At a glance
| Uganda | Rwanda | |
|---|---|---|
| Gorilla permit | $800 ($600 low season) | $1,500 |
| Chimpanzee permit | $300 in Kibale | $150 in Nyungwe |
| Main airport | Entebbe | Kigali |
| Airport to gorillas | 8 to 10 hours by road, or a domestic flight | About 2.5 hours by road |
| Savanna parks | Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Lake Mburo | Akagera |
| Big Five | Four in the national parks, plus rhinos at Ziwa sanctuary | All five, in Akagera |
| Best for | Variety, longer trips and value | Short trips and easy logistics |
Choose Rwanda if…
- You have only two to four days, or are adding gorillas onto a business trip or another safari.
- You want the shortest possible transfers and smooth, well-surfaced roads.
- You would like to add golden monkeys, the hike to Dian Fossey’s grave or a Big Five game drive in Akagera.
Choose Uganda if…
- You want gorillas and chimpanzees plus classic savanna in one trip.
- You would like to see the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, the Kazinga Channel or Murchison Falls.
- The $700 per person saving on the gorilla permit matters to your budget.
- You have a week or more and enjoy wilder, less polished travel.
Or combine both
The two gorilla parks are only around three hours apart via the Cyanika border, so a combined trip is easy to arrange. A typical route lands in Kigali, tracks golden monkeys in the Volcanoes, crosses into Uganda for gorillas in Bwindi, then continues north through Queen Elizabeth and Kibale before flying home from Entebbe. The East Africa Tourist Visa covers both countries on a single visa.
