Where to Go Gorilla Trekking: Mgahinga vs Volcanoes National Park in 2025/2026
Wondering where to go gorilla trekking: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park vs Volcanoes National Park in 2025/2026. This guide compares both parks to help you decide. Mgahinga offers a quieter, more intimate trek at a lower cost, while Volcanoes National Park is famed for its accessibility and well-developed tourism infrastructure. In this article, you’ll learn about the gorilla permit prices, terrain, likelihood of sightings, and overall trekking experience at each destination. Whether you’re seeking budget travel or a high-end gorilla safari, this comparison will help you choose the best location for your unforgettable encounter with mountain gorillas.
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga and Volcanoes National Park presents a lifetime opportunity for you to immerse yourself in the jungle to get up close to mountain gorillas in their natural environment. Trekking gorillas in Mgahinga and Volcanoes National Park offers a more intimate experience to nature enthusiasts on the Uganda tour and Rwanda safari. But how is gorilla trekking in Mgahinga compared to Volcanoes National Park? Which is better?
Mgahinga National Park and Volcanoes National Park offer mountain gorilla encounters but there are pros and cons that make them different. Here, expect to explore a complete guide and make a comparison of gorilla trekking in Mgahinga and Volcanoes National Park.
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Intimate experience
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the best location to explore gorillas without worries of overcrowding. Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga is limited to only the Nyakagezi group- the only habituated gorilla group in this protected area. The Nyakagezi group takes a maximum of 8 visitors and expects to be led by an experienced guide.
Affordability
Mgahinga is a budget-friendly destination. Gorilla permits for Mgahinga are available for booking at USD 800 per person. This is nearly half of how much gorilla permits in Rwanda cost. If you are looking for a budget destination to track gorillas, then look no further than Mgahinga National Park in Kisoro, Southwestern Uganda.
Foreign residents pay USD 700 to book a gorilla permit, and East African citizens are charged UGX 300,000 per person.
Unique features and experiences
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers not only gorilla treks but also other unique primate adventures. Mgahinga is the only place to enjoy the golden monkey habituation experience in East Africa. Guided golden monkey habituation experience allows you to spend more time in the jungle as you interact with the semi-habituated golden monkey troop.
Accessibility
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be reached from Kigali and also Kampala. It is also possible to get to Mgahinga using air transportation. Accessibility is essential when planning a tour of Mgahinga or Volcanoes National Park.
Limited safari lodges
Mgahinga National Park still features fewer accommodation options. Very few accommodations are available in the park. Most of the hotels and lodges are in Kisoro Town.
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park involves traveling to the northern end of Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park holds Dian Fossey’s past being a base where she conducted research for 18 years.
Volcanoes National Park, like Mgahinga, occupies compact areas. The Park itself covers a land area of 160 sq. km and was officially declared a National Park in Rwanda in 1925, making it the oldest park.
Habituated gorilla families visit.
Up to 13 fully habituated gorilla families reside in the jungles of Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. These are more than the number of gorilla groups in Mgahinga National Park. This large number of gorilla groups presents more options for visitors to engage in a gorilla trekking expedition, unlike only one group in Mgahinga.
The 13 gorilla groups set for tourism in Rwanda translate to about 104 gorilla permits available for booking. Each group of mountain gorillas is visited by a maximum of 8 visitors per day. The habituated families of mountain gorillas to explore in Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri include Ugenda, Kwitonda gorilla family, Agashya, Hirwa, Bwenge, Umubano, Amahoro, Muhoza, Igisha, Pablo, and more.
Accessibility from Kigali
Unlike Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which requires about 8-9 hours’ drive to access or 4-5 hours starting from Kigali, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park takes only 2-3 hours’ drive from the heart of Kigali. Volcanoes National Park is generally recognized as the most accessible gorilla trekking destination.
High-end gorilla destination
Volcanoes National Park positioned itself as a high-end gorilla trekking destination with a myriad of luxury lodges. Visitors have a myriad of choices to make from the high-end lodges in and around Volcanoes National Park. They include Bisate Lodge, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Kwitonda Lodge, and more.
Looking at the cost of gorilla permits, Volcanoes National Park offers USD 1500 per person for a visitor to obtain a valid gorilla permit. This is double the rate of gorilla permits for Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Easier gorilla treks
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is believed to be slightly easier due to the nature of the terrain and vegetation coverage than in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. It requires a slightly low fitness level to conquer the Volcanoes National Park to encounter mountain gorillas.
What else to do in Mgahinga National Park and Volcanoes National Park
Golden monkey tracking
Golden monkey trekking is greatly enjoyed in both Volcanoes National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These monkeys occupy the Virunga region, where Mgahinga and Volcanoes National Park are geographically set. Embarking on a golden monkey trek allows you to have a close interaction with a troop of golden monkeys. Treks with golden monkeys should be part of your exhilarating gorilla trekking package in either destination.
Golden monkeys are an endangered species and specifically live in the Virunga region in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. In Congo, golden monkeys reside in the Virunga National Park also home to the endangered mountain gorillas. Visitors can also opt to enjoy golden monkey habituation which is currently done in only Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Cultural experiences
An addition of cultural experiences even spices up your gorilla vacation in Mgahinga and Volcanoes National Park. At Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, expect to engage in the Batwa trail to explore more about the ancient ways of the Batwa pygmies. While in Volcanoes National Park, the ideal place to consider for the cultural tour is the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village.
A cultural tour presents visitors with a chance to explore more about the traditions, cultures, and other practices of the locals. Visitors in Mgahinga can also embark on village walks in Kisoro and interact with the Bakiga people and Bafumbira. These two tribes also have their distinct cultures, traditions, customs, and practices worth sharing with the world.
Volcano trekking
Mgahinga and Volcanoes National Park offer amazing volcano hiking experiences. The volcanoes to explore during the hiking adventure include the Gahinga, and Muhabura volcano, Mount Sabyinyo, Karisimbi, and Mount Bisoke. A visit to Mgahinga and Volcanoes National Park Rwanda allows you to have an additional of volcano hiking adventure.
Birding
Volcanoes National Park offers refuge to a total of about 200 species of birds and Mgahinga holds about 115 species of birds. These protected areas support a range of Albertine rift endemic species including Kivu ground thrush, Alpine chat, Rwenzori turacos, Scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird, blue-headed coucal, dusky crimson wing, grey-crowned hornbill, yellow-billed kite, double-collared sunbird, hadada ibis, and African paradise flycatchers.
Other birds to spot include Grauer’s swamp warblers, dusky turtle dove, brown-necked parrot, Archer’s robin-chat, African long-eared owls, handsome francolins, red-faced woodland warblers, Doherty’s bush shrikes, brown-woodland warblers, strange weaver birds, and Rwenzori apalis, etc.
When to visit Mgahinga and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park
The best time to travel to Mgahinga and Volcanoes National Park to engage in various experiences is during the dry months of the year. This can be during the long dry months, which extend from June to September, or December to February, which mark the short dry months of the year in both destinations.
What to carry
A well-planned tour to Mgahinga or Volcanoes National Park requires you to pack appropriately, starting with essentials like long-sleeved shirts, a daypack, long trousers, a sweater, and a camera. Other items include a rain jacket, a pair of binoculars, insect repellents, a first aid kit, sunglasses, a safari hat, and more.
Where to go gorilla trekking: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park vs Volcanoes National Park in 2025/2026. Mgahinga, Uganda, attracts travelers who prefer smaller crowds and cheaper permits, whereas Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park provides easier access and a more upscale trekking experience. Your travel style, budget, and adventurous spirit will determine your decision. Prepare for the adventure of a lifetime! Plan your dream gorilla safari today; contact us to customize your trip to Uganda, Rwanda, or both for an unparalleled African primate experience.
