Gorilla trekking in Uganda vs Rwanda comparisons
Let’s start by Comparing Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda Safari or Gorilla trekking in Uganda vs Rwanda. Compare gorilla tour experiences in the two gorilla safari destinations in East Africa. Mountain gorillas are one of the two subspecies of eastern gorillas that are on the IUCN red list. There is an estimate of about 1080 individuals in the wild. Uganda is home to half of this world’s gorilla population. The rest live in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Gorilla trekking Safaris in Uganda take you deep into the rainforest jungle. The forests are in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park where you follow a group of habituated gorillas. Almost half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas reside in Uganda’s Bwindi forest. In Rwanda, you can find mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda provides you the opportunity to observe the daily interactions of mountain gorillas in their wild habitats. Therefore one can choose to take a gorilla trek in either Uganda or Rwanda. You can also do the activity or can do both depending on some factors such as;
Comparisons of GorillaTrekking in Uganda Vs Rwanda
The cost of Gorilla permits
When comparing gorilla trekking in Uganda vs Rwanda, the cost of the permit is an important factor to consider. A Uganda gorilla trekking permit costs USD800, While a Rwanda gorilla permit costs USD1500. This makes Uganda gorilla Safari cheaper than the Rwanda tour. This cost comparison is basically for non-resident visitors.
Therefore visitors on a budget safari will find it easier to choose the Uganda gorilla trek. For tourists who plan to take a luxury gorilla safari, a Rwanda gorilla trekking permit can be a choice for them.
The cost of 2 gorilla permits in Uganda is almost equal to one gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda. Yet, you get one hour on each permit with the gorillas in both countries. Therefore 2 gorilla trekking permits in Uganda mean you have the opportunity to trek gorillas twice. This is the cost of 1 single gorilla permit in Rwanda.
The cost of a gorilla permit in Rwanda is equal to the cost of a gorilla habituation permit in Uganda. Yet, a habituation experience is more satisfying than a gorilla trekking experience. The gorilla habituation experience allows you 4 hours with the mountain gorillas. You can also take part in the activity of helping the gorillas get used to human presence.
The terrain of the parks
Gorilla trekking requires physical fitness as it involves hiking up and down the hills in search of gorillas. Therefore it is somehow easier to trek for gorillas in Rwanda as it’s not as hilly and thick as in Bwindi forest in Uganda. It requires you to be physically fit to trek through the thick forest in search of gorillas.
The number of gorilla families
Uganda has 24 gorilla families with 23 in Bwindi and 1 family in Mgahinga whereas Rwanda has 10 gorilla families. 8 people visit each family per day, meaning 192 people track in Uganda per day. 80 people track in Rwanda giving a higher chance to get a gorilla permit in Uganda than in Rwanda.
There are 4 gorilla habituation permits in Uganda daily, where one spends four hours with the mountain gorillas.
Ease of access (time and travel);
Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is a 3-hour drive from Kigali, the capital city on a well-maintained tarmac road. Therefore making it easy to access the park from the Airport, whereas in Uganda to access Bwindi Impenetrable forest it requires a 9 -10 hour drive from the main entry at Entebbe airport, giving you time to discover more along the way.
But one can charter a flight to Bwindi forest at an extra cost. Alternatively, you can access Bwindi from Kigali with a minimum of a 4-5 hour drive. So, someone with a tight program needs at least a 2-day safari in Rwanda and a 3-day tour in Uganda to track the gorillas on a short trip.
Other activities done alongside gorilla trekking:
Both countries offer adventure tour activities other than gorilla trekking which you can add on your trip. However, Rwanda offers a limited range of tour activities like chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe forest, golden monkey trekking, and birding.
On the other hand, Uganda has numerous activities that one can combine with Gorilla trekking to make an adventurous safari. For instance, taking a waterfall nature walk in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park after the gorilla trek is an amazing experience.
Take a Safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park where you will find tree-climbing lions, Elephants, Leopards, and buffaloes. You also find the most popular Uganda Kobs. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park to meet the delightful apes. They are so closer to human beings than any other creature.
Visiting Murchison Falls National Park with its most powerful waterfalls in the world is a satisfying experience. Go white water rafting on River Nile, Boat cruise at Kazinga channel and Lake Mburo. You can also go for Cultural visits to the Batwa and many more that Uganda can offer.
Accommodation and lodging;
Uganda has many accommodation options in the 4 sectors of Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and NKuringo. This gives all kinds of people different choices. The best gorilla safari lodges include; Buhoma Lodge, Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, and Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge.
Each of the 4 sectors of Bwindi forest offers all forms of accommodation ranging from budget to luxury. In Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, there are limited lodges which are usually filled and very expensive. But you can access places to spend a night in both countries depending on your budget.
Comparing gorilla trekking Photography and Views;
In Volcanoes National Park, mostly the vegetation is bamboo with short grass. This gives you a bit clearer view of the gorillas and good pictures. That is especially true if there is no rain because rain makes it foggy to the extent that you can’t see gorillas clearly and see a person next to you easily.
Bwindi being an Impenetrable forest means the vegetation is so thick making it a bit difficult to have good views through the vines and better photography in some sectors. However, great photos can also be taken depending on the location of the gorillas and the quality of your camera.
Allocations of the mountain gorilla family;
In Uganda permits are allocated and sold based on first come first serve without considering the physical fitness of Visitors, therefore one must be able to track any family allocated to them in any of the 4 sectors of the park.
Gorilla families in Rwanda are allocated depending on the age, physical fitness, and personal interests of the tourist. To get easy to trek gorilla family in Uganda for example for weak, elderly, and less physically fit people, you need to inform your tour driver/ guide the night before the trekking day to request an easy-to-track group. In Bwindi, there are also sedan chairs to help the physically weak or the elderly trek. Porters are also available to help carry the luggage of the tourists.
Community development;
Uganda gives 20% of the gorilla permit revenue to community development. This is a good Corporate Social Responsibility strategy. Rwanda gives only 10% of the gorilla tracking permit revenue to community development.
Ease of communication
Communication in Uganda is easier with the English language commonly spoken everywhere in the country. However, in Rwanda, many locals speak Kinyarwanda and French with less English making it hard to communicate if you are not with your guide.
With all the above said, the choice still lies in your hands with each country having its good and bad sides. Both countries are safe for travel. Though Uganda is still considered the best destination for mountain gorilla trekking comparing it with other parks in the world. Therefore, choose a destination that best suits your budget and travel goals.
Then after choosing your favorite destination, choose your tour operator, for a gorilla package with all the activities of your choice.
