Comparing Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and Uganda: Gorilla trekking is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most travelers to Africa. When deciding which country is most suitable for gorilla trekking, you must put into consideration affordability, accessibility of the gorilla park, safety, and most important of all, security. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is done from Volcanoes National Park while gorilla trekking in Uganda is done from Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Comparing Cost of Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and Uganda.
Uganda gorilla trekking permits cost $700 USD, whereas Rwanda gorilla trekking permits cost $1500 USD. As a result, while organizing your gorilla trek, find a site whose gorilla trekking permit falls within your vacation budget.
Accessibility Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Versus Uganda Gorilla Trekking.
The distance between the Gorilla trekking site and the nearest airport is important, especially if you prefer shorter drives. As a result, the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is the most accessible gorilla trekking site, with a driving distance of only 2 hours from Kigali City, Rwanda’s capital. To go to Bwindi Impenetrable national park, you’ll need at least 4-5 hours if you’re coming from Kigali, and up to 9 hours if you’re traveling from the capital city of Entebbe or Kampala.
Gorilla Trekking Experience in Rwanda versus Uganda.
All other criteria being equal, one would choose the finest gorilla trekking experience regardless of the nation they are trekking in. What constitutes “the finest gorilla trekking experience” varies depending on the person. This is due to the fact that each tourist is unique in terms of physical ability, tastes, and preferences. Uganda boasts more mountain gorillas than Rwanda, as well as more habituated gorilla families, which implies that Uganda can accommodate each individual traveler’s desired gorilla trekking expectations.
Uganda provides the whole package, whether you are interested in short treks or lengthy walks, as the many sectors of the Bwindi national park have diverse terrains, each delivering a unique gorilla trekking experience. As a result, if you are planning a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda, you may contact us and we will design the perfect trip for you depending on your tastes.
Gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda also has several advantages. First and foremost, the management of the volcanoes national park is well organized, so anticipate the finest service while on your Rwanda Gorilla trekking trip. The journey in Rwanda normally begins with brief cultural performances; the 10 gorilla families in Rwanda reside in well-defined regions, so chances of seeing the mountain gorillas are 99.9%; the treks run between 1 to 5 hours, and you are granted 1 hour with the mountain gorillas.
Besides normal trekking where you spend one hour with a gorilla family, Uganda goes an extra mile and offers visitors the unique Gorilla Habituation Experience where you will be spending up to four hours with a gorilla family or group. Gorilla habituation in Uganda also offers you a learning experience since you spend time with gorilla researches who will give you more detailed insights on mountain gorillas that you do not get on a regular gorilla trek.
Comparing Length of Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and Uganda
The actual gorilla experience is comparable to that of any other gorilla sanctuary in neighboring nations. Some consider Bwindi Forest National Park to be a more real tropical jungle experience. When it comes to the quality of the Mountain Gorilla Trekking Experience, each country has the same amount of time spent in the company of a family.
Comparing availability of Gorilla Permits in Rwanda and Uganda.
When planning a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda or Uganda, you might want to consider the number of gorilla permits issued in each destination. Given that Uganda has twice as many habituated gorilla groups as compared to Rwanda and Congo combined, there are more gorilla permits issued in Uganda than in Rwanda and Congo. There are about 196 permits issued daily in Uganda with Bwindi national park alone hosting over 21 gorilla families and 1 gorilla group in Mgahinga Gorilla national park. Rwanda issues about 80 permits every day for visitors tracking mountain gorillas in Volcanoes national park.
Comparing cost of gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda and Uganda.
When planning your gorilla trekking safari, you might want to consider how much you will be paying for a gorilla safari in Uganda versus a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda. Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda can range between 1,650 USD to 4000 USD for 3 days depending on your choice of accommodation. However, a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda can range between 2,880 USD to 13,930 USD for 3 days.
Comparing Accessibility of Gorilla Parks in Rwanda and Uganda.
Visitors might also want to consider driving time to the national parks when planning a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda and Uganda. It takes about 3 hours to drive from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park while it will take you approximately 8-10 hours when driving from Entebbe or Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Visitors trekking gorillas in Uganda can also choose to fly from Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi airstrip near Bwindi impenetrable national park or fly to Kisoro if you are tracking gorillas in Mgahinga gorilla national park.
Both Bwindi and Mgahinga national parks can also be accessed by visitors travelling from Kigali in Rwanda; with a drive from Kigali to Bwindi national park taking about 3-5 hours.
