Gorilla trekking Experience in Rwanda vs Uganda

Comparing Gorilla trekking- Rwanda versus Uganda

Mountain Gorillas in Uganda reside in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (almost half of the World’s population) being the most popular park to track them from. Bwindi’s Buhoma section (North) of the park famous for tourists, while in the South is Ruhiji section, Nkuringo section & Rushaga section also do introduce you to other gorilla families. Mgahinga National Park (One Habituated Gorilla Family), whereas Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda reside in the Volcanoes National Park (area of 125 km.²) in the North-Western of Rwanda, located in the Virunga mountains connected with Mgahinga National Park & Virunga National Park, encompasses 5 of the 8 volcanoes i.e. Karisimbi, Bisoke, Sibyanyo, Gahinga, Muhabura. There are many different Gorilla tours/safaris organised by Monumental Expeditions offering tour & Safari packages well organised to meet your maximum attention in order to interest every client (also involve safari packages ranging from Day tours to longer safaris) at affordable Rwanda prices

Cost price of the Gorilla Trekking Permits   

Cost of Uganda Gorilla permit through -Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters costs $600 per person (Foreign Non- residents), $500 (foreign residents), Ugx 250,000 (East African citizens) and the Gorilla Habituation experience permit is $1500 yet in Rwanda these tours enable you go deep into these Rain forests (shady Bamboo) in search for these endangered gentle giants, offering you an attractive view and this is done year in & year out, this is a life time Safari Experience and well enjoyed only with a Rwanda Gorilla Permit issued to you by the Rwanda Development Board(RDB). This is a key to successful gorilla trekking activity in Rwanda and it costs $1500 per person for 1 hr with the Gorillas and applies to all whether Foreign residents(FR)/Foreign Non-residents(FNR)/East African Citizens(EAC). There are strictly 8 permits allocated per group making availability of 80 permits per day. The Rwanda Development Board holds on to its opinion that they are on the right marketing track and that their upmarket Strategy will attract more travelers with deeper pockets and that there will be no reductions in their Gorilla Permit sales. Of course this activity is always complemented by other activities like Game drives which enable you widely and clearly game view in the Savannah covered parks, Volcano climbing, Golden Monkey trekking, Cultural encounters, Forest nature walks among the few and with all these additional this makes your safari complete and you well satisfied.

What you must know when Gorilla Trekking (Gorilla Trekking Tips)

There is always a meeting of trekkers before commencing their actual hiking in which they are briefed, rules and regulations outlined for them as to be respected and followed in the Gorilla trekking activity as below.

• A total number of 8 visitors or tourists is allowed to track /visit a particular mountain gorilla family or group in a day and before your trekking exercise -set off, ensure to have your hands washed thoroughly well so as to ensure the highest level of cleanliness.
• You are advised to keep your voices extremely low as you are heading to track the mountain Gorillas and requested to even be quieter when you finally meet them and always follow your tour guide through the whole trekking process and make sure you stick with the group for both safety purposes and also be able to get thorough explanations of the attractions seen along the way to the mountain Gorillas
• Do not recklessly litter rubbish in any National park or protected area, requested to keep a distance of 7m (21 feet) from where the mountain Gorillas are, do not look closely and straight /directly in the eyes of the Gorillas, sometimes these animals do charge and do not touch the Gorillas because they are wild animals and flashy photography is not allowed, so move slowly and carefully when going to do that.
• The time spent with the Gorillas is limited to one hour this is simply to minimize any behavioral disturbances, stress and possible risk of infection, keep your voices very down after the visit until you are 200m away from these animals.
• All wastes must be buried, a 30m hole is dug, dispose of every waste there then fill up the hole when finished. This is done because these wastes(faeces) can highly be infectious to the great apes and other animals.
• If you feel ill, carrying a contagious disease, please don’t engage yourself in the activity. So another visit will be arranged for you or your money refunded back.

What must you wear & Pack for this Activity (Gorilla Trekking)

• Wear long sleeved blouse(ladies), long sleeved shirts/Trousers (Men)- Now the long-ness of this blouse, shirt and trouser protects you from being pricked by thorns, anything that can scratch you, nettles or insect bites, the sun burning, tree branches, itchy plants, etc. Wear Water proof sturdy boots (These good hiking boots will give you good stability, balance, traction & support to your ankles).
• A Rain Jacket Tourists are advised to carry wind proof and water proof rain jackets with hoods on them. This is so because Gorillas are trekked in rain forests, usually in morning hours, it might rain anytime it doesn’t matter whether dry season or not therefore rain jackets should come handy.
• Sturdy Gardening Gloves -these will protect you from harm of germs and other items which could scratch you and a Hat and Sun Glasses all you need is a wide brimmed hat which will protect your heads and neck from rain or the sun
• Pack a Pair of Binoculars (enable you view a lot of other various plants and simple animal species in the National Park), Cameras, Extra Batteries, Flash light, Trekking Pole to enable you balance when moving on the steepy grounds within the forest and Energy giving Snacks- Trekking seems to take long hours and you might get hungry and thirsty, so these light snacks can help out – etc.

YET

Rwanda turns out to be a home of 1/3 of the Worldwide population mountain Gorillas, it has 10 Habituated Gorilla Families (for tourism purposes), available for Trekkers to visit and mainly done in one place called Volcanoes National park in Musanze town (former Ruhengeri) while 2 are still for research purposes. Each and every family has something unique to offer maybe in terms of Dominance, Size, Character and more. Some groups are led by very peaceful silverbacks Diana Fossey is said to have spent many years studying about the behaviours of these endangered great Apes and mountain Gorillas, and this has made Rwanda Popular for Gorilla trekking and Conservation thanks to her research. These include: –

Susa Gorilla Family-Biggest mountain gorilla family in the PNV and consists of 33 members & 2 silverback, Sabyinyo Gorilla family which is derived from mountain Sabyinyo that is shared by Uganda and Rwanda and has the biggest silverback(Guhonda). Amahoro Gorilla Family being the most peaceful family among all, it’s hard to track since it resides on the slopes of mountain Visoke whose terrain is strenuous, Umubano, Agashya, Hirwa, Kwitonda, Bwengye, Ugenda & Karisimbi.

Travel options for seeing Mountain Gorillas in either countries (Uganda/Rwanda)                                                                                                        

Uganda’s main roads are generally in better shape/condition just a little slow though. Now some/ most of these roads are very slow and very bumpy, especially when approaching Uganda’s Gorilla parks. So 4*4-wheel drive vehicles are ever recommended for specific routes especially in seasons with rain pouring. From Kampala / Entebbe – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is roughly 8 hrs drive by road. This drive gives you a wide view of African life in areas/ places you come passing through, proceed through the magnificent green Pearl of Africa, cross the Equator (where if time allows can stopover and take photos)

Another alternative is having a flight from Entebbe – Bwindi of which a round trip Air ticket costs $450 specifically with the Aero link Uganda in about 1.5 hrs. You will fly over the Lake Victoria Islands in the south-western Uganda. Transfer from Kisoro Airstrip or Kihihi is about 30 mins-1 hr, depending on your choice to trek gorillas from.

A short road drive is one of the alternatives to be considered. The Road drive to Ruhengeri (Virunga) Volcanoes National Park, where Rwanda’s Mountain gorillas reside is 2 hrs from Kigali (Rwanda’s capital) on roads in good shape/ condition(109 km). OR one can have a flight via Kigali International Airport at about 10 km from the Capital. Volcanoes National Park is located in the North of Rwanda therefore it’s about 130 km from Kigali,70 km from Gisenyi and 12 km from Musanze and here all trackers must report to the park headquarters in Kinigi and get briefed by 7:00 am.

Gorilla Trekking Lodges in Uganda & Rwanda

Bwindi Impenetrable National park being the home of a large number of Mountain Gorillas, it has gotten 4 sections within, that of which all have accommodation facilities or services at your exposure and there are plenty of options ranging from Budget(B), Mid-range(MR) and then Luxury(L). Your choice of accommodation will contribute highly to the nature of your Gorilla Tour/Safari. Among the most famous safari lodges include: -Chameleon Hill lodge(Rushaga), Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Ruhiji Gorilla Safari, Iachumbi Gorilla lodge, Gorilla mist Camp, Buhoma Haven lodge, Trekkers Tavern, Rushaga Gorilla Haven, Buhoma Community, etc.

In Rwanda there are plenty of options ranging from Budget(B), Mid-range(MR) and then Luxury(L). Your choice of accommodation will contribute highly to the nature of your Gorilla Tour/Safari. Most companies will quote all the 3 options. Among the most famous safari lodges include Sabinyo Silver Back lodge, Virunga lodge, Mountain Gorilla Lodge, etc.