Gorilla Trekking Rwanda Vs Uganda

Gorilla Trekking Uganda and Rwanda are both found in the East African region, very close to each other, they are land-locked countries, Rwanda borders Uganda in the south, and Uganda is positioned in the northern direction. Uganda covers an area of approximately 236,040sq km while Rwanda covers a small area of just 26,338km the fourth smallest country on the African mainland after the Gambia.


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

Rwanda’s mountainous landscape famously known as the land of a thousand hills with towns and cities being located at substantial elevations with mountains and hills everywhere has come to be known for its wildlife biodiversity in large primates, mammals, bird life, chimpanzees, and the elusive golden monkeys but the most sought after are the rare endangered mountain gorillas that attract tourists from all parts of the world both in Africa and out like a magnet on metal.

Mountain gorillas being their major tourist attraction Parc des Volcans in French and volcanos national park in English was established in 1925 to protect and conserve this biodiversity the elusive golden monkeys and rare endangered mountain gorillas for tourism with 12 gorilla troops or families available for tourism. The chances of seeing the gorillas in both the country are best from the moment they wake up in the morning from their nests as they feed deep in the forest interior. The ambiance and hospitality at the volcanoes park headquarter (Kinigi ) are different from that of Bwindi, where a coffee shop gives out free cups of tea to any guest as well as provides a free Wi-Fi

A total of 96 gorilla trekking permits are issued on a daily by the Rwanda development board (RDB) since each family is trekked by a maximum of 8 individuals. The park is very accessible with well-constructed roads straight from the airport to the park just northwest of Rwanda at only 160km encompassing 5 of the 8 Virunga volcanoes, Gahinga, Karisimbi, Muhabura, Bisoke, and Sabinyo.  The park is famously known to be the base of the Californian zoologist Diana Fossey in Karismbi who was the first person to get close to these gentle giants. The park is blessed with a total of 340 gorillas and a trekking session would only cost a tourist $1500, with that taking care of the trekking permit you still need to have $ 50 for a PCR test before going for a trek, it’s done to control the spread of covid 19 to the apes since they can easily catch human disease but this directly increases the cost of seeing gorillas in Rwanda which is not the case in Uganda.

mountain gorillas in Uganda

mountain gorillas in Uganda

Uganda is a dramatic land of contrasts, at just 93000km in size equivalent to the United Kingdom or the US state. Uganda is a land located country in the East African region bordered by South Sudan in the north, Kenya in the East, Tanzania in the south, Congo in the West, and Rwanda in the southwest. Besides being landlocked, the country lies astride the Equator between latitude 4 north and 2 south, its divided into various districts though the capital city is Kampala. Uganda is one of the best eco-tourism destinations in the world where tourists embark on walking safaris covered in dense forests of central Africa with East African savannah, open plains sinking beneath the great lakes and rise to mist rolls in the sunrise and sights of nature as the snow-capped mountains of the moon, indeed it is the pearl of Africa.

In Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable national park just 325km in southwestern Uganda is home to roughly half of the world’s mountain gorillas, this ancient rain forest one of a few in Africa to have flourished throughout the last ice age is home to 51 reptile species, over 120 mammal species, 200 tree species, 350 bird species with 480 wild mountain gorillas. Uganda charges as little as $ 700 for gorilla trekking and for the habituation process at $ 1500, here you just need to present the vaccination certificate and then go start the trekking adventure. Looking deep in the expressive brown eyes of these gentle giants is surely the most exciting and poignant wildlife encounter that Africa has to offer. Bwindi can be reached through QNEP in the north 2-3hrs or from Kampala via Mbarara 6-8 hrs. drive the roads meet at Botogota, 17km from the Buhoma entrance gate. 4x4car is recommended during the rains. The trekking permits can be pre-booked through your tour operator or directly through the UWA office.

Congo gorilla trekking

gorilla trekking in Rwanda

Maghinga gorilla national park is Uganda’s smallest park situated in Kisoro district in Uganda’s southwestern corner at just 33.7km , it covers the northern slopes of the northern Virunga volcanoes , mt Muhavura (4127) mt Gahinga (3,474) mt Sabinyo (3,645) and it’s the only park in the pearl of Africa where gold meets silver the park consists of partly forested slopes of the three extinct volcanoes  from far away the huge cones of the Virunga volcanoes dominate the landscape and beckon you as you approach , it was established in 1991 after being declared an area of sanctuary by the British administration to conserve and sustain its biodiversity of the endangered mountain gorillas with a population of 300 mountain gorillas and very few habituated families for tourism , brimming with personality and a playful character the golden monkeys are also residents in this national park , the Batwa people are also among the prolific colonies who have lived in the forests around for very many years ago .

Briefing in Uganda starts at 8:00 am while in Rwanda the briefing in Kinigi the park headquarters of volcanoes briefing starts at 7:00 am in the morning. Briefing at volcanoes is only done once unlike in Uganda where it did at the headquarters in Nkuringo and while trekking. Uganda offers habituated gorilla families whereas volcanoes do not offer tourists habituation.