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Uganda vs Rwanda for Gorilla Trekking – Which is the Better Place?
Uganda vs Rwanda for gorilla trekking – which is better as we compare Rwanda’s easy accessibility and less vegetation cover vs. Uganda’s better gorilla trekking experience (habituation experience), affordable prices and availability of other attractions after gorilla trekking.
Gorilla trekking is one of our favourite experiences on an all-inclusive African safari, and we can guarantee you that it’s worth it. Observing these gentle giants from a distance of not less than 10 metres (32 feet) on the cold floor of a tropical East African rainforest as they munch on fruit and plants and groom or play with one another is a once-in-a-lifetime moment that stays with you forever. But to embark on a memorable gorilla trekking Uganda or Rwanda excursion, you must first decide where to go and see them.
So how would you choose between Uganda vs Rwanda for gorilla trekking? While both Uganda and Rwanda offer excellent gorilla trekking experiences, it is important to decide which particular destination you are interested in visiting as we discuss below.
1. Where to Go Gorilla Trekking
You can go gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda as they offer sustainable and safe gorilla trekking experiences, unlike the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where security may not be guaranteed. Besides, Uganda and Rwanda offer the best opportunities to see the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, with 98% chances. So, whichever country you visit, you’ll be able to observe these gentle giants at close range in the wild.
In Uganda, you can go trekking the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, while in Rwanda, you go gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. There is a larger and steadier gorilla population in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park than in Mgahinga, making the former the better and more popular alternative.
These magnificent creatures are heavily protected in their natural habitats against poaching, so it’s most likely that there are strict rules you will follow in order to see them. Your choice of gorilla trekking destination will also be influenced by other activities you’ll do after your gorilla trekking safari since you’ll be seeing the gorillas in one day.
2. Accessibility in Uganda vs Rwanda
Most of Uganda’s mountain gorillas may not be easily accessible since they live in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park located in the extreme southwest. This positions it decently far from the capital city of Kampala and Entebbe International Airport, both of which are in central Uganda. It takes approximately 9–10 hours of driving time to access this gorilla region.
However, Rwanda’s mountain gorillas are easily accessible since the country is relatively small. These great apes live in Volcanoes National Park, which is located in the country’s far northwest with close proximity to the airport. Accessing Volcanoes National Park is a relatively easy affair. It’s a short drive of about two and a half hours to arrive at the doorstep of the park.
Although you can access Bwindi by a two and a half-hour flight from Entebbe or through Kigali in 4-5 hours’ drive time, the volcanoes’ close proximity to Kigali international airport is a major draw for Rwanda’s mountain gorilla tourism industry as compared to Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
3. Vegetation in Uganda vs Rwanda
Bwindi is quite thick, given the density of vegetation cover. It is a tropical rainforest that sits between 1160m and 2607m above sea level, encompassing a densely forested area. That means it can be a little difficult to follow the tracks and see the gorillas. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is located in the Virunga region, with higher altitudes ranging from 2,400m to 4,507m as compared to Bwindi.
However, the magic lies in the nature of vegetation cover, where although volcanoes sits at a higher altitude, it is occupied by bamboo shoots, which are easier to walk through as compared to Bwindi’s thick forested landscape which sits at a lower altitude. The terrain is also less difficult as it is more open and less covered by vegetation.
4. Trekking Experience in Uganda vs Rwanda
Both Uganda and Rwanda offer thrilling gorilla trekking experiences. The mountain gorillas in both countries are the same species, with similar behaviors and visitor number restrictions. The chances of observing them in their natural habitat are about 98 percent, so whatever destination you visit, you’ll be able to see these gentle giants.
However, Uganda offers a more extended experience through the ‘gorilla habituation experience’, where wild gorillas are gradually accustomed to human presence for daily trekking excursions. In this case, you have more time to spend with semi-habituated gorillas in Bwindi, up to 4 hours under the guidance of expert trackers and researchers, compared to the usual trekking standard, which lasts an hour.
5. In terms of Prices in Uganda vs Rwanda
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is more affordable than in Rwanda. Uganda gorilla permits on the one hand cost USD 800 per person per trek for foreign non-residents, USD 700 for foreign residents, and USD 70 for East African citizens. You will have the opportunity to spend an hour with a habituated gorilla family. The gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi costs USD 1,500, and you’ll spend a maximum of four hours in their presence.
A gorilla permit in Rwanda on the other hand costs USD 1500 per person per trek for foreign non-residents, USD 500 for foreign residents, and USD 200 for East African citizens. This price is high for an average traveler as compared to that in Uganda. When comparing the two destinations, Uganda offers much more affordable gorilla permits than Rwanda.
The price variation is brought about by the policies in these two East African countries. While Uganda positions itself as an affordable destination, Rwanda promotes itself as a luxury destination.
6. Availability of Other Attractions in Uganda vs Rwanda
Uganda is the better place to be if you’re considering availability of other attractions after your gorilla trekking experience. Uganda on the one hand has ten national parks that can easily be combined with gorilla trekking in either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Rwanda, on the other hand, is a smaller country with only four national parks. Volcanoes National Park, which offers gorilla trekking, is the prime safari destination. Others are Nyungwe National Park, which is popular for chimpanzee tracking; Akagera National Park for big game (big five) viewing; and Gishwati Mukura National Park.
Conclusively, whether you choose Uganda’s affordable gorilla trekking permits and diverse wildlife attractions or Rwanda’s ease of transportation, both countries offer excellent gorilla trekking experiences of a lifetime to an intrepid traveler under the guidance of expert trackers.
