Which is the best country for gorilla trekking? It is important to note that the mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda and Congo have the same physical appearance. They look and behave in the same way. 
No one can say that gorillas in one country are bigger or more exciting to observe. Mountain gorillas actually stay in the same geographical area, only separated by borders. They are found in Bwindi National Park of Uganda and the great Virunga Wildlife Conservation zone.
This zone includes Mgahinga, Volcanoes and Virunga National Park. The parks overlap each other and where once the same vegetation zones before artificial borders where created. The chances of seeing gorillas in all three countries is the same with modern technology such as radio calls.
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda Vs Rwanda
Which place is better for gorilla trekking? There are many similarities and a few differences when consider the experience of tracking gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda and Congo. These differences became clearer when you consider the landscape where the gorillas are found, vegetation cover, management of the respect Parks and how developed infrastructure is. That said, the three gorilla countries have adopted the same procedures, rules and regulations for gorilla trekking experience. Let’s discuss each country in more detail: –
Uganda
Uganda stands out because she has two gorilla habitats – Bwindi and Mgahinga. Bwindi Impenetrable National park has over 460 gorillas. When you combine them with those in Mgahinga gorilla national park, Uganda has over half of the remaining population of mountain gorillas. Uganda has about 17 habituated gorilla groups compared to 10 in Rwanda and 8 in Congo. Bwindi impenetrable national park is vast with four sectors – Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga and Ruhija. Uganda therefore offers more variety since she has many gorilla groups to choose from. In fact, Uganda is the only country where tourists can go for the Mountain Gorilla Habituation Experience. This experience costs more but allows tourists 4 hours with the primates instead of the one hour under normal gorilla trekking.
Gorilla permits in Uganda costs $700 per person and that seems a reasonable fee compared to the $1500 charged in Rwanda. The gorilla trekking personnel in Uganda are thought to be more fluent in the English language. Travelers come out of the experience with greater insight as a result of the clear communication with the Park Rangers and Guides.
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda has some disadvantages. One of which is that the distance from Entebbe or the Capital Kampala to the gorilla park is long. It can take between 8 and 9 hours to get to Bwindi from the capital Kampala. This makes it impossible for a visitor to have a short gorilla trekking trip from the Capital unless they go for a 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Tour or take a flight from Entebbe/Kampala to Bwindi.
It is important to note that because of the vast nature of the park, some gorilla families may travel deep inside the dense forests which makes it more difficult for the tourists to get to them. It may also be harder for Travelers to get clear and better pictures if they find them in a very thick part of the forest. It is therefore important to request that you go for your ideal gorilla group given that the park has many families to choose from.
Last but not least, Uganda is still poor at marketing her tourism destination. Rwanda aggressively markets herself as the number one destination for gorilla trekking. The government has put in a lot of resources to bring tourists into the country. If Uganda did the same, everyone would know that she has more to offer. Uganda is not just about gorillas but also an excellent destination for spotting other primates and the big 5. Uganda offers the complete wildlife experience.
Rwanda
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda is expensive for some reasons. Out of all the gorilla trekking destinations, the Volcanoes national park in Rwanda is the most accessible and is recommended for visitors with limited time. It takes 3 hours to get to the park from Kigali 
international Airport. It is therefore easier to do a 1 or 2-day gorilla tour in Rwanda than in Uganda or Congo because of the shorter driving distance to the park.
Due to the smaller size and less thick forests of the Volcanoes national park, tourists find it less challenging to track the gorillas. It takes a shorter time (1-3 hours) to find most of the gorilla groups in Rwanda. That is possible because the park contains mostly montane and bamboo forests which have many clearings. The park generally provides a better photo and video shooting environment compared to Bwindi Impenetrable national park in Uganda.
It is important to note that of all the three mountain gorilla trekking countries, Rwanda does more marketing of its gorilla tourism. The country has also channeled a lot of resources to improve infrastructure. The road networks in Rwanda are better than Uganda and Congo. This is clearly visible when one crosses from Rwanda to Uganda or Congo. Rwanda has more Super luxury lodges in their gorilla park than Uganda or Congo. Rwanda should be commended for all the efforts put to market the country globally. A classic example of this is the ambitious partnership with Arsenal Soccer Club.
Out of the about 380 total population of gorillas in Rwanda, 10 groups are habituated. Each group comprises of at least 10 individuals. Rwanda issues out about 80 gorilla permits per day but only 8 people are allowed to track a given family on a day. The gorilla permit in Rwanda can be purchased directly from Rwanda Development Board or indirectly through a local tour operator. The higher cost of gorilla trekking in Rwanda make the country more ideal for luxury Travelers.
Congo
With the stunning landscapes, Congo could have been the best gorilla trekking destination but insecurity, poor marketing and infrastructure have kept many a visitor away. Congo has all three of the gorilla subspecies – That is to say mountain gorillas in Virunga national park, eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Beiga and Maiko National parks. They also have Western Lowland Gorillas.
It is more difficult to get a Congo Visa than in Uganda or Rwanda and this is a major setback for would be Travellers. Travellers are advised to book their Congo gorilla trekking safari with reputable and local tour operators. Such Tour Operators can help arrange the visa, transportation, accommodation and gorilla permits with the park management (Virunga Foundation). Without the help of a Tour Operator or contacting the park directly, organizing a gorilla tour in Congo can be a difficult undertaking.
We should never forget that Gorilla Trekking in Congo may be more exciting because it takes you to parts of Africa with pristine wilderness and rich biodiversity. Mountain gorilla trekking in Congo is often combined with hiking Mount Nyiragongo which is a unique attraction in its own right. Congo has the cheapest gorilla permits at $450. The rates go even lower during low travel seasons.
In a nutshell, the choice of where to see the gorillas is really left to a potential traveler taking into consideration, budget, distance driving and additional activities offered in the country of choice.
