Uganda Or Rwanda Which Is The best Gorilla Trekking Safari Destination

Of Uganda and Rwanda the best gorilla trekking safari destination can only be identified when you visit both countries. As for gorilla trekking experience, each gorilla family has its own traits that distinguish it from another. In Uganda, gorilla trekking safaris happen in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park while Rwanda has Volcanoes National Park.

From Kigali Airport, the drive to Volcanoes National Park is about 3 hours while from Entebbe Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park, drive time is about 8 to 9 hours.

Currently 12 gorilla trekking families are open to the public in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda where as over 20 gorilla trekking families are open to the public in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. In addition, Uganda offer gorilla habituation experience where tourists have four hours with the mountain gorillas in company of researchers. Mountain gorillas in there natural environment usually show there reality and have control over every action they do unlike the gorillas in confinement. Being a few meters from the mountain gorillas normally brings some chills and goose bumps. Many tourists refer to this experience as life changing witnessing the true nature of these primates away from how they are portrayed in films ad animations

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Where to go for gorilla trekking in Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park is the only home for the mountain gorillas in Rwanda with about 12 gorilla trekking families open to the public. The topography of Volcanoes National Park is rugged with 5 highlands that are part of the six Virunga Volcanoes that is Mountain Gahinga, Sabyinyo, Muhavura, Bisoke and Karisimbi.

At the start of the gorilla trekking, tourists gather at the ranger station at the ORTPN for briefing before they are allocated to the available gorilla families. Maximum 8 tourists are allowed to visit each gorilla family per day to minimize on the effects of mass tourism to the environment.

Where to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda with about 19 gorilla trekking families in the four areas under which the park is divided that is Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga. Gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are booked according to the four areas.

Bwindi impenetrable National Park offers another activity called gorilla habituation experience where maximum 4 tourists accompany a team of researchers to have four hours with the semi-habituated mountain gorillas

Some of the gorilla trekking families in Bwindi include Bweza, Mushaya, Nshongi, Rushegura, Mubare, Busingye, Kasingye and many others. It is quite hard to determine which is the best gorilla trekking family to trek because each has different characteristic.

Beyond gorilla trekking, Bwindi forest is home to more than 350 bird species including Albertine rift endemics. Some of the birds on Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include Handsome Francolin, Shelley’s crimsonwing, Dusky’s Crimsonwing, Rwenzori Turaco and others. More than 200 tree species, 88 months, 315 butterfly species, 10 primate species and others are inhabitants of the forest too.

Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park is another home to the mountain gorillas in Uganda but so far one gorilla family is open to the public that is Nyakagezi. This gorilla family is steadily living in Uganda even though in the part it used to cross into Rwanda.

Mgahinga National Park has untouched environment because it has been less travelled so you may get more authentic gorilla trekking experience when you visit this park. The topography of Mgahinga National Park is composed of 3 of the 6 Virunga volcanoes that is mountain Gahinga, Muhavura and Sabyinyo

The golden monkeys are also residents of Mgahinga National Park but these are a special monkey species with a larger body, golden brown hairs on the lower bottom. Even though they are habituated, the golden monkeys still posses there natural traits so expect to stay on your toes the entire time. You can do golden monkey trekking or golden monkey habituation experience.

Birding in Mgahinga National Park is another activity you will do as more than 115 bird species have been recorded as residents of this park including Albertine Rift Endemics.

What is the difference between gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda

In Rwanda, the cost of gorilla trekking permits is about $1500 for foreign nonresidents, $500 for International residents, $500 for other Africans and $200 for East Africans. Currently the cost of the Uganda gorilla trekking permit is $800 for international nonresidents, $700 for International residents, $500 for Other Africans and 300000shs for East Africans.

The shortest time for a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda is 2 days gorilla trekking in Rwanda. The shortest gorilla trekking safari itinerary in Uganda is 3 days gorilla trekking tour in Uganda.

Rwanda has currently 12 gorilla trekking families open to the public while Uganda at the moment has 20 gorilla trekking families open to the public. Four Uganda gorilla habituation experience in families are open to the public too.

From gorilla trekking Uganda has other options of safari activities to combine with this adventure including visit to the source of River Nile, different chimpanzee safari destinations, game parks, water activities, rich cultural centers and others. Rwanda has few options of additional safari activities to combine with gorilla trekking that is chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park, game drives in Akagera National Park, Rich Rwanda culture and others.

To get to Volcanoes National Park the drive time is about 3 hours whereas the drive time to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park is about 8 to 9 hours.  

The gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda is steep because 5 of the six Virunga Volcanoes are on ground but fun too. Even though 3 of the six Virunga Volcanoes are in Mgahinga National Park the way to the mountain gorillas in this park is fairly passable.

To get to the gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda, you can pass via Kigali international airport in Rwanda then Cyanika border into Uganda at a drive tine of about 5 to 6 hours. This is a shorter drive time. To break the journey from Entebbe international Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park a detour to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park or Lake Mburo National Park which is situated along the way.

Note that having a moment with the mountain gorillas is a unique experience that leaves many visitors yarning for another meeting because every moment with them is so natural pure and not choreographed. Watch the gorillas feed, grooms, sibling rivalry, gorillas fart and many other. The time with the mountain gorillas is minimized to allow them go about there daily life.

What To Expect On Gorilla Trekking Safari In Uganda And Rwanda

Some of the universal traits you may expect when the mountain gorillas include

When with the mountain gorillas, they live in families under the headship of the dominant silverback who fights too and nail to protect his sovereignty.

Expect to move in a dense forest with a thick canopy letting in less sunrays to the ground. The ground is often soggy from the dense network of rivers that crisscross the forest and may flood sometimes. Rains fall any time of the day in Bwindi or Mgahinga or Volcanoes forest without warning no matter the season.

Other than the mountain gorillas, these forests also inhabit other animals including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys and others. A multitude of birds are residents of Bwindi, Mgahinga or Volcanoes forests.

Open your mind to being hopeful to find the mountain gorillas because time taken to locate these primates depends on different factors including food proximity, weather conditions prevailing in the day, pace of fellow tourists and others. No matter which time you take to find the mountain gorillas be sure to find them.

Even though 8 meters from the mountain gorillas is recommended when you find these primates, out of curiosity, the mountain gorillas may move towards you when you show up. Donot try to resist there touch even though you may feel a cold chill down your spine. Pretend not to mind so that not to cause any suspension.

Expect to be teased by the mountain gorillas if they decide too but try not to run away because this may end in causing a stampede in the forest.

Can Mountain Gorillas Turn Dangerous During Gorilla Trekking

Mountain gorillas in nature are serene even though there physically appearance may be mistaken for being capable of getting physical. Even when you show up, the gorilla family remains calm going about there activities as they have to chew enough foliage to take them through the day and night as an adult male consumes over 200 kilograms of foliage per day.

Before heading for gorilla trekking, every tourist must attend briefing where the rules of this adventure are explained in details and expected to be followed. Some of these gorilla safari rules aim at creating peace when with the mountain gorillas like no flash photography when with the mountain gorillas, no provoking the mountain gorillas and others.

Even though these primates are considered calm most of the time, they can charge when agitated. When they mountain gorillas charge, they hoot, thump there chest hard, pull grass around them and many other reactions. It is not all the time that when you witness such odd behavior that these primates are angry with you so try not to panic.

Wait for the ranger guide to provide new guidelines on how to calm the situation and cooperate as instructed even when it means pretending to chew foliage, showing submission and others.

Is Gorilla trekking worth the money and holiday time

Going on gorilla trekking tour is worth the money because you are one of the lucky tourists of the day to visit these primates.

Gorilla trekking is on the bucket list of most adventure seekers so meeting them is s dream come true experience.

By purchasing the gorilla permit, you contribute to the fund that supports the sustainable existence of these endangered primates.

When you hire a porter during gorilla trekking adventure, you directly contribute to the livelihood of the local people living around these areas. Community sensitization is very important during the process of gorilla conservation but some of the tactics to use is directly involving members of the community where they can benefit.

Even apportion of the money collected from the sell of the gorilla permits about 10% is given back to the community to run there projects.    

What is the cost of the gorilla trekking safari in Uganda or Rwanda

The cost of the gorilla trekking safari in Uganda or Rwanda are categorized into Upscale, mid range and basic. When calculating the cost of Uganda safari or Rwanda safari, the gorilla permit cost must be your foremost cost because it is compulsory for every tourist.

Other than the gorilla permits, there are other costs that support safari in Uganda including transport costs that is vehicle hire, gas or fuel, driver guide hire, maintenance, taxes and other expense, accommodation costs and many others.

Our team of safari consultants are in ground to help you put together an itinerary that fits within your time on gorilla tour, advise on additional Uganda safari or Rwanda tour activities to combine with gorilla safari and others. The safari consultants from Arch Safaris And Tours are ready to provide free advise on the gorilla safaris make a quotation that fits in your budget. Customer satisfaction is our top priority.

What is the age limit for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda

The age limit for gorilla trekking in Rwanda is 15 years and over because of the steepness of the topography of Volcanoes National Park where five of the six Virunga mountains are present. The age limit for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 12 years and over even though initially it was 15 years and over. These mountain gorilla families in Uganda and Rwanda are free to move in the forest with nothing to stop them so one need to have some level of fitness. Children below this age may be incapable of completing the gorilla trek. Contact Us