Uganda and Rwanda are both gorilla trekking nations with an incredible capacity to pull many visitors from all over the world. Every visitor planning a gorilla trekking experience is faced with a dilemma to choose between Rwanda and Uganda. With the current status quo, we identify the 7 reasons why gorilla trekking in Uganda is better than in Rwanda.
This is past the comparison of Uganda and Rwanda gorilla trekking. These reasons establish Uganda as the dominant gorilla trekking destination above Rwanda. However, this does not limit or shame Rwanda’s gorilla trekking ability. But still, we must give credit where it is due and help you come to a conclusion between gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda.
Plotting a chance to ease the hard decision of choosing between Uganda and Rwanda, we designed a list of 7 reasons asserting Uganda’s ability in gorilla trekking over Rwanda. These reasons cover a variety of fields about the country’s gorilla destinations, uniqueness, and other external factors supported by evidence. By the end of this article, visitors will affirm their positioning in marking Uganda not as their best destination, but also as an adventurous journey to realize a fixed dream. The 7 reasons why gorilla trekking in Uganda is better than Rwanda include the following.
- Population of mountain gorillas
Uganda does not just deliver on quality but also quantity in terms of gorilla trekking. This is because Uganda takes the lion’s share of the population of mountain gorillas. At the start and climax of the gorilla population, Uganda asserts its rightful position as having the largest population of mountain gorillas. Squared through the global numbers with a scale of over 1,064 mountain gorillas, Uganda matches with about 550 mountain gorillas. This equates to more than half of the entire world’s mountain gorilla population.
This alone is enough reason to shoot Uganda to incredible heights as the best gorilla trekking from the averagely good Rwanda. Moving through such numbers, visitors are not just guaranteed an expressive gorilla trekking experience, but a memorable one as well. Visitors’ interaction with the mountain gorillas is just the tip of the iceberg, with visitors having an hour in the presence of the primates. The priority of gorilla trekking is encountering the mountain gorillas, and Uganda outshines any destination.
- Availability of gorilla permits
The availability of gorilla permits also pushes Uganda to its peak as a gorilla destination. Not just between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as another gorilla destination, Uganda has the most available gorilla permits among all. This is thanks to the large mountain gorilla population in the country.
The hunt for gorilla permits can be a massive quest even when the number of gorillas is high. This is why it is advisable to book your gorilla permit at least 3 months before the trekking date. Nevertheless, Uganda’s capacity in the number of mountain gorillas boosts the availability of gorilla permits. This makes Uganda a better gorilla trekking option than Rwanda, even for those last-minute gorilla permit bookings.
- Number of gorilla families
About 51 gorilla families live across Uganda’s gorilla destinations, but just over 27 gorilla families are habituated and can be trekked. Habituation affirms visitors to have a seamless gorilla trekking experience. The number of gorilla families is reason enough to match Uganda, not even Rwanda, with just 13 families, as the best option for gorilla trekking. There is no need to look beyond Uganda for gorilla tours since its capacity ticks all the boxes.
- Low gorilla permit costs
Many visitors’ concerns, other than the gorilla numbers, are the gorilla trekking permit costs. The country knows this is the one thing that can spoil the soup if not addressed, because, however good the destination is, if it is not affordable, then it loses its visibility as a gorilla trekking nation. Uganda mastered this and put the client’s needs at heart before the funding by lowering the gorilla trekking permit costs.
This ensures that Uganda, on top of delivering an untamed experience, adds an affordable gorilla permit cost to enable even budget gorilla trekking travellers. An international visitor pays USD 800 for a permit, a foreign resident USD 700, an East African UGX 300,000, and visitors from the rest of Africa USD 500.
But seriously, what doesn’t Uganda do for visitors embarking on a gorilla trekking experience? Even the standard price for gorilla trekking is further reduced in the low season, giving the financially disadvantaged visitors a chance to have a gorilla trekking experience.
These discounted low season gorilla trekking permits were launched recently by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to further increase the visitor turnout in the low season. The cost of these discounted permits is reduced by over 20% of the original cost. Therefore, in terms of affordability, Uganda doesn’t come close to any other gorilla destination and certainly not Rwanda.
- Unique gorilla trekking experience
Uganda’s gorilla trekking experience is very unique from that of Rwanda. This is because Uganda’s gorilla national parks present diverse ecology and terrain. From the steep, dense canopies of tough trekking level to the smooth, relatively sparse bamboo vegetation, Uganda’s gorilla destinations have an array of experiences. This means the country offers a unique adventure experience compared to that of Rwanda.
- Two gorilla destinations
Delivering on options, Uganda has two unique gorilla destinations of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These destinations are located in the same southwestern region of the country, not far from each other. Rwanda operates a single gorilla destination of Volcanoes National Park close to the border with Uganda.
Uganda gives visitors the option of choosing their gorilla destinations according to their preferences. Having such a liberty helps visitors to make full research about the two destinations and see what suits them best. This is unlikely with Rwanda, since it delivers one destination and doesn’t get to choose.
- Exciting cultural encounters
Off the gorilla trekking in Uganda, the country also offers exciting cultural encounters. This cultural encounter is directed to the Batwa pygmy people. The uniqueness of this experience is that the Batwa people are known forest keepers. These walked the jungles of Uganda, two gorilla destinations before they were gazetted. Reliving their experience in the forests through a cultural tour reshapes the visitors’ mindset on conservation and cultural awareness. This is why Uganda is a better gorilla trekking destination than Rwanda, because the adventure does not end with the mountain gorillas in the forest.