Comparing Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and Uganda.
Comparing Gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda can be based on a number of various possible factors, Rwanda and Uganda are famously known as the most visited countries for Gorilla trekking in the whole world, this is due to the high population of mountain Gorillas in their respective Gorilla National Parks and as a result of the two countries both having the most developed and safe gorilla trekking experiences that offer once in a life time memorable encounters with the gorillas.
With our great expertise in Gorilla adventures and profound knowledge for this remarkable experience, there are certainly a few differences to be considered while comparing Gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda however the whole Gorilla trekking adventure experience is usually the same in all national Parks and so much rewarding with unforgettable memories.
While Rwanda has only one National Park which is home to the endangered mountain Gorillas, which is Volcanoes National Park, Uganda has two gazetted National parks known to be home to these endangered species and they are the famous Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park. This makes for the highest population of mountain gorillas being found in Uganda than in Rwanda, Bwindi National Park is known to be home to half of the world’s Mountain Gorillas with the biggest number of habituated gorilla families in its four different gorilla trekking sectors.
The accessibility to these National Parks in their respective countries is also another factor to consider when comparing Gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda, and thus Rwanda Volcanoes National Park has easy accessibility from Kigali the capital city of Rwanda, it only takes 30 minutes by helicopter from Kigali to reach in the volcanoes which is located in the northern province of Rwanda and only takes 2 hours driving time from Kigali while using ground transportation either a private car or public transport.
However both Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks which are located in close proximity to each other in the south western region of Uganda are far away from Entebbe and Kampala the capital city of Uganda, while using helicopter flights, tourists usually reach Bwindi in roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes and if you are to transfer from Kampala/Entebbe to any of these two parks, the driving time is usually 9 to 10 hours depending on your stop overs, this makes accessibility to Ugandan Gorilla National Parks sometimes tiresome to access although the experience of meeting Gorillas is worth it all.
Comparing the cost of Gorilla trekking, there is a difference in the cost of Gorilla permits in Rwanda and Uganda which allow tourists to track these endangered Mountain Gorillas in their Natural habitat, to track Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, the cost of a gorilla permit goes for 1500$ per person and in Uganda you will enjoy this incredible Gorilla trekking experience in either of its two national Parks, Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park or Mgahinga National Park purchasing a gorilla permit at 700$ only per person.
The Gorilla trekking activity is certainly an experience that requires a certain degree of physical fitness since it involves trekking through the dense forests to high altitude areas where sometimes these endangered species can be found, however with our experience of this exceptional adventure between Rwanda and Uganda, there is certainly ease in trekking mountain Gorillas in Rwanda than in Uganda, this is because in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, mountain gorillas are more accessible and can be found very close after very considerate and gentle treks, this is favorable for older visitors, but in Uganda the treks are longer, and somehow difficult,mostly an enjoyable experience for those with a reasonable level of fitness, most tourists go for Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park which is so huge with the highest number of gorillas but tend to be far to reach.
Accommodation is another factor to consider when comparing Gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda, we find both countries having great and outstanding properties in their respective Gorilla trekking National Parks, however there has been an increased number of lavish and super high end properties established in the volcanoes National Park at high prices, there are also other moderate and affordable accommodations, Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park comes with the greatest number of fantastic accommodation facilities of all categories in all the sectors with spectacular views, at very considerable and lower cost prices. Choosing the best choice of where to stay on your Gorilla safari greatly adds on to your gorilla trekking experience and brings to you the most rewarding and unforgettable adventure moments.
The issue of gorilla permits availability certainly differs between Volcanoes National Park and Bwindi as well as Mgahinga National Parks in Uganda, although there are many gorilla families in the different fours sectors of Bwindi and Mgahinga, due to the low cost of Gorilla permits and high demand in Uganda, there is always low or no availability of the permits especially during the high season and thus we usually advise visitors to book their Gorilla permits in advance to avoid inconveniences. The cost of gorilla permit in Rwanda doubles that of Uganda and there is always availability however booking in advance is still highly recommended to avoid any uncertainties.
Most tourists usually combine Gorilla trekking with other incredible adventure activities in order to have more of adventure on their safaris, vacation and family tours, we find Uganda having more options of offerings to complement with your Gorilla safari than Rwanda, apart from Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda has more two major National Park including the Akagera National Park the only savannah park for Wildlife safaris. However Uganda is richly blessed with more primate parks and more than 6 savannah parks, there are also options of hiking adventures including hikes to the snow-capped mount Rwenzori, engaging in adrenaline adventures such as white water rafting on river Nile amongst many more others.
Feel free to contact us for all your safari bookings and arrangements, we tailor the most highly customized and perfect adventure packages for both Uganda and Rwanda, we can also extend your Gorilla safari to a lot more of adventure in Kenya and Tanzania including Zanzibar.
