Uganda and Rwanda are most popular for thrilling mountain gorilla encounters but many wonder which one is better. Here we will compare Uganda and Rwanda gorilla trekking adventure following several factors. These include cost, accessibility to destination from the city, where to go to trek gorillas, gorilla families, and others. This comprehensive guide can help you make the best choice for your next gorilla trekking tour.
Compare Uganda and Rwanda gorilla trekking destinations.
Rwanda gorilla trekking is strictly done only in Volcanoes National Park. Visitors on Rwanda safaris who wish to go on a trek can confine themselves in Volcanoes to begin their treks to see mountain gorillas. Kinigi is the starting point where visitors assemble to get briefed about gorilla trekking rules. Then they can be allocated a park ranger guide and a gorilla group.
Uganda gorilla trekking can be done in the two parks all located close to each other in the southwestern part of the country. They include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These are the two places where endangered mountain gorillas thrive in Uganda. They are home to half the world’s 1063 mountain gorilla population.
Accessibility of destinations
To explore Rwanda gorillas, you require only 2-3 hours to drive from the heart of Kigali to Volcanoes National Park or 3-4 hours when you cross from Kabale or Kisoro. This is why it is possible to go for short gorilla trips in Rwanda right from 1 day to 2 days’ gorilla tour Rwanda.
To visit Uganda mountain gorillas, visitors must spend between 8 and 9 hours on the road. This is slightly long but there are abundant attractions to keep you exploring what the Pearl of Africa has to offer the world. Alternative options to reach Bwindi or Mgahinga include taking flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield. By air, expect to spend not more than 2 hours and you will be at Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips where you can drive a short distance to Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park. You can also cut short the long hours by connecting from Kigali via the Chanika or Katuna border to Bwindi Impenetrable or Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks. Driving from Kigali to Bwindi or Mgahinga can take 4-5 hours. All road transportation whether in Rwanda or Uganda requires a 4×4 tourist vehicle for you to enjoy a smooth ride.
Comparison of the cost of gorilla permits –Uganda & Rwanda
Compare Uganda and Rwanda gorilla trekking in terms of cost. Yes, a valid gorilla permit is a must-have tool for gorilla trekking to take place. A Rwanda gorilla permit is open for booking at USD 1500 per person slightly higher than the cost of Uganda gorilla permits. In Uganda, you can book a gorilla permit at USD 800 as a foreign non-resident, USD 700 as a foreign resident, and Ugandans or East African citizens UGX 300,000 per person.
Gorilla families/groups
All gorilla treks are conducted in already habituated gorilla families. Uganda has over 24 of them distributed across Bwindi and Mgahinga. They translate to over 192 valid gorilla permits for visitors to book a gorilla tour in Uganda daily. This is slightly higher than 13 gorilla groups in Volcanoes National Park alone which translates to 104 gorilla permits to be booked in Rwanda.
Extra activities to do besides trekking gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda
Beyond gorilla trekking, Uganda and Rwanda all have additional experiences worth adding to your bucket list. They include the Big Five game viewing and in Rwanda, you can visit Akagera National Park for wildlife tours. In Uganda, you have multiple options to choose including Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park.
Trekking chimpanzees can be done in Rwanda and Uganda. In Uganda, over 5050 chimpanzees live in different places. However, the key spots to enjoy a chimpanzee trek include Kibale Forest National Park with over 1500 chimpanzees, Kyambura Gorge, Budongo Forest, and Kalinzu Forest Reserve. Rwanda chimp treks are best enjoyed in the jungles of Nyungwe Forest National Park and Gishwati-Mukura National Park.
Gorilla habituation is an addition to mountain gorilla treks. Habituation is a great opportunity for primate adventure seekers who wish to spend more time exploring mountain gorillas. Gorilla habituation is unique to only Rushaga sector in Bwindi and permits can be booked at USD 1500 per person. Unlike normal gorilla treks, habituation experience attracts mostly researchers, scientists, and conservationists. It also involves exploring a group of gorillas that have never undergone habituation or semi-habituated.
Cultural experiences can be enjoyed in the Batwa community adjacent to the Mgahinga Gorilla and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks. Adjacent to Volcanoes National Park, expect to visit Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village for authentic Rwandan culture and traditions.
Bird watching. Rwanda and Uganda are iconic birding destinations. Birding can be done within the gorilla parks or outside sites. In Volcanoes National Park, 200 species of birds await you to explore, 350 bird species in Bwindi, and Mgahinga also hold about 180 bird species.
More about Mountain Gorillas in Africa
Globally, only 1063 mountain gorillas still exist in the natural environment. These unique apes only live in the 3 African countries of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are recognized by the IUCN as endangered species also subspecies of the Eastern gorillas.
Best time to go trekking Uganda and Rwanda gorillas
The best time to visit Rwanda and Uganda to see gorillas is during the dry season. The dry season usually starts around June till September then again from December to February. Around these peak dry months, the gorilla habitat is kept drier and vegetation can be clear making them ideal for gorilla trekking.
When preparing to visit gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda, do not forget to pack the right items. Essentials to include on a packing list for the Uganda or Rwanda gorilla tour are a valid gorilla permit, long-sleeved shirts, a sweater, a rain jacket, a first aid kit, a waterproof daypack, waterproof walking or hiking boots, valid visas, passports, a tin of an insect repellent, and medication as prescribed by the professional medical officer.