Gorilla Trekking in Uganda Vs Rwanda

If you are fond of using reviews to guide your choice of a safari destination, choosing between Uganda and Rwanda gorilla trekking might be a tight choice because they both provide amazing gorilla trekking safaris. So what should you consider to guide your choice between the two countries?

Here are some of the things you should know about Rwanda gorilla trekking and gorilla trekking in Uganda in order to make an informed choice between the two countries.

Where to go gorilla trekking (Rwanda vs Uganda)#gorillas| best place to see gorillas in Africa.

Country Accessibility Internationally

Every international gorilla safari starts with an international flight. By the time anyone considers comparing the two countries, they are still in the planning stage. It is at this stage that you might have to compare which of the two countries is more accessible internationally than the other.

Rwanda is more accessible than Uganda. Rwanda Air which is Rwanda’s official national carrier has been in business longer than Uganda airlines. This gives it an edge in terms of international routes making it a more accessible destination internationally than Uganda.

National Parks Location From the Capital

Volcanoes national park is located within a three hours drive from Rwanda’s capital Kigali. In the case of Uganda, the gorilla national parks are located within a 9 hours drive from both Uganda’s capital Kampala and Entebbe international airport.

It is, therefore, easier to transfer to the gorilla trekking location in Rwanda than it is in Uganda.

Price of the Gorilla Trekking Permits

Uganda’s gorilla trekking permit for the foreign non-residents is $700 while Rwanda’s gorilla trekking permit goes for $1500.

This means that a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda costs more than double the price of a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda. The money spent on a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda can fund a gorilla safari in Uganda with some change at your disposal.

Safety In Rwanda Vs Uganda

Rwanda is a more secure destination than Uganda. Considering the state of the two countries in the last five years; Rwanda has not witnessed any destructive riots. Unlike Uganda which has been hit by terrorists more than twice, it has not been the case in Rwanda.

It is with such a background that we come to the conclusion that Rwanda is a more secure destination than Uganda.

Gorilla National Parks Options

Uganda has two gorilla trekking national parks. That is Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park. It is the only place in the whole world where you can find two mountain gorilla national parks.

Rwanda has only one gorilla national park; Volcanoes national park. This national park extends into Uganda. The Ugandan part of Volcanoes national park is called Mgahinga national park.

Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is a relatively distinct destination when it comes to gorilla trekking since it is not part of the Virunga conservation area. Anyone that has been to Volcanoes national park or Virunga national park will still have to visit Bwindi impenetrable forest national park for completely different terrain.

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Choice of Gorilla Trekking Family

Uganda still has more habituated gorilla families than Rwanda. There are 20 habituated gorilla families in Uganda. 19 of these are found in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and one family is found in Mgahinga gorilla national park. This is close to double the number of habituated gorilla families in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park.

However, unless under special arrangement, it is close to impossible to choose a particular gorilla family in the Bwindi impenetrable forest national park of Uganda. The easiest way to be sure of the family you will trek is to choose Mgahinga gorilla national park. This is not the case when it comes to gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

Rwanda offers the opportunity to choose a gorilla family of your choice.

Other safari Activities

Uganda Safaris have more to offer than Rwanda safaris. Kampala’s nightlife is still ahead of Kigali’s nightlife. Therefore if you are considering an after-trek destination, Uganda has more to offer than Rwanda.

It is also important to note that Uganda offers unique mountaineering experiences that can only be matched by Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Therefore if you are a hiking enthusiast, Uganda would be a more recommendable gorilla trekking destination since it will offer you more trekking experiences.