In the entire African continent, Rwanda and Uganda are the best countries for Gorilla Trekking.
But the question is which one to choose for the best Gorilla Trekking experience. To answer this, we have made the best comparison between Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda And Uganda, so that you have the best experience of gorilla trekking during your Rwanda Safari and Uganda Safaris.
Is Gorilla Trekking Safe?
There are various groups of Gorillas. Only a few are permitted to trek. Those groups of Gorillas which receive visitors have become habituated to human presence. Only 8 permits are issued for trekking each group of Gorillas.
There are strict rules and restrictions you have to follow during Gorilla Trekking. You have to maintain a safe distance from the group. You must avoid making loud noises.
Overall, Gorilla Trekking is safe. Our professional guides will be there to help with all the safety measurements.
Where To Go For Gorilla Trekking
If you have decided to go, you can face difficulty in choosing where to visit for Gorilla trekking. There are 2 suitable options for you: Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda, and Bwindi National Park of Uganda. You can choose one among those to visit.
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park is located about 3hr drive from the international airport of Kigali. There are 56 groups of Gorillas, out of which, only 12 are allowed for trekking. Trekkers are permitted to spend one hour with Gorillas.
Approximately 30 percent of the Mountain Gorilla population is there in Rwanda. You can find the oldest habituated Gorilla groups. Primatologist Dian Fossy established a research base here in 1964.
Bwindi National Park, Uganda
Bwindi National Park is a thickly dense forest. Being far from the airport, the roadway to Bwindi is a bit challenging. It may take up to 8hrs to drive from the airport to Bwindi.
Uganda has 37 troops of Gorillas, and only 12 troops are human-habituated. You may face difficulty in finding gorillas in the dense forest of Bwindi. Uganda is unique for its Habituation Permit that allows you to spend more than 1hr with Gorillas.
A Comparison Between Gorilla Experience In Rwanda And Uganda
Combined Uganda Rwanda Tours are one of the great wildlife adventures on the planet. The star attraction is the highly endangered mountain gorilla. An encounter with a silver-back gorilla can be a hair-raising experience and one you will never forget! The welcoming people, lush landscapes and other wildlife attractions make Combined Uganda Rwanda Tours an ideal addition to any African safari.
Both of the places are worth visiting when it comes to Gorilla Trekking. Each of them has unique features. You can decide where to choose based on your needs.
Here we have the best comparison of the Gorilla Trekking experience in Rwanda and Uganda.
- Trekking Cost
The budget is the first thing considered when planning starts. Let’s start with the permit cost. Permit for Bwindi is almost half that of Volcanoes. It costs only US$700 in Bwindi, while Volcanoes charges US$1,500 for trekking for one hour.
You will also find more luxury options in Rwanda than in Uganda. Uganda offers a few more comparatively mid-range options. You can also find luxury accommodations in Uganda and mid-range in Rwanda.
Even though the dry season is preferred for visiting, you can never be sure that it will not rain. So, carry rain gear with you no matter where you choose to visit.
As we are comparing both national parks, Volcanoes Park receives less rain than Bwindi. It is less slippery and tracks are easier to find in Volcanoes.
Volcanoes Park is located at a higher altitude compared to Bwindi. Climbing Bwindi is much easier in this aspect.
If you want to see gorillas in the wild, you’ll need a permit. This allows countries to control the amount of people visiting gorilla groups. It also allows national parks to raise the money necessary to protect these endangered primates. The permits grant access to one trek and one hour with the gorillas. The length of the trek may vary, depending on where the gorillas are on any given day.
Both Parks provide permits for spending one hour with Gorillas. Each troop receives 8 persons a day for one hour.
An additional service that Uganda Gorilla Tour offers is Gorilla Habituation Permits. These permits allow you to spend up to 4hrs with the Gorilla family. 2 troops have been trained for this habituation experience. You can make calls, collect specimens, and do other activities with them.
You can save on your cost of travelling by choosing Rwanda. It only takes 3hr to reach Volcanoes from Kigali airport. It will make up your trekking fair. If you are planning for a quick Gorilla Trekking, Rwanda Gorilla Trekking supports you.
As per Bwindi, reaching by road takes up to 8hrs from the nearest airport. As this takes a long route by road, you can explore Uganda on your way.
Volcanoes will show you the open view of the Tropical rainforest. You will find a volcanic mountain range known as the Virungas here. You can easily observe the Gorillas in Volcanoes.
Bwindi is a denser forest where gorilla watching is comparatively challenging. It may take hours of trekking to find a troop to watch. You will find dark green forests wherever you look.
The Best Time For Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and Uganda is from June to August and a few days from December to February. These are the dry months. Trails are less slippery during this period. Try avoiding peaks of the rainy season, that is, April to May and October to November. Our Gorilla Trekking Tips to help you plan your gorilla safari to Uganda or Rwanda
However, Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda receives less rainfall from May to February.
A Tabular Comparison of Gorilla Trekking experience in Rwanda and Uganda
| Category | Rwanda | Uganda |
| Trekking Cost | US$1500 per head | US$700 per head for a general permit US$1500 for Gorilla Habituation Permits |
| Trekking condition | Higher altitude Less slippery | Lower altitude More slippery |
| Trekking Permits | One hour of trekking after finding the troop | One hour of trekking after finding the troop Gorilla habituation permits about 4hrs with Gorillas |
| Accessibility | 3hrs away from Airport | 8hrs away from Airport |
| Landscape | Open landscape, easier to find Gorilla | In dense forests takes longer to find Gorilla |
| Best time for Trekking | June to August and a few days from December to February; it receives comparatively less rainfall. | June to August and a few days from December to February; It receives more rainfall |
Other Things To Explore Besides Gorilla Trekking
Other than Gorilla trekking, there are various activities to explore the place.
Uganda Safaris has better options than Rwanda. You can find Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Park are two Savannah reserves. You can find Africa’s famous Big 5. You can go Chimpanzee Trekking and chill beside Lake Bunyonyi.
If you are opting for Rwanda Safari Tours, say hello to the adventure activities of Rwanda Safaris. There are various activities like bird watching, canopy walking, etc. You can do kayaking on Kivu Lake.
We hope, all the above information must have given you some insights into which country to choose for Gorilla Trekking, Rwanda or Uganda. If you are still confused or want to know more, talk to our safari guides.
Plan your next Uganda Safari Tour and Rwanda Safaris Tour with us, our Safari experts at Gorilla Trips will perfectly plan your safari so that you can discover the best of both countries.
Conclusion
Both Uganda Safaris and Rwanda Safaris offer you unique Gorilla Trekking in Africa. You can choose any of the places for trekking. If time permits, we suggest you visit both destinations with our suggested Combined Uganda Rwanda Tours Packages which offer you an unforgettable Gorilla Trekking experience.
