One extraordinary encounter.
Every detail handled.
A mountain gorilla safari starts with a moment in the forest. We shape everything around it: the country, the route, the places you stay and the time to take it all in.
Find your safari →Rwanda or Uganda?
Two remarkable countries.
Two different journeys.
Both Rwanda and Uganda offer mountain gorilla trekking. The best choice is about the whole vacation: how you want to travel, what else you want to see and where you want to spend your time.
A compact journey into the Virungas
Begin in Kigali and travel to Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda suits a focused gorilla escape, with room to add golden monkeys, Lake Kivu or a longer wildlife and forest journey.
A natural fit if: you want gorillas at the heart of a relatively compact route, with a choice of distinctive lodges.
Explore Rwanda safaris →
A forest encounter with more to explore
Make Bwindi the center of a fly-in escape, or weave your gorilla trek into a longer journey through Uganda’s forests, lakes and wildlife areas.
A natural fit if: you want to combine gorillas with chimpanzees and a wider safari, or enjoy a slower highland stay.
Explore Uganda safaris →Choose the journey that feels right.
There is no single best country for everyone. These are the practical differences we talk through when planning your safari.
| At a glance | Rwanda | Uganda |
|---|---|---|
| Your gorilla setting | Volcanoes National Park and the Virunga highlands. | Bwindi’s forested hills; Mgahinga is another trekking option. |
| Getting there | Arrive in Kigali, then travel by road to the park area. | Arrive in Entebbe, then fly closer to Bwindi or build a road safari around the journey. |
| Planning your base | Choose a lodge around the Volcanoes trekking area. | Match your lodge and arrival airstrip to your trekking sector. |
| Beyond the trek | Golden monkeys, Lake Kivu, Akagera and Nyungwe can extend the route. | Kibale chimpanzees, Queen Elizabeth wildlife and Lake Mutanda can shape a longer stay. |
| Time and budget | A compact route can suit a shorter trip. Lodge choice and permits shape the total cost. | A wider road circuit needs more time. Internal flights, permits and lodges all affect the budget. |
Permit costs and requirements are covered in our gorilla trekking permit guide. We compare the complete journey when recommending a destination.
Build your safari around what matters most to you.
These are starting points for a conversation. Your dates, interests and pace give the journey its shape.
Gorillas at the heart
Make time for the forest, a comfortable lodge and an unhurried pause after your trek. A rewarding way to travel when your time is limited.
Plan a gorilla escape →Gorillas, primates & wildlife
Pair your trek with chimpanzees, game viewing or a lakeside stay. We arrange the route so each experience has room to breathe.
Explore a longer journey →Rwanda & Uganda together
Bring Kigali and the Virunga highlands together with southern Uganda. We plan the border crossing, transfers and permits as part of one journey.
Discuss a combined safari →We bring the details together.
You do not need to arrive with a finished itinerary. Tell us what you are imagining, and we will work through the choices with you.
Start with you
Your time, interests, comfort level and budget help us suggest a destination and pace.
Make it flow
We connect your arrival, trekking area and any extensions into a practical journey.
Coordinate the essentials
Permits, accommodation and transfers are planned together around your trekking date.
Arrive prepared
We talk through the terrain, what to bring and what to expect, so you can focus on the experience.
Before you choose your safari.
The extraordinary part deserves practical planning.
Is the gorilla trek private?
Your safari can have private transfers and a route designed around you. Standard gorilla treks are organized by the park and shared with other permit holders, accompanied by park guides.
Which country has the easier trek?
Neither offers a guaranteed easy walk. The gorillas’ location, weather and terrain affect the day. Tell us about your fitness and mobility early so we can discuss realistic expectations and support.
Should I choose a lodge or a permit first?
Plan them together. Your trekking date and location need to work with your accommodation and transfers—particularly in Bwindi, where the sector matters.
Can I visit both countries?
Yes. Rwanda and Uganda can be combined in one itinerary. We will help decide whether the extra travel supports what you want from the trip and plan the crossing and onward journey accordingly.
Tell us what draws you to the gorillas.
A few days or a longer adventure. Rwanda, Uganda or still undecided. Start with your ideas, and we will help bring the right safari into focus.
Start planning your safari →