Combining gorilla trekking in Uganda with safari in Rwanda

For a combination of gorilla trekking in Uganda and a safari in Rwanda, you need to book a Uganda gorilla permit. For a safari in Rwanda, gorilla trekking is the foremost activity in the country. Uganda has limited gorilla permits, with about 21 gorilla trekking families open.

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To do gorilla trekking in Uganda, two open destinations are Bwindi Impenetrable national Park and Mgahinga National Park. To book a gorilla permit in Uganda, you have to purchase your permit in advance, at least six months to a year in advance.

For a safari in Rwanda, other than gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, you may also engage in chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park, game drives in Akagera National Park, Kigali city tour canopy walk, golden monkey trekking, and others.

Combining gorilla trekking in Uganda and safari in Rwanda allows you to experience the difference between gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda. You may also encounter Africa's most spectacular primate safari when you gorilla trekking in Uganda or go on a chimpanzee safari in Rwanda.

For travel formalities, you must acquire a visa in case you need one to go to Uganda or Rwanda. You may also apply for an East African visa to enter at least two member countries. Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya are currently subscribed to the East African tourist visa arrangement. You can also get a visa on arrival at the airport or immigration, but the process is lengthy. 

For transport, it is easier to move by road from Rwanda Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via the Gatuna or Cyanika border. The drive from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is about 5 to 6 hours. If you decide to start your journey from Entebbe or Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the drive is about 8 to 9 hours. Later, cross into Rwanda for a safari.

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and safari in Rwanda

Day 1 Drive to Volcanoes National Park

Your driver guide will drive you to Volcanoes National Park from Kigali in the early morning. The drive from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park is about 3 hours. Look out for the fantastic features you pass by from this park and the volcanic action in this park.

accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Kinigi Guest House, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Hotel Muhavura 

Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda 

Wake up early for breakfast and head to the ORTPN for a briefing. After you are allocated the gorilla families in Rwanda, follow the ranger guide and guidelines as you search for the mountain gorillas.

The park ranger follows the trail where the gorilla family was last seen the previous day. Finding the mountain gorillas may take about two hours or more, depending on where the gorilla family is feeding or other factors prevailing in the wilderness. Look out for other primates in the forest, like blue monkeys, olive baboons, black and white colobus, and others.

Look out for several birds the park hosts, especially for keen birders, including Albertine rift endemics.

Upon finding the mountain gorillas, only one hour is allowed with them, and later, leave them to go about their day-to-day activities.

Return to your lodge to relax.

Day 3 Drive to Nyungwe National Park for chimpanzee trekking

Nyumgwe National Park is home to chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda. The drive from Volcanoes National Park to Nyungwe National Park is about 5 hours. Arrive and check into your lodge.

Nyungwe accommodations: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Gisaku Guest House, Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Nyungwe House, Gisaku Family Hostel

Day 4 Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park

Rise for briefing at the Uwinka visitor center to start the chimpanzee trekking experience. After briefing, you are allocated to different chimpanzee troops. On the way, look out for other primates that the forest hosts, like black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, and others.

Upon locating the chimpanzees, only one hour is allowed with them to go about their daily life.

Note: Optional

Canopy walk

If you take the morning chimpanzee trekking experience but return to the lodge and are not so tired, you may take the optional canopy walk on the suspension bridge. This bridge is about 160 meters long and approximately 70 meters above the forest canopy. You can enjoy the great view of Nyungwe forest and surroundings from here.

Day 5: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

After the Rwanda safari, drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Gatuna or Cyanika borders. The road is winding as you negotiate corners of the several hills that make up Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills.

Arrive at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and check into your lodge

Bwindi accommodation: Clouds Lodge, Bwindi View Guest House, Engage Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Sliver back Lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Lodge

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Uganda 

After breakfast, you walk to the ranger station for briefing but do not forget your gorilla trekking gear and wear a mask. Carry an extra clean one to change into when you locate the mountain gorillas. Your ranger guide leads the way after you are allocated a gorilla family. 

You need to hold some patience before finding the mountain gorillas. This is because they move freely in the wilderness, and so the time of meeting them depends on factors prevailing in the wilderness.

 Upon finding the mountain gorillas, only one hour is allowed with them, but within this hour, take as many photos as you wish, watch the mountain gorillas do their day activities, and depart, leaving nothing behind but only your footprints.

Day 7 Departure 

These two options

You can return to Kigali for your departure flight( the drive time is about 5 to 6 hours) or drive to Entebbe airport for your departure flight(The drive time is about 8 to 9 hours but very scenic).

How to book gorilla trekking permits and chimpanzee permits

Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits are secured daily, so you must select a date for gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda. Choose when you hope to do chimpanzee trekking, either the morning or afternoon session. Note that gorilla trekking and chimpanzee safaris cannot be done in one day. Choose the dates following the guidance of the above itinerary.

Send us an inquiry about your Uganda gorilla trekking and safari in Rwanda. Avail the number of permits you wish to book in advance to avoid having to move back and forth with checking availability.

When you enquire from us, our tour consultant checks the availability of gorilla and chimpanzee permits from the Rwanda Development Board and Uganda Wildlife Authority list, respectively.

Upon getting positive feedback, our tour consultant will contact you immediately. Since the gorilla and chimpanzee permit status changes at any time without warning, we advise clients to purchase their permits as quickly as possible.

Later, provide us with some personal details for identification, like your full name presented on the passport, nationality, date of birth, passport expiry date, and others.

When is the best Time to Book gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda safari

Booking the gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda safari is open all year if you find permit availability. The above itinerary gives you insight into the primate experience in Uganda and Rwanda and helps you understand the difference between gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda.

The dry season, usually June to September and December to March, is most preferred for this gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda safari. Most of the safari activities in Uganda and Rwanda are done in the wilderness, which is waterlogged most of the time because less sunlight is let in through the dense canopy.

The dry season, being the peak tourism season of Uganda and Rwanda, attracts many tourists, creating scarcity as the season breaks in. You need to secure the permits at least six months to a year upfront to be safe and sure of attending these safari adventures.

The mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, and other forest dwellers are full of life and can be accessed easily by taking the trails that regular visitors created. There is less overgrown vegetation to cover the trails and obstruct the way.

Conversely, the wet season is usually the low tourism season in Uganda and Rwanda, from March to May and November. You may take advantage of the wet season if you wish exclusive attention while on safari. Few people are booking, and chances of getting last-minute gorilla and chimpanzee permits are more open.

If you want to find the difference between gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda and Rwanda but with a limited budget, you can take advantage of the low season. Chances of getting discounted safari costs are high on logistics like accommodations, vehicle hire, driver guide fee, and much more.

What is the cost of Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda safari?

The cost of the gorilla trekking in Uganda and safari in Rwanda starts with the cost of the gorilla permits. Also, the cost of chimpanzee permits in Rwanda.

Cost of Uganda gorilla trekking permit 

$800 for international nonresidents

$700 for resident foreigners

300,000 shs for East Africans.

The cost includes park entrance fees

Cost of Rwanda Gorilla Trekking permits

$1500 for international nonresidents

$500 for foreign residents

$250 for East Africans.

 The cost covers park entrance fees

Cost of Rwanda chimpanzee permits

$ 150 for foreign nonresidents 

$75 for foreign residents

$25 for East Africans

Price excludes park entrance fees.

Other than the cost of gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda and chimpanzee trekking permits in Rwanda, when costing this gorilla trekking in Uganda and safari in Rwanda, we consider other factors, too. We consider when to do this safari, the number of people traveling with, additional activities to combine with this adventure, the number of days for this tour, and so much more.

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we package our safari quotation according to Luxury, mid-range, and budget.

What are the dos and don'ts of gorilla trekking in Uganda and safari in Rwanda?

Since all the activities included in this safari include walking in the jungles of Uganda and Rwanda, below are the dos and don’ts of this adventure

• No flash photography is allowed when taking photos for the gorilla trekking adventure. This scares the mountain gorillas and other forest dwellers.
• Never eat or smoke before the mountain gorillas or other inhabitants because it may harm their health. Wild animals must look for their own food and not depend on human supply. 
• Littering in the forest is forbidden because it alters the natural setting where mountain gorillas feed. The mountain gorillas are vegetarian, and this may slowly reduce their food.
• When you locate the mountain gorillas, do not surround them. This makes them feel ambushed. Mountain gorillas are susceptible to intruders in their vicinity and can charge in case provoked.
• Ask the ranger guide to dig a hole about 30 cm deep if you wish to do a long call. You need to ever everything beyond recognition.
• Anyone below 15 cannot do gorilla trekking in Uganda, and 15 years in Rwanda. Because the time for locating the mountain gorillas is not known and some patience is needed to complete this trek.
• Volunteer to stay behind if you catch any communicable infection like coronavirus, flu, cough, or cholera. This is because the mountain gorillas can catch human infections easily. They have a DNA that is about 96% similar to that of humans.
• When you locate the mountain gorillas, keep a distance of about 8 meters from them. To reduce the chances of passing an infectious infection to them.
• Never spit on the vegetation because it's food for the mountain gorillas. It is unhealthy and disgusting, too.
• Wear a mask and hand sanitize as an after-coronavirus period precaution. You must change into a clean mask as you approach the mountain gorillas.
• Do not make noise or sudden movements with the mountain gorillas because it may scare them. The gorillas are often afraid of unfamiliar noises in their presence.
• Only one hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas when you locate them. This is because they are habituated to be in the presence of human beings for just that hour.

Contact us for more information and let us plan your safari today.