Where To Go Gorilla Trekking : Rwanda Vs. Uganda? Are you interested in booking gorilla trekking but having difficulty deciding whether to trek gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda? It is always difficult for travelers interested in gorilla trekking to choose where to trek between Uganda and Rwanda.
Rwanda and Uganda both have excellent gorilla treks. So, how do you make your decision? Some key differences are discussed here, such as location and accessibility, costs, and the number of gorilla troops. Many people want to visit Rwanda or Uganda to see the critically endangered mountain gorillas because their numbers are dwindling and they face extinction. But which gorilla trekking experience is superior, Rwanda or Uganda?
In short, Rwanda is a good choice for luxury budget travelers and those with limited time. Uganda is a better option for those on a tighter budget or looking for a wider range of activities before or after a gorilla trek.
Rwandan gorilla treks are generally more expensive, as the country focuses on high-end, low-impact tourism. Rwanda is a small country that has made significant strides in tourism. It is an emerging destination with lofty goals and a growing list of attractions.
In Uganda, on the other hand, permit prices are much lower, and there is a wider range of budget and mid-range accommodations. However, travel times between one attractions to another in Uganda are longer, and roads into the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest are more difficult. Uganda is a more established destination that offers a wider range of wildlife, cultural, and adventure tourism activities. Rwanda’s tourism industry, on the other hand, is rapidly growing. A trip to two countries is a popular option.
Where to go for the best and unforgettable mountain gorilla trekking safari experience? Rwanda or Uganda? Here’s our rundown on the pros and cons of Uganda and Rwanda for a gorilla trek.
WHERE DO GORILLAS LIVE IN RWANDA AND UGANDA?
Mountain gorillas can be found in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, which is two hours’ drive from Kigali and the international airport. A minimum of two nights’ stay is required for a gorilla trek in Rwanda, with three nights being ideal. Because Rwanda has more habituated mountain gorilla groups than Uganda, gorilla trekking permits are typically easier to obtain.
On the other hand, Mountain gorillas can be found in both Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. It takes more than 8 hours to drive from Entebbe International Airport in Uganda to Bwindi. Visitors are advised to stay at Bwindi for at least three nights while gorilla trekking before continuing on a safari around Uganda.
WHICH GORILLA TREK IS EASIER, RWANDA OR UGANDA?
Both Uganda and Rwanda provide excellent opportunities for gorilla trekking, but which trek is easier? In Rwanda, the majority of the terrain encountered on a gorilla trek is more open and less densely forested. This can help you get a better look at these magnificent creatures. When compared to Uganda, the terrain is also less difficult for tracking, though altitudes can be higher, adding to the difficulty. Because Rwanda is a smaller country, travel distances are also relatively shorter.
On the other hand, Uganda’s infrastructure is less developed, making gorilla trekking more difficult. Even in the dry season, it rains frequently in Bwindi, making conditions slick. In Bwindi, each gorilla family has a large territory, and tracking time can vary greatly from day to day, from 30 minutes to eight or nine hours.
The vegetation can also be dense, thus the name Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is not for the faint of heart because the slopes are steep and there are no trails. So, while comparing gorilla trekking in these countries can be difficult, Rwanda comes out on top in terms of ease.
WHAT ARE THE COST DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RWANDA AND UGANDA?
A Rwanda gorilla trekking permit now costs $1500, while a Uganda gorilla trekking permit costs less than half that amount, at $700. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, on the other hand, is only about 75 miles from Kigali’s arrival airport, making it much easier to reach by car.
It takes 8 hours to drive from Entebbe Airport to Uganda’s Bwindi Forest and another 8 hours to return. This would imply at least two days for a Rwanda gorilla tour and three days for a Uganda gorilla tour.
Even though the Uganda gorilla permits are less expensive, transportation would cost around $400–600. Some visitors arrive in Kigali and then arrange to visit Bwindi from there. However, due to the strain it places on the trekker, it is not recommended that you rush your gorilla trekking tour.
Furthermore, the drive from Kigali International Airport to Bwindi National Park is breathtaking, with abundant wildlife, terraced mountains, sweeping coffee fields, and flowing rivers. This is rural Africa at its most beautiful. Finally, you will spend more money on transportation and time to track mountain gorillas in Uganda than in Rwanda, but this cost is offset by a lower gorilla permit price.
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO IN RWANDA AND UGANDA?
If you want to do some exploring before or after your gorilla trek, both Rwanda and Uganda have plenty of options. Because of the recent development of Rwanda’s Akagera National Park and the reintroduction of the Big Five, game drives and guided walking safaris are now available. Akagera also offers fishing, birding, and cultural experiences.
For adventurous travelers, Uganda provides a slightly more developed safari experience. A Nile River cruise in Murchison Falls National Park or tree-climbing lion tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park are two exciting activities in Uganda that visitors can do before going gorilla trekking.
A day spent tracking chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park is another Uganda unforgettable experience. This is an excellent introduction to gorilla trekking because it familiarizes you with the experience. Many people schedule their gorilla safari at the end of their trip because seeing a gorilla up close is one of the most moving wildlife encounters they will ever have!
THE BEST TIME FOR GORILLA TREKKING SAFARI EXPERIENCE IN UGANDA AND RWANDA
Because Uganda straddles the equator and has an average elevation of around 1,000m, the heat is rarely unbearable, allowing you to visit all year. The best time to go gorilla trekking, however, is between July and September. This is peak season, so make sure you plan ahead of time for your permit. Each trek is limited to a certain number of visitors, ensuring that the forest is never overcrowded.
On the other hand, Rwanda has two dry seasons and two wet seasons, so the weather is unpredictable. The dry seasons, which last from mid-December to early February and June to September, are ideal for gorilla trekking because the forest terrain is not as dangerous as it is during the wetter months. Drier temperatures also mean a lower risk of malaria. However, because Rwanda is equatorial, the weather is unpredictable, so bring waterproofs all year.
WHICH IS THE MORE SUSTAINABLE GORILLA TREKKING OPTION BETWEEN UGANDA AND RWANDA?
Ugandan gorilla trekking is well known for being a sustainable operation. Spending two days hiking and tracking gorillas in the deep forest will allow you to learn about the inspiring work of the Bwindi team and how your visit to this region directly benefits an endangered ecosystem.
Rwanda on the other hand, Conservation is still a priority in Rwanda. All guided treks are led by expert naturalist guides, and every effort is made to have as little impact on the gorillas’ natural habitat as possible. Dian Fossey, an American primatologist who founded a center to draw attention to the endangered status of gorillas, helped put Volcanoes National Park on the fame.
ACCOMMODATION DURING MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING IN UGANDA AND RWANDA
The main gorilla trekking national park in Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, has four distinct trailheads into the forest’s interior. As a result, the location of your lodging is critical. It is recommended that you stay in a lodge close to your starting point, so keep that in mind when booking your permit. Keep in mind that many roads are steep and rutted, so what appear to be short distances can involve lengthy drives.
All gorilla treks in Rwanda begin at the Volcanoes National Park’s headquarters in Kinigi. The majority of accommodations are within a 10-minute drive. The most remote lodges are 1.5 hours away.
HOW LONG DO YOU NEED FOR MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING IN RWANDA VS. UGANDA?
Due to the remoteness of the gorilla tracking areas in Uganda, a minimum two-night stay is required. Stay as long as you can to enjoy the waterfalls and diverse walks of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, meet the Batwa forest tribe, and cherish the beauty of the spectacular rainforest.
A two-night stay in Rwanda is recommended, though due to the accessibility of Volcanoes National Park, one-night (and even single-day) trips are possible but not recommended! There is much more to the country than just seeing gorillas.
WHAT ABOUT IN TERMS OF ACCESSIBILITY IN UGANDA AND RWANDA
The gorilla trekking lodges in Uganda are an eight- to ten-hour drive from Entebbe International Airport. There are fly-in options to local airstrips (within 30 minutes of gorilla tracking areas).
Rwanda has much better transportation and access. Volcanoes National Park is a two-hour drive from Kigali International Airport. Fly-in options to local airstrips, including helicopter transfers, are available but rarely used due to good roads and a short distance. Flying into Rwanda and driving to Uganda is a popular option. The drive from Kigali International Airport to Uganda’s gorilla tracking destinations takes between three and five hours.
IN TERMS OF THE BEST GORILLA TREKKING EXPERIENCE IN UGANDA AND RWANDA,
The truth is that both Volcanoes National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park have mountain gorillas, and the experience obtained at the end of your trek is similar. The chances of seeing gorillas in Volcanoes and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks are 98%, so no matter which park you visit, you will be able to see these great apes in their natural habitat. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi also allows you to spend more time with the mountain gorillas through the gorilla habituation experience, which is only available in Bwindi forest. A gorilla habituation permit costs $1500 per person and allows you to spend 4 hours encountering the semi-habituated mountain gorillas under the supervision of trackers and researchers, as opposed to one hour for normal trekking.
IN TERMS OF AFFORDABILITY IN UGANDA AND RWANDA,
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is significantly less expensive than Volcanoes National Park for viewing gorillas. The issue of price disparities stems primarily from policy differences between Uganda and Rwanda. Rwanda wishes to position itself as a luxury destination, whereas Uganda wishes to position itself as an affordable destination.
Is the experience and time spent with gorillas the same? In fact, for the same price of USD 1500, one would rather book Uganda’s gorilla habituation experience and spend up to four hours with mountain gorillas than spend USD 1500 in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park for just one hour.
You can spend an hour interacting with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for the price of $700 per person per trek for foreign nonresidents, $600 per person for residents, and $70 for East African citizens (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, and South Sudan).
An hour-long encounter with mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park is possible with the purchase of a gorilla permit in Rwanda, which costs $1500 per person per trek for foreign nonresidents, $500 per person for foreign residents, and $200 for East African citizens (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, and South Sudan).
BOOK YOUR MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING SAFARI WITH FOCUS EAST AFRICA TOURS, ACHIEVE GLOBAL SAFARIS AND EXPLORE RWANDA TOURS
Why Book Your Gorilla Trek in Uganda and Rwanda with Focus East Africa Tours, Achieve Global Safaris and Explore Rwanda Tours?
They are both local tour operators in Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya that are very conscientious and reliable. Their team of knowledgeable tour consultants responds to your questions in less than 30 minutes. These consultants will create a travel itinerary for you, respond to all of your inquiries, and ensure that all of your services are reserved in advance so that you don’t experience any inconveniences.
In accordance with your preferred language, they also offer very knowledgeable safari guides. Uganda and Rwanda offer different gorilla trekking experiences. Depending on your preferences, there are mountain gorilla safari packages available to Volcanoes National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Contact us for more information or any question!
