Where To Go Gorilla Trekking
Where To Go Gorilla Trekking: Rwanda Or Uganda? Mountain gorilla trekking is one of the most exciting safari experiences in the world. The experience is real and wonderful, and I hope anyone who has been on this safari tour knows what we’re talking about. This experience is mainly done in three countries: Rwanda, Uganda, and D.R.C., though between the three, Rwanda and Uganda provide top-notch mountain gorillas experience. So, how do you choose between the two? Here, we’ll talk about several important distinctions, like geographic location and accessibility, financial considerations, and the number of gorilla troops that will help you choose where to visit between the two (Uganda and Rwanda).
There are just a few hundred thousand mountain gorillas left in the world on which a small portion of the population resides in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, while the majority resides in the Virunga Mountains, which are spread throughout Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These forests that safeguard these amazing animals are closely guarded against poachers.
The majority of the remaining mountain gorillas are still found in the wild, but a few gorilla families have been trained to get accustomed to humans and can be tracked and observed by small groups of tourists while being closely monitored by park officials. Many individuals planning an African safari tour put seeing these critically endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda on their vacation wish lists due to the creatures’ declining populations and extinction threat. But which country—Rwanda or Uganda—offers the best chance to see mountain gorillas?
Where do gorillas live in Rwanda and Uganda?
The mountain gorillas in Rwanda are found in Volcanoes National Park, a two-hour drive from Kigali and the airport. You would need to stay in Rwanda for at least two nights and ideally three nights if you wanted to go on a gorilla trek. Since Rwanda has more habituated mountain gorilla groups than Uganda, gorilla trekking permits are frequently easier to obtain in Rwanda.
Both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda are home to mountain gorillas. From Entebbe international Airport in Kampala-Uganda, it takes two days of driving to get to Bwindi, usually with a stopover in the middle. Once at Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable National park, visitors are advised to stay at least three nights in mountain gorilla trekking safari, before continuing on a wildlife safari in other Uganda national parks such as the queen Elizabeth national Park and Murchison falls national park.
Where To Go Gorilla Trekking
Which gorilla trek is easier, Rwanda or Uganda?
Which gorilla trek is easier between Uganda and Rwanda, which both provide fantastic prospects for a gorilla trekking adventure? The majority of the terrain encountered in Rwanda during a gorilla walk is less densely forested and more open. This may help you get a better look at these wonderful creatures. Comparing the terrain to Uganda, it is likewise less challenging for tracking, although the difficulty is increased by the higher altitudes. Given that Rwanda is a smaller country overall, travel distances are also often shorter there.
Because of Uganda’s underdeveloped infrastructure, going on a gorilla trek there can be more difficult. Even in the dry season, Bwindi experiences frequent rain, which could make the going treacherous. In Bwindi, each gorilla family also patrols a considerable area, and tracking times can range greatly from 30 minutes to eight or nine hours each day. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest gets its name from the fact that the vegetation can occasionally be very dense. Gorilla hiking in Uganda is not recommended for the faint of heart because the slopes are steep and there are no paths. So, even though comparing gorilla trekking in both nations can be challenging, Rwanda prevails at least in terms of simplicity.
What are the cost differences between Rwanda and Uganda gorilla trekking?
A gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda now costs $1500, while a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs only $700. Although it is far simpler to reach by car, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is only around 75 miles from the arrival airport in Kigali. From the Entebbe Airport, the drive to Bwindi National Park in Uganda takes eight hours, and it takes eight hours to return. This would require a minimum of two days to finish your gorilla trip in Rwanda and three days for a gorilla tour in Uganda.
Therefore, even if the Uganda gorilla permits are less expensive, the cost of transportation would be between $500 and $600. Some tourists opt to fly into Kigali and make travel arrangements to Bwindi from there. In actuality, though, because of the stress it places on the trekker, it is not advised to hasten your gorilla trekking experience.
In addition, the trip from Kigali International Airport to Bwindi is breathtaking, passing through expanses of coffee farms, terraced slopes, and flowing rivers. This is the best of rural Africa. In the end, tracking mountain gorillas in Uganda will cost more in terms of time and transportation than in Rwanda, but this expense is offset by a less expensive gorilla permit.
What else can you do in Rwanda and Uganda after or before mountain Gorilla trekking?
Both Rwanda and Uganda have several possibilities if you want to travel before or after your gorilla trekking experience. Game drives and accompanied walking safaris are options at Rwanda’s Akagera National Park, where the Big Five have recently been reintroduced and the park has recently undergone development. Akagera also provides opportunities for cultural excursions, fishing, and birding. For intrepid tourists, Uganda provides a slightly more established safari experience. Before going gorilla trekking, tourists can enjoy two thrilling activities in Uganda: a Nile River cruise in Murchison Falls National Park and tree climbing lion tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
A day spent chimp tracking in Kibale Forest National Park is also a memorable experience. This is an excellent way to start your gorilla trekking adventure because it gives you trekking experience. One of the most dramatic wildlife interactions you will ever have is seeing a gorilla up close, which is why many people want to schedule the gorilla safari at the end of their trip.
Accessibility of gorilla parks in Rwanda and Uganda
Given that Volcanoes National Park and Kigali Airport are reasonably close to one another, Rwanda is the better country for travelers who just have time for a quick layover to do gorilla trekking and nothing else. This is more likely to be the case for travelers who are passing through or coming from a nearby country. The majority of international visitors, however, prefer to engage in additional activities while in East Africa
