Gorilla Tracking in Uganda

Gorilla Tracking in Uganda and Rwanda

Gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda takes you to the prehistoric Bwindi forest and Virunga forest in Rwanda. For those charmed by the gorillas tracking experience in Uganda, you may decide to cross to Rwanda the home of a thousand hills for another gorilla experience.

Cross border gorilla tracking is one of the enthralling safaris in Africa giving you the opportunity to keenly analyse the behaviour of mountain gorillas. This is commonly done between Uganda and Rwanda because of the advantage of sharing the Virunga Volcanoes area where Mt Gahinga, Mt Muhabura and Mt Sabyinyo are home to the gorillas.

One may decide to track gorillas in Uganda but spend the night in Rwanda. We organise such trips, secure for you the required documents and provide relevant information concerning both countries.

Since gorilla tracking starts as early as 8:00am in Uganda and 7:00 am in (Kinigi)Rwanda, clients have to report to the ranger station earlier for briefing on matters concerning how to behave while in the forest, the rules of gorilla tracking, the gorilla trekking gears, advise on the porters and other jungle behaviour.

Routes to take and border posts to use for crossing into Rwanda or Uganda for Gorilla Trekking

Tracking gorillas while coming from Uganda or Rwanda necessitates that you spend a night in either countries to avoid risking the chance of waking up very early to drive long for about 2 hours to catch up with the gorilla tracking time.

To cross to Rwanda from Uganda via Kisoro, you may drive for about 40 km through Cyanika border to Musaze or from Buhoma to Cyanika border post, the drive is about 4 to 5 hours for about 250 km

How to apply for Rwanda or Uganda Visa Before a Gorilla Trek Safari

Before crossing the border, you must to apply for a visa to Rwanda online through www.migration.gov.rw . Although, a visa can be acquired at the border, it is advisable to apply for it at least two weeks in advance of travel to reduce on the time taken at the border.

At times, to complete all the border procedures you may take about 2 hours yet you need to get there in time and relax. However nationals from Germany, Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom, Mauritius, Kenya, Singapore, South Africa, Burundi, D.R. Congo, USA and Canada may enter freely in Rwanda. Other travellers must apply for there visa in advance of travel.

For Uganda, one can acquire a tourist visa at any Ugandan entry point like Entebbe immigration, Cyanika and the procedures do not take long.

Where to Stay Before Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Various accommodations available in Musaze and to be closer to the gorillas you may spend the night in Kinigi. Some of the accommodations available include:

• Sabyinyo silverback Lodge
• Kinigi guest House
• Virunga Volcanoes Lodge
• Golden monkey Hotel
• La Palme
• Lebambou
• Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

Where to Stay Before Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

In Uganda, gorilla trekking is done in Bwindi National park but this is divided into two sectors that is the northern sector which is further divided into Buhoma and Ruhija and the southern sector.

It is advisable to book accommodation in the sector where you are going to do gorilla tracking because of the long distance between the two sectors.

Buhoma gorilla safari accommodations include

• Gorilla Forest Camp
• Buhoma Community Rest House
• Engage lodge
• Silverback lodge
• Bwindi View Bandas

Ruhija Gorilla Safari accommodations include

• Ruhija Gorilla Lodge
• Trekker’s Tavern
• Ruhija Community Rest Camp

Nkuringo/ Rushaga Gorilla Safari accommodations include

• Nkuringo Gorilla Camp
• Clouds lodge
• Gorilla Safari Lodge

Mgahinga National park gorilla safari lodges

• Kisoro Traveller’s Rest Camp
• Mt Gahinga Lodge
• Kisoro Tourist Hotel