The permit price is only part of the story. Here's what a gorilla trip really costs in each country once you add travel, days on the road, lodges and the trek itself.
A Rwandan permit costs almost twice as much as a Ugandan one, so Uganda looks like the obvious saving. But Rwanda's gorillas are 2.5 hours from the airport, and Uganda's can take a full day to reach. Every extra day means another night's lodging, another day of car hire and more time off work. Here are the two side by side.
Prices are for international (foreign non-resident) visitors, in US dollars. Lodge, vehicle and trip totals are typical ranges quoted by operators and lodges, not fixed prices.
| Rwanda · Volcanoes National Park | Uganda · Bwindi and Mgahinga | |
|---|---|---|
| Fees you pay to take part | ||
| Gorilla permit | $1,500 per person, all year. East African citizens pay $200 and other Africans $500 until the end of 2026, except June to October. | $800 per person. $600 in April, May and November. The standard price stays at $800 under the tariff that starts on 1 January 2027. |
| Visa | $50 on arrival. | $50 e-visa, applied for before you travel. |
| Visiting both | The $100 East Africa Tourist Visa covers Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya for 90 days, with multiple entries. | Same visa. Apply through the first country you enter. |
| Getting there and getting around | ||
| From the airport | Kigali to Volcanoes National Park: about 2.5 hours on paved, winding roads. | Entebbe to Bwindi: 8 to 10 hours by road, or a domestic flight to the Kihihi airstrip from roughly $350 one way. From Kigali, southern Bwindi is 4 to 5 hours, including the border. |
| Days needed | 2 to 3 days from Kigali. A same-day trek is possible but makes for a very long day. | 3 days if you fly into Kigali, 4 to 5 days by road from Entebbe. |
| Vehicle and driver | A private 4x4 return trip from Kigali costs around $250 to $350. | Usually more, simply because there are more days on the road. Flying in cuts the driving but adds the airfare. |
| Staying near the park | ||
| Lodges, per night | Guesthouses around $30 to $100, mid-range lodges around $150 to $400+. Top lodges such as Bisate and Singita Kwitonda cost $1,500 or more. | Budget about $50 to $70 and mid-range about $80 to $120 per person, with luxury from $300 to $3,000. Lodges in Uganda generally cost a little less. |
| Meals | Lodges near the park usually serve full board, and meals are often in the rate. | The same applies. Bwindi is remote, so you eat where you stay. |
| Porter and tips | A porter costs about $10 to $15, plus a tip for the guides and trackers. | A porter costs about $13 (50,000 Ugandan shillings), plus a tip. |
| The trek itself | ||
| Time with the gorillas | One hour, in groups of up to eight. Minimum age 15. | One hour, in groups of up to eight. Minimum age 15. |
| Terrain | Higher altitude, on bamboo and open volcanic slopes. Usually less strenuous. | Dense, steep rainforest, often harder going. Operators can ask for a family that suits your fitness. |
| Longer encounters | None. The standard one-hour trek is all that is offered. | Gorilla habituation: four hours with a family that is still getting used to people. It costs $1,500, rising to $1,800 from 2027. |
| Good add-ons | Golden monkeys in the same park ($100). Chimpanzees in Nyungwe ($150). | Chimpanzees in Kibale ($250, rising to $300 from 2027). Tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park. |
| Safety | Treks go out with armed rangers. Check your government's current travel advice before you book. | Treks go out with armed rangers. Bwindi and Mgahinga lie near the Congo border, so check current travel advice before you book. |
| Typical whole-trip cost, per person | ||
| Budget | About $1,700 to $2,500 | About $1,200 to $2,000 |
| Mid-range | About $2,500 to $5,000 | About $2,500 to $4,000 |
| Luxury | About $5,000 to $10,000+ | About $4,000 to $7,000+ |
Sources: Rwanda Development Board via The New Times (January 2026); Uganda Wildlife Authority tariff update (February 2026); Bradt Guides (travel times and visas); Follow Alice, June 2026 and SafariFind, September 2026 (Rwanda lodges, vehicles, porters); Duma Explorer, 2026 (Uganda lodges, porters and trip totals); Skyscanner (Entebbe–Kihihi fares). Checked 26 October 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you pay.
The mountain gorillas are the same species, and the experience at the end of the walk is almost identical: one hour with a habituated family, in a group of no more than eight, guided by park rangers. In both countries, permits are capped each day and sell out months ahead in the dry seasons, so book them before your flights. Carry your yellow fever certificate, because it is checked at the border between the two countries. For a closer look at the day itself, read gorilla trekking, hour by hour.
If you'd rather have the permits, transport and lodges arranged for you, these packaged trips from local operators cover both options.
Tours are run by local operators and booked through TourRadar. Prices checked 30 October 2026 and change by date. Before you book, confirm on the tour page or with the operator that the gorilla permit is included, as it is the biggest single cost.