Where to go gorilla trekking : Rwanda vs Uganda? Both Uganda and Rwanda offer a fantastic opportunity for a gorilla trekking adventure but which trek is easier? Well, Rwanda’s terrain is encountered on a gorilla trek which is more open and less surrounded by Jungle vegetation. This can make it easier to get a rewardable view of these magnificent creatures.
Despite the fact, in the world there are about 1080 mountain gorillas left. Some live in the Virunga Mountains spread across Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and half the population of them make their home in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest of Uganda. Although, they are being threatened by poachers, the forest houses these magnificent creatures are heavily protected. The majority of the remaining endangered mountain gorillas live in the wild and a handful of gorilla groups have been habituated by wildlife experts and can be tracked and observed by small groups of visitors ‘’8 in number’’ under the cautious eye of park rangers.
Well, a trip to Rwanda or Uganda to encounter the critically endangered mountain gorillas is worth it to both countries.
Where do gorillas live in Rwanda and Uganda?
In Rwanda the great mountain gorillas live in Volcanoes National Park which estimates only 2 hours drive from Kigali – the international airport. For a gorilla trek in Rwanda ,you can do a 1 days or 2 days and more ,or take three nights which would be optimal. Rwanda has got good number of habituated mountain gorilla families, though Uganda has got the highest number of mountain gorillas than Rwanda.
In Uganda, the mountain gorillas can be seen in two respective places that is; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Both places are approximately 8 to 9 hours drives. Due to long journey drive, visitors are advised to stay at least three nights while gorilla trekking safaris.
Which gorilla trek is easier, Rwanda or Uganda?
Both Uganda and Rwanda offer a remarkable opportunity for a gorilla trekking adventure but trek is easier? In Rwanda, most of the terrain to do a gorilla trek is more open and less surrounded by jungle vegetation. More to that, the terrain is also less difficult for tracking when compared to Uganda. Although altitudes can be higher thus causing difficulty in hiking. More so, Rwanda’s travel distances are relatively shorter given that Rwanda is simply a smaller country.
Uganda’s infrastructure is under developed thus leading to difficulty in accessing the parks. More so, gorilla trekking in Uganda is bit challenging. It rains often in Bwindi even in the dry season which causes trekking trails slippery. Each gorilla families in Bwindi covers 30 individuals and trekking experience can take between 30minutes to 7 hours depending on their movements.
What is the cost different between Rwanda and Uganda?
The currently-Rwanda gorilla trekking permits is at USD1500 while Uganda gorilla trekking permit cost USD700 per person per trek. However, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is located about 75 miles from the arrive airport in Kigali thus making it much easier to access by road.
Uganda’s Bwindi National Park takes 8 to 9 hours’ drive to and from Entebbe International Airport. You can choose to arrive in Kigali and then use border crossing via Chanika border to Bwindi which takes 4 hours’ drive. Alternative, you can choose to use a charter or schedule domestic flight from Entebbe Airport to fly you to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip which is 1:30hour landing.
The drive from Kampala’s capital city to Bwindi is bit long traveling journey but stunning with rewardable country side, rolling hills and tea plantations.
What else can you do in Rwanda and Uganda?
Apart from doing gorilla trekking in Rwanda, you can go for game drive and boat cruise in Akagera National Park. Other activities incudes; Canopy walk and Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park, golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes, birding, fishing and cultural experience in Akagera.
Uganda offers ultimate safari experience such as; Boat cruise and viewing of world’s powerful waterfall in Murchison Falls National Park, tracking tree -climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest though watching gorilla up close is one of the most moving wildlife adventures you will ever experience.
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