Rwanda is the most popular destination for gorilla trekking. This is the most accessible of all the destinations that host the mountain gorillas. The country jealously protects its mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda. Rwanda was the favorite destination for mountain gorillas for many, including Ellen DeGeneres, who fell in love with Remarkable Rwanda.
What Rwanda takes off the list for many who want to hike mountain gorillas in the wild is expensive. Rwanda and Uganda are the best countries for mountain gorilla trekking, both with great safari options. Rwanda limits permits to Volcanoes National Park for a conservation-focused experience. Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest has four usual gorilla troops, but can be a more difficult trekking option.
The best places in the world to see gorillas are Rwanda, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Republic of Congo. And thanks to Uganda’s low cost of trekking permits, it’s a great choice for travelers looking for budget options to see gorillas in Africa. You can simply land in Kigali, be driven to your lodge, hike the next day and head off to the airport the next morning so you can complete your gorilla trekking trip in five days or less. Uganda is Gorillas Plus, the best chimpanzee trekking in East Africa, the best white water rafting on the old RIver Nile, excellent climbing in the Rwenzori mountains of wildlife game drives in its six savannah parks.
Trekking for gorillas in the emerald rainforests of Africa and observing the daily interactions of these endangered primates is arguably one of life’s greatest privileges. The long dry season then begins in June and lasts until around mid-September — this is generally the preferred time for gorilla trekking in Rwanda. There are several places where you can see different types of gorilla, but only one continent where you can observe gorillas in their original environment, which is the forests and mountain ranges of East and Central Africa. The Democratic Republic of Congo is another destination where gorilla trekking safaris can be carried out in Africa.
Other gorilla trekking destinations on the African continent include: Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of Congo. The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda is also the only gorilla park that offers gorilla habituation experiences. However, you may be able to distinguish them based on their size as eastern gorillas are larger than western gorillas and their body skin is thicker, longer and darker, and a full-grown male reaches around 200 kilos. The good news is that the country’s trekking permits are some of the cheapest. So in Uganda, you can see gorillas in Africa if you’re on a tight budget.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has 17 inhabited gorilla groups, while Mgahinga National Park has an inhabited gorilla family. This is different from other gorilla trekking destinations such as Rwanda and Uganda, where you must first take a road transfer to the national park and then hike into the mountains for about two to five hours.
