Difference between gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda
Difference between gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda
The difference between Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda can only be felt when you take the adventure in both countries. Meeting the mountain gorillas no matter where you go a magical experience that has left many questing for more. Others go ahead and book another gorilla trekking day or gorilla habituation to spend more hours in the company of the mountain gorillas.
Most Popular Safaris
- 3 day Uganda gorilla trekking
- 5 days gorillas & chimp safari
- 3 day Uganda gorilla via Kigali
- 5 days gorilla trekking Rwanda
- 5 day Uganda gorillas & wildlife
- 3 day fly in gorilla habituation
- 5 day gorilla habituation and chimps
- 3 day Bwindi double trek via Kigali
- 5 days gorillas & game safari
Doing gorilla trekking is one of the ways to enjoy amidst contributing to there conservation fund. In the past, the plight of the mountain gorillas was bad bringing there numbers to about 250 as of the census carried out by the American naturalist Dian Fossey in the 1980s.
Each of the countries Uganda and Rwanda has its great traits and different trekkers base on these to find the difference between the two in terms of gorilla trekking
Highlights
Difference in distance to Cover when travelling to the Gorilla trekking destinations
The cost of gorilla trekking permits
The means of transport to get to the gorilla trekking destinations
Number of mountain gorilla families at the Destinations
Chances of adding Other Activities to gorilla trekking
Number of gorillas located at the destination
In Terms of How Difficult is gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda
Difference in distance to Cover when travelling to the Gorilla trekking destinations
The drive from Entebbe airport or Kampala city to Bwindi impenetrable National park is about 530 km lasting about 8 hours to 9 hours. This drive is scenic especially the Kigezi highlands that you pass by, the Equator and other amazing features along the way.
Driving from Kigali Airport to Volcanoes National park is about 3 hours passing meandering roads that curve at the base of the hills. Rwanda is a land of a thousand hills that are covered with lush green vegetation all year round.
Other options available to reduce on the time to travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National park and Mgahinga National park are flights. Daily domestic flights are operated from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi airstrip to either Kihihi Airstrip or Kisoro Airstrip. These flights take about 1 and half hours. You need to hire a vehicle to transfer you to your destination, which may last about 1 and half hours to 2 hour.
Rwanda charter flights can also be booked from Kigali Airport to an airstrip close to Volcanoes National Park. It takes less than an hour to arrive here which shortens the drive time to these destinations.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda through Rwanda is possible too because the time traveled from Kigali Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National park is about 6 hours.
The cost of gorilla trekking permits
Rwanda gorilla trekking permit costs $ 1500 per person per trek whereas the Uganda gorilla trekking permit costs $700 per person per trek.
Whether you trekking gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda, you need to book your permit in advance because they are limited to maximum 8 permits per gorilla family per day. Only paying clients are given chance to secure their gorilla permits on first come first served basis
You need to reserve your gorilla trekking permit atleast 90 days to the date of trekking to avoid last minute panic in obtaining these permits. the gorilla permits are highly demanded yet there supply is limited to 8 permits per gorilla family.
The means of transport to get to the gorilla trekking destinations
As mentioned above, options for getting to the mountain gorillas is either by road or domestic daily flights or charters.
In case you opt to use the road, Uganda has the longest drive time which is about 8 hours to 9 hours on the road to Bwindi Impenetrable National park or Mgahinga National park. The roads on the countryside of Uganda are more dusty and bumpy
Rwanda roads to Volcanoes National park are more comfortable and drive time from Kigali Airport to Volcanoes National Park is about 3 hours.
For either safaris to Uganda or Rwanda, you need a 4×4 wheel vehicle especially to use on the slippery roads when it rains.
Uganda has scheduled daily flights to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip which is close to Bwindi impenetrable National park and Mgahinga National park. They operate morning and afternoon schedules. Chances of getting on charter flights are available too.
Number of mountain gorilla families at the Destinations
Rwanda hosts so far about 13 gorilla families of which some include Sabyinyo gorilla family, Susa gorilla family, Hirwa gorilla family, Amahoro gorilla family and others. Uganda gorilla families are about 19 so far opened for tourist viewing. You have more chances of finding gorilla permit availability in Uganda compared to Rwanda.
However, the mountain gorillas like in Mgahinga National Park particularly Nyakagezi family sometimes used to meander into Rwanda. This made booking gorilla permits for this pack challenging and they were sold according to availability of the mountain gorillas. Of late, these mountain gorillas have been steadily living in Uganda.
Chances of adding Other Activities to gorilla trekking
In Uganda, options of adding other activities to gorilla trekking are more open in Uganda compared to Rwanda. In Uganda, options of adding chimpanzee trekking destinations, game drives different water activities like white water rafting, launch trips, spot fishing, cultural tours and others are high.
Rwanda’s options of other activities are limited to game drives in Akagera National Park, chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National park, birding in Rwanda, boat trip on lake Ihema and others.
Number of gorillas located at the destination
Uganda has almost half the total number of mountain gorillas in the world. this gives you chance of expecting to see mountain gorillas in the wilderness of Uganda. Rwanda gorillas are also well conserved as its one of the most selling foreign exchange earner for Rwanda tourism.
Whether trekking mountain gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda be sure of finding the mountain gorillas in the wilderness. They are less, mobile primates who walk on knuckles. Although the time of locating them is unknown, they following the trails where the mountain gorillas were last seen the previous day sometimes pays.
In Terms of How Difficult is gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda
The topography of Volcanoes National park in Rwanda is steeper. This forested park host five of the six Virunga Volcanoes that mark the southern limit of the Albertine Valley. Expect to find it more strenuous especially the times when the mountain gorillas are feeding or lounging on the slopes. The wet seasons are challenging because of the slippery slopes, over humid conditions and wet vegetation to grip on.
Although Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda was affected by volcanic action, its topography is hot so steep. Its composed of tangled vegetation, fissured landscape, ridges and valley. You do not need to hike all the time to locate the mountain gorillas.
Note
Whether you are trekking gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda, the final feeling as you stand before these gentle giants is unmatched. You forget all the huddles you may have expreince during the search and booking the gorilla trekking safari.
You feel a slight relation to them because of there exceptional behavior similar to humans. They have a DNA of about 96 % that of Humans.
How Safe Is Gorilla Trekking In Uganda And Rwanda
The gorilla trekking area on the part of Uganda and Rwanda is safe because of the conjoined effort from each country’s security organs. Safety of the mountain gorillas and people is priority to either countries.
Your personal safety if necessary too in order to succeed in enjoying the best gorilla trekking experiences.
- Stay closer to your gorilla trekking group so that you are not lost in the wilderness. This area is vast and not yet full covered by the google map. Even communication signals are not available in some partf of this ancient forest.
- Never buy eats anywhere during gorilla trekking to prevent food poisoning. If you have a driver guide, ask for help on where to find eats while at the gorilla trekking destinations and on the way.
- Provoking the mountain gorillas is forbidden by rule because this agitates the mountain gorillas. Ensure you follow the rules of gorilla trekking given at briefing time and the instructions from the ranger guides.
- Do not count large sums of money in public because it may attract the wrong characters even amongst the people travel with.
- In case you wish to withdraw money from the visa points do not ask for help from anyone apart from the keepers of these points.
- Carry relevant bags that you can monitor during your Africa safari, this is because the more the bags the more confused you may get.
- Pack the right gorilla trekking gears like safari boots, long trousers and shirt, insect repellant to protect your body from getting hurt.
- Request for a porter in case you need one to give you a push incase you are tired.
- If you need to use a credit card, donot not used it with anyone you don’t trust because they may swindle you. Credit cards are not a common form of money exchange because of the lengthy process of getting money from them
What Is The age Limit For Gorilla Trekking in Uganda And Rwanda
15 years is the age limit for trekking gorillas in either Uganda or Rwanda because of a number of factors
The topography of the Virunga area is volcanic and has steep slopes. You need to have some level of fitness to maneuver the slopes. A child below age 15 years may not be in position to hike in case the mountain gorillas family being trekked is on the slopes.
Time of location the mountain gorillas is not known which requires some level of patience. Children below age 15 years may find it challenging to wait for a long time. The time of locating the mountain gorillas is between 2 hours to about three quarters of the day.
First glance at the mountain gorillas is scaring which may stimulate some adrenaline but this may be hard for a child below the age of 15 years to remember to control there nerves.
Noise making in the forest while trekking to locate the mountain gorillas is forbidden which may be quite hard to contain. Children forget instruction especially if they stay long in the forest.
Provoking the mountain gorillas is forbidden and children below age 15 may try to do so. If the mountain gorillas notice this, they may get suspicious of the intruders in there vicinity so they take leave.
Children get tired fast yet no turning back till end of gorilla trek. The ranger follows the pace of the slowed trekker and in case the child is tired, he or she may delay the entire group. Taking long in the wilderness may cause boredom to the tire party of tourists.
What To pack For gorilla Trekking In Uganda and Rwanda
- An extra battery to exchange with in case one runs low while in the forest
- A pair of garden gloves to cover your palms from thorns on the stems of plants where you may land your hands when catching tight grip.
- Safari boots to protect your feet from harsh surfaces in the wilderness and move better
- Foldable safari hat to wear over your hair and keep away dripping water from tree branches
- Insect repellant to smear your body with in case the forest is infested with stinging insects.
- Pajamas top wear in the night when it gets do cold
- Warm wear to put on early morning and late evening because this area is extremely cold in the morning and afternoon.
- Snacks to munch on when hungry especially during the break time of the trek. Do not dump wraps in the forest. It alters its naturel setting. This is where mountain gorillas and other forest dweller feed from.
- A duffel bag that you can carry by yourself in case you need to.
- Toiletries that are suitable for you so that you prevent any skin problems got from those at your lodge.
Contact us for more information concerning gorilla trekking and tracking.
