Which is the best place to see Mountain Gorillas in Africa? In other words, where can you see mountain gorillas in the world? Of course, the first place that will come to your mind is Africa, but the question is: where in Africa exactly should you go gorilla trekking? Currently, there are two places where you can go gorilla trekking in Africa, and both are in East Africa.
Briefly, you should know that there are about 880 mountain gorillas left in the world, and half of them live in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The rest live in the southern part of Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of Congo), Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda), and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Uganda). This brings us to two locations.
You might see four places listed, but Virunga, Volcanoes, and Mgahinga all share the same gorilla population (Virunga gorillas), so it is counted as one location.
I am going to talk about each of these places one by one to help you choose the best place to go gorilla trekking. But before that, I want to appreciate the conservation efforts that have helped increase the number of mountain gorillas from 620 in 1989 to over 880 today.
Despite many threats, the number continues to grow, with new gorillas born in different families.
Which place is the best for seeing gorillas?
To be honest, the best place to see mountain gorillas is Bwindi Forest / Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. Many people, especially foreigners, prefer Bwindi.
Some tourists even book Uganda gorilla trekking safaris from Kigali, Rwanda, even though Rwanda has its own gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. Below are the reasons and comparisons for each place or country.
Why Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
The first reason is that over half of the world’s mountain gorillas live in this national park in southwestern Uganda. Gorilla tracking is one of the most popular activities in Uganda, attracting thousands of tourists every year.
Bwindi also has many accommodation options, from budget lodges to luxury lodges, especially in Buhoma. If you visit Uganda during the right season, you will likely see many gorillas.
Another reason is the price. A gorilla permit in Bwindi costs $600 all year round. It’s good for both budget and luxury gorilla trekking safaris.
What I don’t like about Bwindi
The only issue with Bwindi is the distance from the airport (Entebbe International Airport). The park is located in southwestern Uganda, and the drive takes about 9 hours each way. This means the first and last days are mostly for travel.
That’s why it’s not possible to do a one-day gorilla trek in Uganda, unlike in Rwanda. You can use chartered flights to reduce travel time, but they are expensive and not everyone can afford them. If you use the Rwanda route, it takes fewer hours.
Why not Volcanoes National Park?
Volcanoes National Park is in Rwanda and borders the Virunga area. It is the only place in Rwanda where you can see mountain gorillas and is the second-best place for gorilla trekking.
If you’ve read many articles online, you might wonder why I rate it second and not first. I live in Uganda and I’m giving you the facts! I’ll explain more below.
What I like about Volcanoes National Park
The national park is close to the airport, which makes it easy to do a one-day gorilla trek if you arrive in Rwanda early in the morning. You can do the trek and return the same day. This is ideal for budget travelers.
You can organize a gorilla trek in Rwanda for about $850 per person, including the permit.
What I don’t like about Volcanoes National Park
Rwanda’s gorilla permit costs $1,500 all year round, which is high compared to Uganda and Congo. Also, the park has fewer accommodation options than Uganda.
Why not Mgahinga Gorilla National Park?
Besides the distance and limited lodging, the main reason Mgahinga is less visited is that there are fewer mountain gorillas. These gorillas often cross the borders into Rwanda or Congo, so sometimes you might not see them.
Uganda Wildlife Authority even refunds tourists who don’t see gorillas in Mgahinga. If you want to see gorillas in Uganda, Mgahinga should not be your first choice.
Why not Virunga National Park?
Virunga National Park in Congo is also a place where you can see mountain gorillas. It borders Mgahinga and Volcanoes.
The wilderness makes it an adventurous place for gorilla trekking.
What I don’t like about Virunga National Park
Getting a visa for Congo is not easy. The country is also unsafe because many rebel groups hide in the forests. Although Virunga itself is not directly affected, the crime rate, especially robbery, is high.
It is not safe for solo travelers. You must book your safari through a tour operator who will help with safety precautions.
My Take
If you want the best and most memorable gorilla trekking experience in Africa, then go to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Most blogs say Rwanda is the best, but that is because Rwanda’s tourism board invested a lot in marketing the country. Uganda hasn’t done the same.
Other things that made people avoid Uganda, like the ban on LGBT rights and the Kasese incident, are no longer issues. Much of what you read online is old information.
Uganda is safe. If you wanted to know the best place to see mountain gorillas in Africa, I hope your questions are now answered. You can now go ahead and choose a tour operator to help organize your trip.
Book your Uganda tours with these recommended Uganda tour companies for a well planned safari. Use the Voucher: UTBlog for up to 25% Discounts on Trips.
