Is Gorilla trekking in Uganda better than Rwanda?

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Is Gorilla trekking in Uganda better than Rwanda?

Our seasoned writer Patrick Guy said “this is one of the most difficult questions I have ever faced from a business perspective” The species of gorillas that live in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park and Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park are Mountain gorillas.

Our expert guide to Uganda Vs Rwanda

Depending on how you look at them both countries are spectacular destinations for gorilla trekking in East Africa, though DR Congo’s Virunga national park sits in the war thorn eastern democratic republic of Congo making the list of visited national parks in Africa for mountain gorilla trekking experience

• access into the Gorilla trekking area Uganda v Rwanda

Rwanda is regarded as the most accessible gorilla trekking country as volcanoes national park which is located north of the main capital Kigali is a 2.5-hour drive on the tarmac while Uganda’s Bwindi and Mgahinga gorilla national park are located within 9-10 hours’ drive from the capital Kampala.

• Habitat for the Mountain gorillas Uganda v Rwanda

Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable national park is not located in the volcanoes making it accessible for mountain gorillas everywhere unlike Rwanda’s volcanoes national park which is located in the five volcanoes where the gorillas can go as far as tropical forest and the bamboo zone since they can’t go to heath and moorland making it a destination for easy gorilla trekking experience compared to Uganda but Ugandan gorilla trek is harder and offers the real feeling of Mountain gorilla trekking in Africa.

• Actual trek Uganda v Rwanda

Both countries offer exceptional gorilla trekking experience however Uganda’s Bwindi has 4 gorilla trekking points opposed to Volcanoes Kinigi starting point meaning in Uganda it is possible to start a gorilla trek by going up or down while in Rwanda all gorilla treks start by going up as your only at the base of the volcanoes. And all gorilla treks in Rwanda start by driving to the trailhead while some gorilla treks in Uganda start by walking from the park office.

• Gorilla permits Uganda v Rwanda

In Uganda gorilla permits are sold by the Uganda wildlife authority while in Rwanda Gorilla permits are sold by the Rwanda development board, all are government bodies and the permit price in Uganda for a regular 1 hour is $700 while for Rwanda it’s $1500, and in Uganda you will pay $1500 for gorilla habituation where you will spend 4 hours with the Mountain gorillas

• Accommodation booking Uganda v Rwanda

Due to the fact that you Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable national park has 4 gorilla trekking zones separated by a 2-4 hours drive meaning you will need to book specific lodges for specific sectors as per your gorilla permits while for volcanoes national park most visitors will stay at Musanze or Kinigi as there is only one starting point volcanoes national park.

Other things to do besides Gorilla trekking Uganda v Rwanda

Uganda is blessed with 10 national parks offering Wildlife viewing (Kidepo, Murchison falls, Queen Elizabeth, and Lake Mburo national park), Mountaineering (Mount Rwenzori and Mount Elgon national parks), gorillas and chimpanzee trekking (Kibale, Bwindi, and Mgahinga gorilla national parks) and Congo Biome birding in Semuliki national park while Rwanda is gifted by 4 national parks offering primate and wildlife safaris (Volcanoes, Nyungwe Forest, Akagera, and Gishwati Mukura national parks) meaning Uganda offers more in terms of tourist attractions than Rwanda.

Conclusion

For easier and luxury gorilla trekking adventures you should go to Rwanda and for more physical and cheaper gorilla treks you should visit Uganda.