Uganda vs Rwanda vs Congo

THE BEST COUNTRY FOR GORILLA TRACKING

Uganda vs Rwanda vs Congo : Getting an eye to eye encounter with the huge mountain gorillas is a one life time safari experience, mountain gorillas are critically endangered species with only about 900 mountain gorillas left on world and surviving in 4 national parks that is Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park found in Uganda, Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in Democratic Republic of Congo.

The question asked by most tourists traveling to Africa for gorilla trekking experience is “which is the best place/country to do gorilla trekking”, it usually hard to tell the best place to do gorilla trekking, however this article explains various aspects of gorilla trekking in each country which will help you decide as a tourist the best country to do gorilla trekking.

Overview: Rwanda vs Uganda vs Congo

	Rwanda	Uganda	Congo
Gorilla species	Mountain gorillas	Mountain gorillas	Mountain gorillas
Best gorilla trekking destination	Volcanoes National Park	Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park	Virunga National Park
Best time to go	All year round, but driest from June to September and December to February	All year round, but driest from June to September and December to February	All year round, but driest from June to September and December to February
Cost of gorilla trekking permit (USD)	$1 500	$700	$400 (included in gorilla trekking package)
Trekking time	Takes about 3-5 hours depending on weather, fitness levels of the guest and the proximity of the gorilla family being trekked.	Takes about 2-5 hours depending on weather, fitness levels of the guest and the proximity of the gorilla family being trekked.	Takes about 3-5 hours depending on weather, fitness levels of the guest and the proximity of the gorilla family being trekked.
Trekking terrain	Hiking at altitude through thick forested slopes	Hiking at altitude through thick forested slopes	Hiking on ground level through thick rainforest
Time allowed with gorillas (excluding trekking time)	1 hour	1 hour	1 hour
Protocols	· A group of 8 guests maximum per trek · Minimum age: 15 · Guests must be healthy with no cold or flu symptoms · A face musk is compulsory during Trekking	· A group of 8 guests maximum per trek · Minimum age: 15 · Guests must be healthy with no cold or flu symptoms · A face musk is compulsory during Trekking	· A group of 8 guests maximum per trek · Minimum age: 15 · Guests must be healthy with no cold or flu symptoms · A face musk is compulsory during Trekking

Rwanda

Rwanda is a thrilling destination for mountain gorilla trekking experience, regardless of its tiny size Rwanda has a sheer natural beauty, wildlife and a chain of mountains. Mountain gorillas in Rwanda are found in Volcanoes national park which is the flagship safari destination of the country, the park is lies only 80 kilometers (about 3 hours drive by road) from Kigali International airport. Rwanda and volcanoes national park offers the most accessible mountain gorilla trekking experience in the whole world.

WHERE TO SEE GORILLAS IN RWANDA

Mountain gorillas in Rwanda are found and can be seen in Volcanoes national park, this stunning safari destination is situation in North-Western Rwanda stretching over an area of 160 square kilometers. Volcanoes national park is dominated by prime rainforest and encompassing of 5 of the 8 volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains range, these Virunga volcanoes include Mount Karisimbi, Mount Sabyinyo, Gahinga Volcano, Mount Bisoke and Mount Muhabura.

Uganda vs Rwanda vs Congo — Gorilla Trekking Uganda vs Gorilla Trekking Rwanda vs Gorilla Trekking Congo

Volcanoes national park was the base for pioneering primatologist Dian Fossey in her mountain gorillas research making Rwanda the authentic Gorillas in the Mist County, during your gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda you can visit and pay respect to Dian Fossey at Fossey’s grave.

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park offers an encounter with these huge but highly social creatures in their natural habitat, these gorillas are always on a move in search for food on the ground and this makes them easy to be tracked. On gorilla trekking experience you will be guided by experienced gorilla tracker through African redwoods and bamboo, weaving vines and flowering lobelias, the climax of this experience is getting a face to face encounter with mountain gorillas one of the mankind’s closest living relatives.

MOUNTAIN GORILLA GROUPS IN RWANDA

Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park hosts a total of about 380 mountain gorillas with 10 habituated gorilla families available for gorilla trekking. Habituated gorilla families in Rwanda include

Susa Gorilla Group (Susa A Family)
Karisimbi Gorilla Group (Susa-B)
Sabyinyo Gorilla Group
Amahoro Gorilla Group
Umubano Gorilla Group
Agashya Gorilla Group
Kwitonda Gorilla Group
Hirwa Gorilla Group
Bwenge Family Group
Ugenda Gorilla Family

WHERE TO STAY IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK DURING GORILLA TREKKING

There are so many lodging facilities offering accommodation and necessary services to tourists in Volcanoes national park for Rwanda gorilla trekking experience, these include

Amarembo gorilla village
Ruzizi Tented Camp
Karenge Bush camp
Gorilla’s Nest Lodge
Hotel Muhabura
Kinigi Guesthouse
La Palme Hotel
Villa Gorilla
Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge

WHEN TO GO: BEST TIME TO SEE GORILLAS IN RWANDA

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is a year-round activity, however the best time is during the dry seasons offering the easiest hiking conditions and the lowest risk of Malaria. Rwanda experiences two seasons that is rainy season and dry season, the rainy season is experienced from March to May as the long rainy season and October to November as the shorter rainy season.

Dry season is experienced from June to mid September as the long dry season and December to February as the short dry season. The dry season is a good time to see the mountain gorilla as little more humid is experienced that that in June to September.

GORILLA TREKKING PERMITS

Gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda cost USD 1500 per person for each trekking price, each permit offers you one hour in the presence of gorillas.

UGANDA

Uganda is the home to the second mountain gorilla population in the world and the biggest mountain gorilla population found in Bwindi Impenetrable national park, Uganda hosted about 800 mountain gorillas which can be seen in their natural habitat. Another mountain population in Uganda is found in Mgahinga gorilla national park which is part of Virunga Conservation Area.

WHERE TO SEE GORILLAS IN UGANDA

Mountains gorillas in Uganda are found in two safari destinations that are Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park is the prime mountain gorilla habitat in the world and a World Heritage Site situated in South Western Uganda (a drive of about 10-11 hours) from Kampala the capital of Uganda. Bwindi impenetrable national park stretches for an area of 331 square kilometers comprising of both montane and lowland forests, the park provides a verdant habitat for about 120 species of mammals, 350 bird species, 220 butterfly species, reptiles and amphibians. In Bwindi forest you will also encounter other primate species such as chimpanzees and colobus monkeys among others.

Mgahinga gorilla national park the smallest park in Uganda is the second home to Mountain gorillas in Uganda located in South Western Uganda, this park forms part of the Virunga Conservation area.

Trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park is harder than trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park

HABITUATED IN MOUNTAIN GORILLA FAMILIES IN UGANDA

Bwindi impenetrable national park hosts the big number of habituated mountain gorilla families, these gorillas are found in four sections of the park that are Ruhija sector, Buhoma Sector, Rushaga sector and Nkuringo sector. The gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable national park include

Mubare Gorilla Family
Christmas gorilla family
Katwe gorilla family
Habinyanja Gorilla Family
Rushegura Gorilla Family
Bitukura Gorilla Family
Oruzogo Gorilla Family
Nkuringo Gorilla Family
Nshongi Gorilla Family
Mishaya Gorilla Family
Kahungye Gorilla Family
Bweza Gorilla Family
Busingye Gorilla Family
Kyaguriro Gorilla Family

Mgahinga gorilla national park hosts only one mountain gorilla family that is the Nyakagezi gorilla family

Uganda hosts 15 habituated mountain gorilla families which are available for Uganda gorilla trekking experience.

WHERE TO STAY IN UGANDA DURING GORILLA TREKKING SAFARI

There is a variety of lodging options in Uganda to stay at during gorilla trekking safari, these accommodation facilities are categorized as luxury, midrange and budget.

Accommodation in Bwindi impenetrable national park

Buhoma Community Rest camp
Lake Kitandara Camp
Buhoma Lodge
Silverback Lodge
Engagi Lodge
Gorilla Resort
Bwindi Guest House
Eco Marvels Gorilla Resort
Nshongi Camp
Chameleon Hill Lodge

Accommodation in Bwindi impenetrable national park depends on the sector of the park you are going to do the gorilla trekking experience.

Accommodations in Mgahinga gorilla national park

There is limited accommodation in Mgahinga gorilla national park and they include

Mount Gahinga Lodge
Mucha Hotel Kisoro
Travelers’ rest hotel
Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp
Kisoro Tourist Hotel
Mutanda Lake Resort
Mgahinga rest camp

WHEN TO GO: BEST TIME TO SEE GORILLAS IN UGANDA

Uganda gorilla trekking safari is a year round activity, however the best time to visit to see mountain gorillas us during the dry season running from June to September and December to February when trekking conditions are more favorable.

For tourists who like less crowds and visit mountain gorillas on budget, March – May and October – November is the best time as there are less crowd and the accommodation facilities are more affordable.

GORILLA TREKKING PERMITS

Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda cost USD 700 per person per trekking, this offers you one hour in the presence of gorillas in both Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park.

CONGO (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Democratic Republic of Congo is another great destination to find mountain gorillas, Congo hosts some of the second population of mountain gorillas in the world found in Virunga national park which makes up the Virunga Conservation Area together with Volcanoes national park and Mgahinga Gorilla national park.

Where to See Gorillas in Congo

Mountain gorillas in Democratic Republic of Congo are seen and found in Virunga national park, Africa’s most bio-diverse protected area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the eastern edge of the Congo basin in the Albertine Rift Valley – in the eastern part of the country.

Virunga national park was among the first protected areas to be established in Africa covering an area of 7,768.93 square kilometers, the park encompasses of part of the Semuliki River Basin, savanna and montane forest of the Albertine Rift. The park also encompasses of 6 volcanoes out of the 8 Virunga volcanoes that are Mount Bisoke, Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Nyirangongo, Mount Nyamuragira, Mount Mikeno and Mount Karisimbi.

Apart from Mountain gorillas, Virunga national park is a habitat to 196 mammals, 706 bird species, 108 reptile species and 65 amphibians.

MOUNTAIN GORILLA IN CONGO

Virunga national park is a home to 1/3 of the total mountain gorilla population in the world with 8 habituated mountain gorilla families available for Congo gorilla trekking safari, these include

Kabirizi Gorilla group
Humba Gorilla Group
Rugendo Gorilla Group
Mapuwa Gorilla Group
Lulengo Gorilla Group
Munyaga Gorilla Group
Nyakamwe Gorilla Group
Bageni Gorilla Group

When to Go: Best Time to See Gorillas in Congo

Though gorilla trekking in Congo is considered a year round, the best time to see the gorillas is during the dry season experienced from December to February and June to September.

Gorilla Trekking Permits

Gorilla trekking permits in Congo cost USD 400 per person per trekking.

WHERE TO STAY IN CONGO DURING GORILLA TREKKING SAFARI

During Congo gorilla trekking safari, accommodation is got from Sultani Hotel Kinshasha, Ngila Lodge Virunga, Lakeside Hotel Bukavu, Mount Kahuzi Hotel, Exodus Bukavu, Hotel Begonias, Orchids Safari Club, Mikeno Lodge. Bukavu Tented camp, Lulimbi Tented camp among others.

If you are interested in Mountain gorilla trekking safari, inquire and book your safari at info@bwindiforestgorillatrekking.com