Is Uganda better than Rwanda for gorilla trekking?
Is Uganda better than Rwanda for gorilla trekking? is scheduling a gorilla trekking adventure something you’re interested in but can’t decide between Rwanda and Uganda? It’s a tough call, and travelers interested in gorilla trekking often find themselves torn between the two countries. An important consideration when choosing between Rwanda and Uganda for your gorilla trekking in Africa adventure, the cost of the permits. In Rwanda, you’ll pay 1500 US dollars for a one-hour encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, while in Uganda, you’ll pay 800 US dollars per person for the same trek. Only four parks in the world allow gorilla tracking: Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park.
Comparing Rwanda and Uganda for Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda differs from that in Uganda. There isn’t much of a difference between mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda; in fact, you’ll get the same amazing experience in either country. The only real distinction between the two habitats is that mountain gorillas in Rwanda live in the Virunga hills, where bamboo is the dominant plant species, while those in Uganda inhabit a rain forest, where a wide variety of trees and plants grow. You will have the opportunity to witness these magnificent, endangered apes in their native habitat in whichever country you visit; however, the likelihood of spotting gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda is 99%. While it’s true that Rwanda’s lush foliage makes gorillas more visible, this is just a common misconception. Regardless of where you go on your journey, you’ll have an amazing time following these amazing creatures.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda differs from that in Uganda. This is a tough topic, but some people think Rwanda is the better choice for a trek than Uganda. They cite the fact that Volcanoes National Park is only two or three hours away from Kigali as evidence, while the travel from Entebbe to Bwindi takes eight or nine hours in Uganda. The long drive to Bwindi used to be the reason people avoided gorilla trekking in Uganda, but now we arrange tours via Kigali, so the drive is only four or five hours. That’s why you should book gorilla trekking in Uganda now; you’ll save $700 compared to paying $1500. You can get a cheap East African Visa upon landing in Kigali, which will grant you access to Rwanda and Uganda. Want to know more? Get in touch with us!
How to Arrange an African Gorilla Trekking Adventure in Africa
Getting a gorilla permit is the first thing you need to do when planning a gorilla tracking safari in Uganda. Gorilla Permit costs USD 800 per person per trek for Foreign Non-Residents, USD700 for East African Residents, and USD77 for East African Citizens; this may only be purchased from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. From July 1, 2024, until June 30, 2026, the cost of a gorilla permit in Uganda will be $800 per person for non-residents from outside of Africa, $700 for residents, $500 for citizens of other African countries, and $77 for citizens of East African countries (South Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, and Uganda).
For assistance in obtaining the gorilla permit, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will confirm the availability of space for the gorilla tracking experience with the Uganda Wildlife Authority once you inform us of your planned travel dates. Once we receive confirmation, we will proceed to book your reservation tentatively. After you make the payment, we will send you an invoice. Once you send us proof of payment, we will proceed to secure the permit. A scanned copy of your permit will be sent to you after purchase for your records and review. Each party of eight tourists and park rangers goes gorilla tracking. It is recommended to book your permit at least 3-5 months prior to your visit to ensure that you do not miss out on the limited availability, as there are only 36 habituated mountain gorilla groups that are open for gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. With only 288 permits available per day, last-minute bookings can be difficult.
How much does an African gorilla tracking safari cost?
Price range, number of days, and level of luxury all play a role in determining how much a gorilla tracking safari in Uganda will set you back. The primary expense on a gorilla tracking safari in Uganda is the gorilla tracking permit, which costs 800 USD per person per trek for non-residents from East Africa, 700 USD for residents from East Africa, and 77 USD for citizens of East Africa. Other expenses include lodging, which can range from cheap to medium to luxury, and transportation. The most popular gorilla tracking itinerary in Bwindi is the 3 Days Gorilla Tracking Budget Safari, which costs 1900 USD for a solo traveler, 1490 USD for two people sharing, 1470 USD for three people sharing, and 1450 USD for four people sharing. The price covers everything, including the gorilla tracking permit, budget accommodation, transportation in a 4×4 safari van, an English-speaking driver guide, and water. Get in touch with us through this form and we’ll assist you in arranging a gorilla trekking trip in Bwindi.
While visiting Uganda, when is the best time to go on a safari to see the gorillas?
You can go on a gorilla tracking safari in Uganda at any time of year because it’s a well-organized activity in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. However, if you want to make the most of your time there, it’s best to go during the dry months of January, February, June, and early September. That way, the park is easier to reach, and you’ll have a better chance of seeing gorillas because the vegetation isn’t as dense. On the other hand, if you’re planning to go during the rainy season, you might have better luck tracking gorillas because there’s more food growing in the forest and you can see them with just a short walk because they move shorter distances in search of food.
Accommodation in Uganda for Gorilla Tracking Safaris
Buhoma and Ruhija are located in the park’s northern section, while Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors are in the southern section, where gorilla tracking safaris are conducted. The following lodges are available for your stay in Rushaga: Four Gorillas Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge, Nsongi Camp, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Icumbi Gorilla Safari Lodge, and Karungi Camp. Nkuringo Bwindi, Clouds Mountain, and Lake Mutanda Resort are some of the gorilla hotels in Nkuringo that are conveniently located near the habuation site.
In the northern part, in the Buhoma sector, there are a number of places to stay, including Buhoma Lodge, Bwindi Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, and Ride 4 a Woman. In Ruhija, there are a number of places to stay, including Agandi Eco Lodge, Gift of Nature Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Broadbill Tented Camp, and more.
How can one reach Uganda’s two national parks, Bwindi Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, in order to go gorilla tracking?
The best places to go gorilla trekking in Uganda are Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. If you’re flying into Entebbe International Airport in Kampala, you can start your journey to southwestern Uganda from Entebbe/Kampala, passing through Masaka, Mbarara, and Kabale, three major local towns. Getting to the gorilla parks of Bwindi and Mgahinga takes around 9 to 10 hours by road, or you can fly to the airports at Kisoro and Mgahinga, respectively, to reach the southern and northern parts of the parks, respectively. Even with the time required at immigration, flying into Kigali International Airport, Bwindi Forest, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks via the Cyanika or Katuna Border takes only four or five hours. Tourists visiting Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda should seriously consider getting an East African Visa, which grants them entry to all three countries several times. A cost-effective alternative to purchasing individual entry visas, the East African Visa costs USD100 and can be obtained either online or at the airport upon arrival. However, you also have the option of obtaining individual visas; for example, a Rwandan visa would cost $30 and a Ugandan visa would cost $50. How a Gorilla Trek in Rwanda Differs from One in Uganda
The mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park inhabit the Virunga hills, where bamboo is the dominant plant species, whereas those in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park inhabit a tropical rain forest, home to a diverse array of trees and plants. Trekking opportunities abound in both parks. The gorillas in Volcanoes National Park are supposedly easier to shoot than those in Bwindi, where they live in a dense forest, due to the park’s unique vegetation.
Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Uganda is more accessible than Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. The fact that you can see gorillas in as little as an hour or two and that Volcanoes National Park is only two or three hours away from Kigali lend credence to this theory. This is absolutely correct, and there’s no escaping it. We now organize tours to Bwindi via Kigali, which reduces the 9-10 hour drive from Entebbe International Airport to just 4-5 hours, making it much more manageable for people to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi. Fly into Kigali, get an East African Tourist Visa (good for both countries), and then go on a cheap gorilla expedition in Uganda. As a result, even Rwandan travel operators are peddling Bwindi as an alternative to Rwanda itself.
Lodges in Rwanda and Uganda range from budget to upscale, with options for those on a tighter budget. You can choose from a variety of options in each national park. If you’re looking for an international standard of ultra luxury accommodation during your gorilla trekking, Volcanoes National Park is the way to go instead of Bwindi. Bisate Lodge and Singita Kwitonda Lodge, both located in Volcanoes National Park, are two examples of the excellent and luxurious services offered by these establishments. On the other hand, Bwindi is the place to go if you’re on a tighter budget, as there are plenty of lodges to pick from with prices ranging from $30 to $100 per night, depending on the package you order.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Rwanda is home to more gorilla families that are available for trekking compared to Volcanoes National Park in Uganda. Because there are 16 habituated gorilla family groups in Bwindi, 128 gorilla permits are available daily for hiking in Bwindi. The 12 gorilla families found in Volcanoes National Park allow for 96 gorilla permits to be issued daily for the purpose of gorilla trekking. This makes Bwindi a better option than Volcanoes National Park for obtaining gorilla trekking permits, particularly during the peak season.
Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda both include mountain gorillas, so there’s really no contest between the two parks in terms of the quality of the experience you’ll have after hiking with these primates. Whether you visit Volcanoes National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you have a 98% chance of seeing gorillas in their native habitat. An additional option for those interested in gorilla trekking in Bwindi is the gorilla habituation experience, which is unique to the Bwindi forest and costs $1,500 per person. This permits visitors to spend four hours interacting with the semi-habituated mountain gorillas, guided by researchers and trackers, rather than the one hour allowed during regular trekking.
When comparing the cost of a gorilla safari in Volcanoes National Park with Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, the former is substantially more affordable. Disagreements over policy are at the root of the price gap between Rwanda and Uganda. Although both Rwanda and Uganda aim to attract tourists, Rwanda is trying to sell itself as a luxury destination and Uganda as an affordable one. Is the time spent with gorillas and the experience still the same? Rather than spending $1500 on a one-hour safari in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, one might spend the same amount of money on a gorilla habituation experience in Uganda and spend as much as four hours with mountain gorillas.
You can spend an hour encountering mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for $800 per person per trek for foreign nonresidents, $700 per person for residents, and $77 for East African citizens (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, and South Sudan).
You can spend an hour encountering mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park for $1500 per person per trek if you are a foreign nonresident, $500 if you are a foreign resident, and $200 if you are an East African citizen (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, or South Sudan).
In comparison to Rwanda, the distance you’ll have to walk to view gorillas in Uganda will depend on whose family you’re assigned to visit on your trekking day at the national park. An individual’s interests and physical abilities determine which gorilla family they are assigned to in either Volcanoes National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. For instance, in order to be assigned a shorter journey, you must advise the park authorities of your preference on the day of the trek itself. Just repeat the process if you’d like a medium-length or longer hike. Keep in mind that even while they’ll do their best to pair you with a family that doesn’t require as many treks, the experience could still be impacted by the behavior of the gorillas. For instance, if the gorillas decide to travel further away while you’re searching for them, you’ll still have more distance to cover.
Gorilla trekking in Africa The Best Choice for Gorilla Treks in Rwanda and Uganda
Customized safaris are a point of pride for gorilla trekking in Africa. The local operators in Uganda is incredibly reliable and hardworking. Our staff of expert tour guides will respond to your questions within 30 minutes. These experts will help you plan your trip, address any concerns you may have, and ensure that all of your services are reserved in advance so that you don’t have to worry about a thing. If you like, we also offer safari guides who are well educated and bilingual. You can choose from a variety of mountain gorilla safari packages to Volcanoes National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, including a 2-day, 3-day, or 4-day fly-in safari—the exact length of which is up to you. Give us a call whenever you like.