Uganda or Rwanda, which country is better for safari?

Uganda or Rwanda, which country is better for a safari is one of the most frequently asked questions and today we are going to be looking at which country is better for an African safari. Uganda and Rwanda are top safari destinations in East Africa. Both are landlocked countries and are two of the three countries that are home to the endangered Mountain gorillas making both countries the best destination for primate trekking.  Rwanda is a small country that is sometimes known as the land of many hills and it has a lot to offer when it comes to safaris. Uganda on the other hand is a bit bigger as compared to Rwanda and offers more to tourists when it comes to safaris.

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

In this article, we are going to look at the differences and similarities between the two countries when it comes to safari destinations and activities so that you get to choose the best options for your safari. As a tour company that has experience, we have extensive knowledge and experience in planning safaris for both countries and we can with no doubt tell you that both countries are good safari destinations for the different types of tourists.

The cost: Uganda and Rwanda

One of the important things that you need to consider when deciding the best safari destination between Uganda and Rwanda. There are so many things that affect the cost of the safari and these include transport, accommodation, number of days spent on the safari and the safari activities that are on the itinerary.

Transport within Uganda is a bit expensive as compared to Rwanda and this is because most of the safari destinations are far off from the city Centre and it takes hours to get there which increases the transport costs. The safari destinations in Rwanda on the other hand are not located in remote areas which makes it easy to access them.

The road system in Rwanda is also better as compared to Uganda.

Accommodation in both countries is categorized into three categories budget/basic, mid-range and luxury accommodation facilities.  Rwanda has always marketed itself as a luxury safari destination and most of the accommodation in the country is high-end as compared to Uganda where there are accommodation facilities to cater for the different categories of tourists.

The number of days spent on the safari will determine the cost of the safari in both Uganda and Rwanda. The more days you spend on a safari, the higher the cost of the safari and the fewer days spent on a safari, the lower the cost of the safari.

The different safari activities you plan on participating in on your safari also determine the cost of the safari. In most cases, extra days spent on a safari are paid for independently and this increases the cost of the safari as compared to few safari activities.

Other factors that affect the cost of a safari in Uganda and Rwanda include personal purchases, the season of travel and the size of the group you are traveling with.

Safari destinations in Uganda

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is the oldest park in Uganda and one of the most frequently visited in Uganda. It's strategically located near the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Giving tourists a chance to spot all the big five while on their safari. Wildlife you get to see while on a safari to Murchison includes lions, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, zebras, warthogs, chimpanzees and over 300 bird species. Activities in Murchison include a boat ride along the Nile, chimpanzees trekking in Budongo and Kaniyo Pabidi forests, bird watching, guided nature walks, cultural trips, treks to the waterfalls and game drives among others.

The best time to go is June to September and December to February.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Found in the southwestern part of Uganda, Mgahinga is famous for gorilla tracking and has one habituated family known as the Nyakagezi gorilla family. It is also the only destination in Uganda that offers golden monkey tracking with a few habitude golden monkey families. Other activities that are carried out in Mgahinga include bird watching, cultural visits to the villages and experiencing the Batwa trail which is led by Batwa guides where you learn about the Batwa culture.

The best time to visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is from December to January and June to August.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the parks in Uganda famous for game drives and bird watching. It has the highest number of recorded bird species in Africa amounting to over 612 and these include both endemic and migratory bird species. The National Park is also home to the tree-climbing lions that are found in the Ishasha sector and other wildlife that you get to see in QENP include zebras, hippos, water bucks, leopards, buffaloes, crocodiles, antelopes and elephants among others. Activities carried out in Queen Elizabeth include a boat ride along Kazinga Chanel, game drives, chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge, a trip to the fishing village and bird watching among others.

The best time to is from June to September.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Best known as the best gorilla trekking safari in the world, Bwindi is located in southwestern Uganda and has half the population of the remaining Mountain gorillas in the world amounting to 495 gorillas. The park is divided into four sections including Ruhija, Buhoma, Rushaga, and Nkuringo and has 27 habituated gorilla families spread across the four sections. Other activities done in Bwindi include Gorilla habituation, guided nature walks, the Batwa trail experience, primate walks and bird watching.

The best time to go is from June to September and December to February.

Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park is home to the highest number of recorded chimpanzees which is 1500 living in the tropical rainforests. It is also home to over 13 different primate species some of which include chimpanzees, L'hoest monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked monkeys and Ruwenzori monkeys among others. It can be an extended trip from Queen Elizabeth National Park and some of the activities offered at Kibale include chimpanzee trekking, chimpanzee habituation experience, bird watching, primates walk, and a visit to the Bigodi wetlands and cultural trips to the nearby villages.

The best time to go is from December to February and June to September.

Mountain climbing

Uganda is blessed with several mountains where mountain climbing can be carried out and the most popular ones are Mountain Rwenzori and Mount Elgon. The Rwenzori ranges are the best for tourists looking for an adventure. Although Uganda is usually sunny throughout the year, Mount Rwenzori is permanently covered in glaciers. Several accommodation options have been set up along the mountain to ensure that you are safe and make sure that you carry enough warm clothes for the night and cold mornings. If you are not a seasoned mountain climbing person, first get physically fit so that you do not suffer from altitude sickness during your climb.

The best time to go for a climb on the Rwenzori ranges is during the dry season however at the moment, hiking on the mountain has been suspended due to a crack that appeared on the glaciers.

Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is the gem of wildlife in Uganda and the closest National Park to Kampala City. The national park is best known for the large populations of zebras that are best seen during the dry season. Other animals that are seen during a game drive around Lake Mburo National Park include giraffes which have been recently introduced in the national park, and kobs among others. You will also get to see how the Ankole people raise their long-horned cattle because of the private ranches that are found near the national park. Activities carried out here include guided nature walks, drives, boat rides, bird watching and cultural tours among others.

The best time to go for a safari to Lake Mburo National Park is during the dry season.

Other safari destinations in Uganda that you can visit include Kidepo Valley National Park, Kampala City, Uganda Martyrs Shrine, Kasubi Tombs, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Lake Bunyonyi National Park, Jinja City, Semuliki National Park, Nyero Rock Painting, Mabamba Swamp, Bigodi wetland sanctuary, Mt Elgon National Park and Sipi Falls among others.

Safari destinations and activities in Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park

This is one of the top three tourist destinations in Rwanda, home to the endangered mountain gorillas which are the top tourist attraction in the country. This is a UNESCO Heritage site and home to over 12 habituated gorilla families which are found in the different parts of the National Park. The National Park is also home to other primates and wildlife including golden monkeys, grey-cheeked monkeys, and black and white colobus monkeys among others.

Volcanoes National Park is also home to some of the Virunga ranges including Mt Karisimbi, Sabinyo, Gahinga, Bisoke and Muhabura. Gorilla trekking is the main activity carried out in the park and you need a gorilla permit which is $1500 for foreign non-residents per person. Other activities that are carried out include golden monkey trekking, cultural trips, bird watching and joining the Kwita Izina ceremony where gorilla babies are named.

The best time for gorilla trekking is from December to February and June to September.

Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park is the largest park in Rwanda located at the border of Tanzania and Rwanda. The park was affected during the 1994 genocide where it was raided and some of the wildlife species migrated to other countries whereas others were killed off. In the early 2000s, Akagera National Park was restored to its former glory with the re-introduction of 18 black rhinos and lions that were introduced in 2015. Other animals found in the park include hyenas, crocodiles along the Akagera River, antelopes and bushbucks among others.

The different activities that are carried out in Akagera National Park include cultural and community visits, game drives, bird watching, sport fishing, and boat rides among others. The best time to go to Akagera National Park is during the dry season.

The Genocide Memorial Sites

Rwanda’s rich history and culture are shadowed by the Rwanda Genocide that took place in 1994 and led to millions of people dying. To commemorate and remember those who lost their lives, several memorial sites are found in the different parts of the country where hundreds were killed and these include:

• Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre where names of the victims are written on the wall and some are still being added to date, a mass grave is found in the outside gardens and there are guides to help you understand more about the genocide.
• Nyamata memorial site which was formerly a church. Approximately 2500 people lost their lives at this church and there is still evidence within the church.
• Murambi genocide where over 2700 people were slaughtered.
• Nyanza Memorial site.
• Gisozi Memorial site where about 12000 remains are kept.
• Nyarubuye Memorial site is a former school where over 2000 people lost their lives.
• Ntarama Memorial site.

Nyungwe Forest National Park

This is one of the best national parks to visit in Rwanda for a chimpanzee trekking experience. it is one of the few rainforests that has been kept in its natural state. The park is home to about 13 different primate species which include chimpanzees, blue monkeys, Mangabeys, olive baboons, Ruwenzori monkeys and golden monkeys among others.

Activities that are carried out in Nyungwe Forest National Park include chimpanzee trekking carried in Cyamudongo and Uwinka sections, canopy walks, primate walks, bird watching, cycling, cultural trips and guided nature walks among others.

The best time to visit Nyungwe Forest National Park is during the dry season although the park can be visited all year round.

Other Safari destinations in Rwanda that you can visit include Kigali city, the Musanze caves, National museums and Lake Kivu among others.

In conclusion, if you want to do more than just gorilla tracking on your safari with a wide range of safari activities, then Uganda is a better option, unlike Rwanda. Uganda offers big game safari drives in different t destinations as compared to Rwanda and Uganda is much more affordable than Rwanda. Contact us for more details about safaris in Uganda and Rwanda.