What is the best gorilla trekking destination between Uganda and Rwanda? – Best Gorilla trekking destination in Africa – Gorilla trekking Uganda vs. Rwanda

Gorilla Trekking is one of the popular experiences that you can do in Uganda. Imagine standing just a few feet from these gentle giants and seeing them munch on fruit and plants, play with or groom one another, and idly look at the curious bipeds looking at them! Such moments will live with you for a lifetime. However before one embarks on a gorilla trekking adventure, they must first decide where to go to see gorillas and thus questions like, What is the best gorilla trekking destination in Africa? Is gorilla trekking in Rwanda better than gorilla trekking in Uganda? What is the best gorilla trekking destination between Uganda and Rwanda? Gorilla trekking Uganda vs. Rwanda

What is the best gorilla trekking destination between Uganda and Rwanda? Gorilla trekking Uganda vs. Rwanda – Both Uganda and Rwanda offer remarkable gorilla trekking experiences to their visitors. However, there are some factors that can act as differences between the two countries and these can surely impact your choice of where to go gorilla trekking in Africa. Our comprehensive guide will help you choose where to go gorilla trekking between Uganda and Rwanda.

Gorilla Trekking

Where can I go gorilla trekking?

Mountain gorillas live in the Virunga Mountains of Central and East Africa which span three countries, Uganda, Rwanda, and D.R Congo. The main gorilla trekking countries are Rwanda and Uganda. In Rwanda, you can trek to see mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. In Uganda, you can visit mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park.

For one to make a decision about where to go gorilla trekking between Rwanda and Uganda, one will have to first look into some factors like cost and accessibility. Many travelers also consider what else they will do on their trip to the country since the cost and effort of a gorilla trek means you’ll likely only be seeing gorillas on one or two days depending on what you prefer.

Rwanda Gorillas

Rwanda’s mountain gorillas live in Volcanoes National Park. There are about 56 mountain gorilla families in the park.

Getting to Volcanoes National Park is a relatively easy affair compared to Uganda’s Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks. Visitors can easily fly into Kigali International Airport and then it’s a short drive of about two and a half hours northwest where Volcanoes National Park is located. Even though the drive is short, it’s always advisable to travel with a reputable tour operator like Acacia Safaris Limited with great experience of the region and roads.

Uganda Gorillas

Almost half of the remaining mountain gorillas live in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi is an alpine forest that sits at a high altitude between 1,160 m and 2,607 m above sea level. Just like its name, the park encompasses a thickly forested area with great diversity to witness during your gorilla trekking tour. Bwindi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The National Park is however far from the capital city of Kampala and Entebbe International Airport. So the drive takes about nine hours. It’s advisable that you travel with a tour operator who knows the region rather than road-tripping on your own.

The other option is to fly from Entebbe to Bwindi, however, most travelers find driving as the cheaper option, especially as part of a tour group. Some who want to go to Bwindi for gorilla trekking actually choose to fly into Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city, and drive north across the border since this is a shorter drive of about four hours.

Trekking prices in Rwanda and Uganda

The first major difference between these countries is their gorilla trekking prices. Gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda cost $1,500 per person per trek, while in Uganda, they cost $700 per person per trek. This makes trekking to see the gorillas in Uganda much cheaper.  Rwanda’s price is significantly higher, but the country is known for its high-end luxury lodges and well-managed tourism infrastructure. There is also a range of mid-range and luxury accommodations in Uganda.

Accessibility of gorilla parks in Rwanda and Uganda

Due to the proximity of Volcanoes National Park to Kigali Airport, Rwanda gorillas are considered more accessible and the better country for visitors who only have time for a brief stopover to go gorilla trekking, and nothing else. It is perhaps the best destination for those in transit to somewhere else, or travelling in from a nearby country.

However, travelers who wish to exploit the time and expense put into getting to East Africa usually desire to do more activities while in the region, like go on safari or climb Kilimanjaro. For such travelers, Uganda is the better option as it has more to offer on top of gorilla trekking tours.

Trek conditions in Uganda and Rwanda

Trekking trails in Rwanda are a bit more open and not as steep and slippery as those of Bwindi in Uganda. However, Volcanoes National Park is at a much higher altitude than Bwindi and this can also make the trek more challenging than that of Bwindi.

Uganda has more habituated gorilla Families

Keep in mind that while mountain gorillas in Rwanda can be accessed easily, Uganda has more habituated mountain gorillas and so admits more trekkers per day. This makes obtaining a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda a little easier than obtaining one in Rwanda, especially if you aren’t booking very far in advance.

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