour observing them before returning to the starting point.

Uganda also offers the gorilla habituation experience in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi. This special activity allows visitors to spend up to four hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family while joining researchers and trackers as they monitor the gorillas. A standard Uganda gorilla trekking permit costs US$800 per person for foreign non-residents while the Gorilla Habituation Experience costs US$1,500 per person.

Gorilla Safaris in Rwanda

A gorilla safari in Rwanda takes place in Volcanoes National Park part of the Virunga Mountains. The park protects mountain gorillas and is the place where conservationist Dian Fossey carried out much of her work. Rwanda has about 12 habituated gorilla families that are open for tourism. Some of the gorilla families include Susa, Sabyinyo, Amahoro, Umubano, Agashya, Kwitonda, Hirwa, Karisimbi, Bwenge, Ugenda, Muhoza and Pablo.

Like Uganda, visitors are divided into groups of eight and assigned to one gorilla family. The trek may take between one and seven hours depending on the location of the gorillas. Once the family is found, visitors are allowed one hour to watch them in their natural habitat. Volcanoes National Park is known for its bamboo forests and the shorter driving distance from Kigali. The drive from Kigali to the park takes about 2 to 3 hours. A Rwanda gorilla trekking permit costs US$1,500 per person.

Gorilla Safaris in DR Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the only country where visitors can track both mountain gorillas and eastern lowland gorillas which makes it different from Uganda and Rwanda. Mountain gorilla safaris take place in Virunga National Park, Africa’s oldest national park. Several habituated gorilla families are available for trekking including Humba, Kabirizi, Rugendo, Lulengo, Mapuwa, Bageni, Munyaga and Nyakamwe.

Eastern lowland gorilla safaris take place in Kahuzi-Biega National Park near the city of Bukavu in eastern DR Congo. Eastern lowland gorillas also known as Grauer’s gorillas are the largest gorilla subspecies. They have a broader body, shorter hair and larger hands than mountain gorillas. Kahuzi-Biega is the only place where tourists can track habituated eastern lowland gorillas in the wild. Some of the eastern lowland gorilla families that visitors may track include Chimanuka, Mpungwe, Bonnani and Mugahuka.

A gorilla safari in DR Congo follows the same basic procedure as Uganda and Rwanda. After a morning briefing, visitors hike with park guides until they find a gorilla family. They are then allowed to spend one hour watching the gorillas before returning to the park headquarters. A Virunga National Park mountain gorilla permit has traditionally cost US$400 per person while an eastern lowland gorilla trekking permit in Kahuzi-Biega National Park costs US$400 per person. However, because tourism in eastern DR Congo is sometimes affected by security conditions, visitors should always confirm that the parks are open before making travel plans.

Comparing Gorilla Safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo

Choosing between a gorilla safari in Uganda, Rwanda or the Democratic Republic of the Congo depends on your budget, travel plans and the type of experience you are looking for. All three countries allow visitors to see gorillas in their natural habitat but they differ in permit prices, trekking conditions, accessibility and the number of gorilla families available for tourism.

Uganda is the most popular choice for many travellers because it has the largest population of mountain gorillas and the highest number of habituated gorilla families. Gorilla safaris take place in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which gives visitors more trekking options than any other destination. Uganda also offers the gorilla habituation experience where visitors can spend up to four hours with a gorilla family that is still becoming accustomed to human presence. With a permit costing US$800, Uganda provides good value for travellers who want a longer and more varied gorilla safari.

Rwanda offers a different experience. Gorilla safaris take place only in Volcanoes National Park which is about 2 to 3 hour drive from Kigali International Airport. This short travel time makes Rwanda a good choice for visitors with limited time or those looking for a luxury safari. The hiking trails are generally easier to reach because the park headquarters are close to the gorilla habitat. However, Rwanda has the highest gorilla permit price at US$1,500 per person. Many visitors choose Rwanda because they can combine gorilla trekking with golden monkey tracking, volcano hiking and cultural visits within a few days.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo stands out because it is the only country where visitors can track both mountain gorillas and eastern lowland gorillas. Mountain gorilla safaris take place in Virunga National Park while eastern lowland gorilla safaris are offered in Kahuzi-Biega National Park. The permit price has traditionally been US$400 which makes it the least expensive option. However, travel to eastern DR Congo can sometimes be affected by security conditions, so visitors should check the latest travel advice and park operations before booking a trip.

The trekking experience is similar in all three countries. Visitors begin the day with a briefing, hike through the forest with guides and trackers and spend one hour with a habituated gorilla family once it is found. The length of the trek depends on where the gorillas are on that particular day and can last from one to six hours.

The forests also differ from one country to another. Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has thick rainforest, steep valleys and rugged trails that can make trekking more challenging. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is covered with bamboo forests and open vegetation on the slopes of the Virunga Mountains making some treks shorter and easier. In DR Congo, Virunga National Park combines bamboo forests, montane forests and volcanic landscapes while Kahuzi-Biega National Park protects dense lowland and montane rainforest where eastern lowland gorillas live.