Last Updated on July 29, 2022 by admin
Hi, this is me in my 60s passing along to you this information about gorilla trekking in Uganda vs Rwanda. I have been on Gorilla trekking Uganda Tours in Bwindi National Park. You may already have heard this. Gorilla trekking is a life-changing experience. That is right! Furthermore, it is one of the pillars of Uganda and Rwanda’s tourism potential.
Is Uganda or Rwanda better for Gorilla Trekking?
Gorilla trekking tours are usually subject to discussion. Is Uganda or Rwanda better for gorilla trekking? The answer is yes! The two countries offer unforgettable wildlife experiences. Uganda Gorilla Tours are as amazing as Rwanda Gorilla Trekking tours are. The only difference is the Gorilla permit price. $1500 US in Rwanda vs $700US in Uganda. Let’s get into the detail about the Gorilla Trekking Uganda vs Rwanda at any age debate.
Gorilla Trekking Uganda vs Rwanda 2018 Figures
According to the Rwandan Development Board (RDB),
In 2018, RDB sold 15,132 gorilla permits worth US$ 19.2 million, a 25% increase compared to 2017.
According to the 2018 State of Wildlife Resources in Uganda(page 69)
…almost 83.3% of protected area revenue comes from only three wildlife national parks (Bwindi Impenetrable, Murchison Falls, and Queen Elizabeth National Parks) of which 51% comes from the sale of gorilla tracking permits.
My 2019 Gorilla Trekking Uganda Tour Experience
First, my husband and I loved trekking gorillas. In the summertime, we climb mountains and love nature. Trekking gorillas in Bwindi National Park was such a great experience for us. We hope it will be the same case with you. As you are just reading this, I can’t wait to see you relay your Gorilla trekking experience as you pursue it this summer.
We decided to trek gorillas in Uganda to save some money on the gorilla permits. Yeah, the reason for trekking gorillas in Bwindi National Park was purely mathematical, $600 US versus $1500 US. If I must name one little “disadvantage” of the trek, is a little elevation which for most travelers is just a piece of cake. Yeah, Gorilla trekking is relatively a moderate physical activity.
Gorilla Trek Uganda Walking to Gorillas
Our trekking journey was in total six miles (I used my iPhone to track the distance) from and back to the Gorilla trek briefing assembly point. We were eight in our trekking group and there were some elderly people as well. No members of the group experienced any pacing issues. We were advised, that the gorilla trek could take a few hours hiking, working our way through lush, dense rainforest. The park ranger was well organized. He knew the right trekking itinerary.
Gorilla Watching– Seeing the primates in their natural habitat
Gorilla trekking was our main activity, but we asked the tour operator we booked the trip with to add a few other wildlife visits. We also tracked Chimpanzees in Kibale and did a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Parks. On our Uganda wildlife tour, we also visited Kibale National Park. Tracking the chimpanzees was scheduled the day before our Gorilla trekking. The experience was so cool as well. Seeing the primates in their natural habitat.
Seeing Tree Climbing Lions in Uganda When Booked Gorilla Trek
Another striking experience was in Queen Elizabeth Park where we saw tree-climbing lions. It was a unique and fun thing to see climbing lions, a worth-mentioning highlight on our Africa trip. We had booked eight days on our Uganda itinerary. The country has beautiful national parks. I would recommend at least a week to explore them.
Choosing Gorilla Trek Lodges
We loved the lodges where we stayed. There are good lodges in Bwindi ranging from luxury to budget accommodation. We went with four-star lodgings while trekking Gorillas. The great thing they all have in common is that they all are located nearby the park. So, choices are plenty. The accommodation will depend on the sector where you will be doing your gorilla trekking. There are five sectors: Ruhija, Rushaga, Nkuringo, Buhoma and Mgahinga.
One Hour Face to Face with the Giant Gorillas
Yay! Not enough words to describe my gorilla trekking tour experience. Hard to do justice to describing the hour you spend with the gorillas. So an amazing and fabulous encounter. In fact, the whole trip was terrific and a great mix of activities and adventures.
Gorilla Trekking Uganda Reviews: Best Time to Go
We went trekking Gorilla in August 2019. I looked at other tour companies, checked reviews finally decided to go with Augustine Tours because they came up with the best proposal at the best cost. We had a list of things and places we wanted to see next to Gorilla trekking.
The company was quick to design a custom tour that a few companies we contacted before didn’t want to do. We just realized that the level of tour customization is not offered by all tour providers that take customers into their pre-packaged tours.
I checked reviews and several other companies before booking and they had great reviews. They did a great job for a reasonable price since gorilla trekking is certainly not cheap. Our driver/guide was just terrific – in fact, he made the trip very special. The tour company was so quick to respond, fast and informative with all aspects of the trip. Yeah, we had a great wildlife experience.
Final thoughts
My Gorilla Trekking Uganda vs Rwanda at any age review aims at sharing my opinion on trekking Gorilla in Uganda vs Rwanda and help answer FAQs on Gorilla trekking tours like those five I had before my trip.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gorilla Trekking
#1 Is Gorilla Trekking Rwanda or Uganda better?
#2 Gorilla Trekking Uganda vs Rwanda: Is Gorilla Trekking worth the money?
#3 Where is the Best place to see Gorillas in the wild?
#4 Where to go Gorilla Trekking Uganda vs Rwanda?
#5 How difficult is Gorilla trekking in Rwanda?
Whether you go Gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda, one thing is for sure to amaze you. Trekking Gorilla is a life-changing wildlife experience.
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