Combining gorilla trekking in Uganda with wildlife safaris in Rwanda

Combining safaris in Uganda and Rwanda is a trend where you travel through two counties and carry out different safari activities. Gorillas are an endangered species that can only be tracked in three countries: Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda has a lot to offer regarding wildlife viewing, and the government has done its best to ensure the country's tourism sector is top-notch and safety is guaranteed. When planning a combined safari, you have to look at the different aspects that will determine the cost of the safari, transport, accommodation, meals, and when to travel.

Most Popular Safaris

4 Days Gorillas and Golden Monkey Safari

2 Day Bwindi Gorilla Safari through Kigali

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

5 Day Gorilla Trekking Rwanda

5 Day off season Gorilla and Chimp Safari

5 Day Gorilla and Chimp Tracking Safari

16 Days Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tracking Safari

5 Day Gorilla & Chimp Tracking Safari

5 Day Low season Uganda Gorilla & Chimp Safari

5 Day Uganda Gorillas & Game Safari via Kigali

5 Day Gorilla Habituation & Chimps

Planning a combined gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and a wildlife safari in Rwanda needs a lot of patience and time, and tourists are advised to book the safari as soon as possible. Look out for scammers online by researching the tour company you have chosen by reading reviews on TripAdvisor and checking the AUTO website to see whether the company is registered.

In this article, we will look at gorilla trekking in Uganda and the different wildlife safari destinations in Rwanda so that you can learn how to plan and organize a well-tailored combined safari between the two countries.

Trekking gorillas in Uganda

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is one of the top safari activities carried out in the country, and there are two gorilla safari destinations in Uganda: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are both located in southwestern Uganda and, in total, have 20 habituated gorilla families that are open for trekking, with Mgahinga having one gorilla family and the rest at Bwindi.

To gorilla trek in Uganda, you must purchase a gorilla permit issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority or through a trusted local tour operator. Gorilla permits have to be booked in advance for proper planning, and the cost is $800 for foreign non-residents, 300,000 UGX for East African Citizens, and $700 for foreign residents. You need to get in touch with the tour operator with your details like names and dates, and after payment, leave the rest to the tour operator to help you plan your safari.

The gorilla habituation process in Uganda is carried out in Bwindi in the Rushaga sector, where a few families were set apart for research purposes. Regarding the gorilla habituation process, you must pay $1500 for the permit and spend four instead of 1 hour with the gorillas.

When planning a gorilla safari in Uganda, you need to know the rules and regulations that need to be followed when gorilla trekking. These include: the age limit for gorilla trekking in both Bwindi and Mgahinga is 15 years, a distance of 7 meters is to be kept between the tourists and the gorillas after you have located them, a group of 8 people is allowed to trek the gorillas per session, you have to limit the noise made when with the gorillas and during the trek, switch off the flashlight when taking photos of the gorillas, no eating is allowed when with the gorillas, you will not be allowed to smoke and whoever is sick will not be allowed to trek the gorillas.

Wildlife safari destinations in Rwanda

Akagera National Park: 

Akagera National Park is the largest national park in Rwanda and the best place for a wildlife safari. The park has been in existence for a long time. After the Rwanda genocide, which caused many animals to migrate and locals to encroach on the parkland, the government of Rwanda has re-introduced some animals. It has dramatically improved the tourism sector, attracting more tourists to Akagera National Park. Some of the activities carried out in Akagera National Park include the following:

Game drives: Akagera National Park is the best place to go for game drives with a large population of wildlife species, including lions, hyenas, Impalas, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, zebras, sitatungas, antelopes, leopards, jackals and Topis among others. Game drives are carried out in two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, and game drives are carried out with the help of a guide. You will have a chance to see the different wildlife species, including the nocturnal animals, and enjoy the sunset.

Bird watching: Akagera National Park has over 400 recorded bird species that include both the endemic and migratory bird species, including the Caruthers Cisticola, African Fish Eagle, Senegal lapwings, long-crested Eagle, African darter Egrets, billed stork, violet's black weaver, black-headed weaver and pied crow among others. The best time to go for bird watching in Akagera National Park is the wet season when the migratory birds are around.

Boat cruises: Enjoy a boat cruise around the park along the Shakani and Ihema Lakes, where you will see the different wildlife species while on a boat cruise. The boat cruises must be booked in advance so the boat is hired and ready for when you need to use it. Boat cruises are a way of exploring the national park and watching animal and bird species. The boat rides are carried out in two sessions: one in the morning and one in the evening, and some of the wildlife to see include elephants, crocodiles, and water birds, among others.

Cultural experiences: visit the Humure refugee village to learn more about the culture of the local people living around and near the National Park. When you get to the refugee villages, you will be welcomed by the locals with song and dance; you get to taste the different local dishes, participate in various activities with the locals, and learn how to make ghee, among others.

Sport fishing: Sport fishing is one of the activities carried out in Akagera National Park along the two lakes, Lake Shakani and Lake Ihema. You will receive a token of participation after the activity. As you enjoy sport fishing, you can also carry out other activities like birding and wildlife viewing.

Nyungwe Forest National Park:

Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the national parks where you can go for a wildlife safari in Rwanda and a tourist destination in Rwanda. The forest is home to 13 primate species, including chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, L'Hoest monkeys, over 1000 tree species, 240 bird species, reptiles, and butterflies. Activities done in Nyungwe Forest National Park include the following:

Chimpanzee trekking: This is the main activity in Nyungwe Forest National Park with two chimpanzee families, one in Nyungwe and the other in Cyamudongo. Chimp trekking is carried out throughout the year after booking a chimpanzee trek permit through a local tour operator or from the Rwanda Development Board. The trek starts early in the morning with a briefing, and each group of trekkers gets to spend an hour with the primates. Chimpanzee habituation is also carried out in Nyungwe, and instead of one hour, you will get almost half a day with the chimpanzees.

Canopy walk: Nyungwe has the highest and longest canopy walk in East Africa, which was introduced in 2010. The canopy walk is 250 meters and rises 50 meters above the tropical rainforest. The canopy walk gives tourists a great view of the forest, and you also get to see different bird species, chimpanzees, and monkeys from a bird's point of view. Children 6 years and above are the only ones allowed to participate in the walk, and tourists afraid of heights can join the guided nature walks.

Primate trekking: Over 13 primate species are found in Nyungwe Forest National Park, and these can be trekked using the different trek routes within the park. The other primate species found in the park include black and white colobus monkeys, L'Hoest monkeys, Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, blue monkeys, Mona monkeys, and owl-faced monkeys, among others.

Bird watching: Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to over 310 bird species, some of which are endemic Albertine species and some of which include the white-headed wood hoopoe, paradise flycatcher, Great Blue Turaco, Red-faced woodland warbler, Ruwenzori Batis, Mountain Masked Apalis, Francolin, collared Apalis and Regal sunbird among others. Volcanoes National Park:

Volcanoes National Park is a popular destination among tourists where gorilla trekking is carried out in Rwanda. In the northwestern part of Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is home to over 450 mountain gorillas and is the only place where gorilla trekking occurs. There are quite several activities carried out in Volcanoes National Park, and these include:

Gorilla tracking: Gorilla tracking/trekking is the main activity in Volcanoes National Park, with the 15 habituated gorilla families open for tracking. To track gorillas in Volcanoes, you need to purchase a gorilla permit in advance at $1500 for foreign non-residents, $500 for African citizens, and $250 for East African citizens. The Rwanda Development Board can purchase the permit or a tour operator, which is the confirmation that proves that you have booked the gorilla safari to Rwanda. The hike starts early in the morning with a briefing and the day's events. You will also be assigned a gorilla family, and after locating it, you get an hour with the gorillas, taking photos, recording videos, and observing their behavior.

Golden monkey trekking: Golden monkeys, like gorillas, are endangered and can be trekked in Volcanoes National Park. Golden monkeys are a playful species tracked with the help of an experienced tour guide, but you will also need to purchase a Golden Monkey trek permit to track the primates. Go for a gorilla trek, learn more about their behavior, and take as many photos of the primates as possible.

Visit the Iby'iwacu village: Currently known as the Gorilla Guardians village, the Iby'iwacu village is adjacent to the Volcanoes National Park and an excellent spot for learning more about the culture of the Banyarwanda people. Spare a few hours and visit the village filled with reformed poachers to learn a few words, participate in the daily activities, enjoy the songs and dance, and relax as you listen to the beautiful folk stories told by the elders.

Other activities carried out during a wildlife safari.

The Genocide Memorial Centers:

Rwanda has a dark past that led to the death and exile of many people in 1994, and to appreciate the political history of the country and how far the country has come in making sure that genocide or such incidences never happen again by visiting the genocide memorial Centers spread across the country.

One of the sites that you can visit is the Kigali memorial site, which was set up as a reminder about the dark past and to remember all the people who lost their lives and the survivors. The Center has mass graves, film footage at the beginning of the tour, exhibitions of personal effects of survivors and the dead, photographs, and other things that show a glimpse into the dark past. Visit the genocide memorial Center and show respect to those who lost their lives and also get to experience what happened years ago.

The Nyamata Genocide Memorial: Located in Bugesera, south of Kigali, the Nyamata genocide memorial center was a church that was used by the Tutsi people as a safe place to hide from the terrorists. They locked themselves in the church to avoid being killed, but the opposite happened, and more than 25,000 people were killed in the church in gruesome ways. When you get to the church, you will be able to see national IDS and clothes of the dead people with blood spread all over the church and the altar. There is also a mass grave outside the church.

Bisesero genocide memorial: The Bisesero genocide is located in Kibuye, and this place is remembered as one of the few where the Tutsis put up resistance against the Hutu militia but were killed, leading to the death of over 40,000 people. The Tutsis that were using sticks and stones to fight the Hutus were no match, and there is a mass grave that can be found in the area.

Ntarama genocide memorial: The Ntarama genocide memorial was a catholic church where over 5000 people were killed. The Tutsis came to the church seeking refuge from the Hutus, but the church was invaded when the militia made a hole in the wall by removing bricks, which led to the death of the Tutsis.

Murambi genocide memorial: The Murambi genocide memorial center was a former technical school where the Tutsis were advised to hide during the war with the promise that the French soldiers would protect them, but this was not the case as there were no soldiers and many locals lost their lives. The former classrooms are now used as exhibition rooms with skeletons and other items on display. There are also mass graves around the school.

Other genocide Centers that can be visited on your wildlife safari include the Nyanza Genocide Memorial Center where 10, 000 Tutsis lost their lives after being abandoned by the UN peacekeeping forces, and the Nyarubuye genocide memorial center. In this catholic church, 2500 locals lost their lives.

Mountain climbing

Mountain climbing in Rwanda is an exciting experience that you can join with the wildlife safaris in the country, and the incredible views when you get to the peak are more rewarding to make up for the long and tiring hikes. Some of the mountains where mountain climbing is done in Rwanda include the following:

Mount Bisoke:

Mount Bisoke is one of the Volcanic Mountains that is part of the Virunga region, and unlike the rest, this is an active volcanic volcano, although it has not erupted in hundreds of years. The hike up Mount Bisoke takes about 6 hours, and when you get to the peak, you will be rewarded with some incredible views of the Volcanoes National Park, the surrounding areas, and the beautiful crater lakes.

Mount Karisimbi:

Located in Volcanoes National Park, Mount Karisimbi is considered one of the highest mountains on the African continent, and it takes 6 hours to get to the summit. As you hike up the mountain, you will be rewarded with sights of the golden monkeys, gorillas, and several bird species. You need to be physically fit to try the Karisimbi hike.

Cost of the combined safari

Transport used between Uganda and Rwanda is road or air transport, depending on what you prefer to use. If you decide to use road transport, drive from Kigali through either the Gatuna border or Cyanika, clear customs, and then move the rest of the way to Uganda. This is a more entertaining and cheaper option to use when traveling. Several airlines fly between Uganda and Rwanda, and after getting to Uganda, charter flights arranged days before can pick you up from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to the nearest airstrips in southwestern Uganda for your gorilla safari.

The accommodation has three categories: luxury, mid-range, and budget/basic facilities. The. The cost of the combined safari will be determined by the type of safari you choose. Talk to your operator and develop the best options that fit your budget.

Season of travel also dramatically affects the combined gorilla trek in Uganda and wildlife safari in Rwanda in a way that when you travel during the peak/dry season, you get to spend more as compared to when you travel during the wet/low season where accommodation discounts are offered hence reducing on the cost of the safari.

Sometimes, traveling in groups also reduces the cost of the safari because the prices are shared among the travelers, which is different when all the expenses are paid by one person traveling alone.

What to pack for the combined Uganda gorilla and wildlife viewing safari in Rwanda

It would help if you packed right for your combined safari. Some of the items that we believe you should bring for the safari include garden gloves, strong hike boots, neutral-colored long-sleeved trousers, a camera and extra batteries, binoculars, a first aid kit, a day backpack, sweaters, a waterproof rain jacket, sandals, and sneakers, wet wipes, insect repellent, toiletries, a sun hat, sunscreen, recognition books, refillable water bottle, snacks, adjustable gaiters, warm socks, a flashlight and extra batteries and portable adaptors.

When to go and plan for a gorilla trek in Uganda and a wildlife safari in Rwanda combination

Gorilla trekking in Uganda and wildlife safaris in Rwanda are carried out throughout the year. However, the best time is during the dry season, from June to September and December to February. Note that the dry season is also the peak season, and many tourists are visiting both countries, so you need to plan at least 6 to 15 months before the travel date. You can still trek and go for a wildlife safari during the wet months of March to May and October to November, but you must be ready for the rain. The weather pattern in Uganda and Rwanda varies, and there are rains during the dry season, so you need to be prepared for any weather changes all year round.

A gorilla trek in Uganda and a wildlife safari in Uganda combo are the best ways to explore the two countries, and we are here to help you organize your trip. Contact us for more information.