GORILLA TREKKING IN UGANDA VS RWANDA
Gorilla trekking Uganda Vs Rwanda: Gorilla trekking is one of the fastest growing tourist activity in East Africa taking adventurous tourists on a fascinating and memorable encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas in the wilderness of tropical forest where these primates reside. Some of the gorilla destinations in East Africa region include Uganda the pearl of Africa and Rwanda the land of a thousand hills which are yet the topmost destinations to encounter with the highest population of these endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats with Uganda leading and Rwanda following in that order. Mountain gorillas can as well be found in DRCongo within Virunga national park which is part of Virunga massif that covers DRCongo Virunga national park, Rwanda’s Volcanos national park as well as Uganda’s Mgahinga gorilla national park.
Opting for Gorilla trekking either in Uganda or Rwanda is an awesome experience since both of these destinations offers an overwhelming experience the moment you encounter with their giants in their home. However, there are always some comparisons between trekking gorillas in Uganda Vs Rwanda and these will therefore enable you to choose which country to visit for your next gorilla trekking safari in East Africa. Most of the comparisons comes in difference between the costs of the gorilla trekking permits for both Uganda and Rwanda which are the top gorilla trekking destinations in East Africa.
Let’s have a look at some of these comparisons below;
Where to trek Gorillas in Uganda Vs Rwanda;
In Uganda, Gorilla trekking safari is the major tourist activity that brings in the highest revenue to the tourism sector. Uganda is blessed with 2 gorilla trekking destinations including Bwindi impenetrable national park that harbours the highest population of endangered mountain gorillas not only in Uganda but in the rest of East Africa thus has the highest gorilla families to be trekked as compared to any other destination be it in Rwanda or DRCongo. This is one of the best reason as to why one should opt for gorilla trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable national park where one has a right to choose which sector to trek in since the park has 4 gorilla trekking sectors each with a good number of habituated gorilla families. It is as well in Bwindi impenetrable national park where tourists can decide to enjoy gorilla habituation experience which is conducted in Rushaga sector. Gorilla trekking in Uganda can also be conducted in Mgahinga gorilla national park though this park as of the time of writing this article allows only 8 trekkers per day since it has only 1 gorilla family that has been habituated for trekking. With the 2 gorilla trekking destinations, it enables tourists to make a choice on which park to visit for their gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda which is not the case with Rwanda. So the fact that Uganda allows gorilla habituation experience, has a higher population of habituated gorilla families and has 2 national park to choose from making it more advantageous to visit for Gorilla trekking as compared to Rwanda though Rwanda as well has its part that overweighs Uganda in one way or the other.
About gorilla trekking in Rwanda, still comparing Gorilla trekking in Uganda vs Rwanda; Mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda is conducted in only one destination; Volcanoes national park which is one of the best safari destination in Rwanda not only for Gorilla trekking but as well for volcano hiking to one of the 5 volcanoes that thrive in this park including Mount Karisimbi, Mount Bisoke, Mount Sabinyo, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Muhabura which are all part of the Great Virunga massif that comprises of 8 volcanoes with the 3 remaining including Mount Nyamulagira, Mount Mikeno and Mount Nyiragongo that are situated in the Congo part in Virunga national park. While in the habitat of the endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda for gorilla trekking safari, tourists are rewarded with fascinating encounters with other primates lie Golden monkeys which are as well found in Uganda’s Mgahinga gorilla national park as well as in Congo’s Virunga national park. Look out for other primates like the Black and White colobus monkeys, Vervet monkeys, and many more that will make your gorilla trekking not only enjoyable but remarkable and life time experience.
Distance to the gorilla trekking parks in Uganda Vs Rwanda;
When we come to the distance to the gorilla trekking parks, Rwanda takes over the lead as Volcanoes national park is situated a few hours’ drive from Kigali the capital city of Rwanda in fact about 2-3 hours only as compared to Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park that are located about 9-11 hours’ drive.
Therefore, while planning your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda or Rwanda, it is very crucial that you get to know about the driving distance such that you make a perfect decision for yourself. There are some people who do not prefer long hours drives and yet there are some who enjoy the fun associated with the long hours’ drive on the road and basically the road from Kampala/ Entebbe to Bwindi or Mgahinga gorilla national park offer lots of stunning attractions along the way which range from a stopover at the Equator to the beautiful landscape, farms, rolling hills and the locals to mention but a few. It is as well possible to visit some parks before getting to Bwindi or Mgahinga. For instance, one may choose to combine gorilla trekking in Uganda with wildlife safari to Queen Elizabeth national park a home to the tree climbing lions and the a highest population of Hippos seen along the Kazinga channel, visit Kibale forest national park for chimpanzee trekking/ habituation experience, visit Semliki National park to explore the female and male hot springs, explore Lake Mburo national park as well as Lake Bunyonyi. Any of these destinations can be combined with gorilla trekking in Uganda
The cost of Gorilla trekking in Uganda Vs Rwanda;
A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda as of now costs 700USD which is way cheaper as compared to the similar permit in Rwanda that costs 1,500USD which is the cost of gorilla habituation experience in Uganda. Um! It might sound like a joke, right!, but well that is the fact about the price of gorilla trekking permits in these 2 beautiful gorilla trekking destinations in East Africa. Nobody knows why there is such a wide gap in gorilla trekking permit yet the gorillas are the same but yes, that is the difference between the 2 gorilla trekking countries in East Africa.
In Uganda, the Gorilla trekking permits are obtained from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) which can be bought online or by visiting their head offices in Kamwokya but still, the permits can be bought through a trusted tour operator in Uganda. On the other hand, gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda are bought through the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) or as well through a trusted tour operator. So comparing 700USD and 1,500USD concludes that Uganda offers cheaper gorilla trekking permits as compared to its counterpart Rwanda.
Conclusion;
“Whichever country you choose to visit for your next gorilla trekking safari be it Uganda or Rwanda, be sure to enjoy your safari and yes it will be worth your money put in. we can help you in planning your next gorilla trekking safari in Africa at ease. Kindly reach out”
