Planning to visit mountain gorilla in Africa? The first question is which country is best for gorilla safari? We do have 3 countries where you can track mountain gorillas and that is the high-end Rwanda $1500, then Democratic Republic of Congo $450 though the country always faces insecurities that has put the country back from so many tourists and then the affordable gorilla trek in Uganda costing $700. Gorillas have a small range extending over Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Between these countries, four parks offer mountain gorilla trekking safaris. Most popular and accessible are Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda last by the Virunga National Park, Congo.

But among the three countries Uganda has become the top-ranking moderate gorilla trekking tours destination in the world. The experience in these parks is similar, but with some differences. While gorillas live in thick rain forest in Bwindi, their habitat in Volcanoes and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is mainly bamboo forest.

Although you can’t predict where gorillas will be each day, the gorilla treks in Bwindi are usually more demanding than those in Rwanda. The tracking is part of the experience, so if you’re physically fit, a longer trek can be a positive.

Why opt to track mountain gorillas in Uganda

The gorilla tracking price matters $700. The price of gorilla tracking in Uganda costs half of the price in Rwanda. A gorilla safari that includes mid-range of luxury lodging will usually be half the price the same would cost you in high end Rwanda.

In terms of gorilla permits, Uganda has more permits, half of the mountain gorillas’ families are habituated which means Uganda has the most available permits for gorilla tracking.

Uganda is safe and secure in terms of gorilla safaris; in fact, it is one of the activities in Uganda given a lot of attention and protection. There is the presence of armed rangers for the gorilla trek in Uganda added the presence of tourism police. These people are motivated, equipped and trained to keep the gorilla trekking safe.

In Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, you get more time to spend with mountain gorillas. On a Gorilla Habituation Experience safari, you will spend up to four hours with a gorilla family and only four participants are allowed of the experience. This permit costs $1500.

Uganda has two national parks where you can track gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park you can choose either of the two, both parks have a good experience and spending that precious hour with them has become a “must-do” for anyone who loves Uganda and its wildlife.

You can also visit Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park for mountain gorilla safaris. This park can be reached on a three-hour drive from Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. The accessibility makes it an easy add-on to a safari in Kenya or Tanzania. Bwindi is more remote, reachable by a domestic flight or eight- to10-hour drive from Entebbe, Uganda’s entry point.

The remoteness isn’t a factor if you are in line with your Uganda gorilla trek into a larger tour within the country. Rwanda has a lot more to offer. It is a popular safari destination in its own right. With the development of Akagera National Park for wildlife safaris. However, safari options in this small country are still limited compared to those in Uganda.

Aside from gorillas, the forests of Uganda are a good place for seeing a wide variety of primates including the charismatic chimpanzees. Many tourists pop over to Uganda for a quick gorilla visit after their Kenya or Tanzania safari, but Uganda is a worthwhile savanna safari destination in its own right. Both Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks offer good sightings of lions, elephants, buffalo and other Savannah wildlife.

The quite recently established Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is a great place to see white rhino on foot. The game viewing might not quite be on a part with Kenya and Tanzania, but the stunning scenery makes up for that. One of my highlights is the boat trip on the Nile to the base of Murchison Falls, where the water forces its way through the narrow gap in the Rift Valley escarpment.

Tourist numbers are much lower and the industry doesn’t seem as mature as in its neighboring countries, but if you can handle a few hiccups, that might be part of the appeal. With more than 1,000 bird species, Uganda is a fantastic birding destination – even non-birders will enjoy seeing specials like the prehistoric-looking shoe bill.

So, if you’re looking for a safari destination that offers pretty much a bit of everything but that still retains a sense of the unusual then Uganda is unlikely to disappoint.