Gorilla Trekking Rwanda Vs Uganda Vs Congo, Comparing Best Gorilla Safaris In Africa

GORILLA TREKKING IN RWANDA VS UGANDA VS DR CONGO; COMPARING GORILLA SAFARIS IN AFRICA

Trekking Costs, Distance, Difficulty, and Other Extra Activities

Seeing mountain gorillas in the forest is one of the most magnificent and unforgettable experiences for trekkers, but deciding where to go, when to go, and what to bring is essential before departing for your mountain gorilla trekking location.

Mountain gorillas can only be found in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This means they may trek in four National Parks in these three countries: Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Tanzania (Uganda). It is critical that you gather as much information as possible before deciding whether to hike gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda, or the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

As a result, the most common question among travelers is which nation is superior to the other. The solution may be found in the comparison below.

 

Gorilla Trekking In Uganda

Hiking gorillas in Uganda is primarily done at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, with a small amount also done in Mount Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Mgahinga, like the other two Virunga National Parks, is part of the Virunga Massif, although it only includes one habituated gorilla family, whereas the other groups are in Bwindi Forest.

Uganda is home to around 400 mountain gorillas, accounting for half of the world’s surviving population of this endangered species. There are 17 gorilla groups to hike, 15 in Bwindi and two in Mgahinga.

One gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is significantly less expensive than in Rwanda, costing only $600 per day. According to this comparison, in most cases, the cost of the gorilla permit influences the visitor’s selection about where to trek gorillas from, and they end up picking Uganda as their destination. Nevertheless, accessing gorillas in Uganda is more difficult and time-consuming than in Rwanda.

Visitors may also participate in Gorilla Habituation, which entails spending around 4 hours with the gorillas as opposed to the 1-hour experience spent trekking gorillas. The habituation permit costs $1500 per person per day, which is less than the $1500 required in Rwanda to view gorillas for one hour. Apart from seeing gorillas, there are 9 additional National Parks to explore in addition to Rwanda’s four! You may combine your gorilla vacation with a visit to Kibale National Park, which has the largest concentration of chimps in Africa, or you can see the Murchison Falls, walk Rwenzori and Mountain Elgon, go Nile rafting, or attend one of the 52 tribes’ cultural exhibits, among other things.

Because Bwindi Forest National Park is distant from Entebbe International Airport, the travel is exhausting and lengthy, especially if you do not have a layover in any of the other National Parks. It is a 9 to 10-hour trip from Entebbe or Kampala to Bwindi, but if you don’t want to drive, you may take a scheduled aircraft to the park. Most travelers who wish to go gorilla trekking in Uganda, however, fly into Kigali and then drive 4 hours to Bwindi, which is considerably simpler.

 

Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda

Mountain gorillas in Rwanda may be seen in Volcanoes National Park, which is 113.1 kilometers from Kigali International Airport and takes roughly 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach. The park is located in the country’s northwest, near the borders with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The short distance and minimal time spent going to gorilla habitat provide Rwanda the largest benefit over the other two nations, making Rwanda the most convenient option for tourists, particularly those who wish to stay one night and have fewer activities to do while on safari.

Volcanoes National Park is home to around 150 habituated gorillas organized into ten groups, as well as many wild gorillas. In addition, 96 gorilla trekking permits are provided to guests per day.

It’s in Rwanda where Dian Fossey’s work of conservation and primatology was taken when she was forced to cross to the country’s border during the civil war in DR Congo and consequently the oldest gorilla populations are discovered here.

Rwanda raised the price of a gorilla permit from $750 to $1500 in 2017, more than double Uganda’s and nearly tripling DR Congo’s. Rwanda, while having the highest permit fee, is the ideal option if you have limited time on your African safari.

Because Rwanda is well-known for its high-end tourism strategy, numerous exclusive resorts have been recruited, promising a rise in revenue for the locals who live surrounding Volcanoes National Park, which is home to huge gorillas. As a result, going on a gorilla safari on Volcanoes is one of the most expensive safari experiences; aside from the $1500 gorilla permit, gorilla lodges are expensive with limited options; for example, two people staying two nights at Bisate lodge can spend around $10,000 in that short period of time. Prices are greater, but they are accompanied by superior quality and amazing experiences.

 

Gorilla Trekking In The DRC

Notwithstanding the problems associated with the Goma political upheaval, hiking gorillas in Virunga National Park is less expensive than in Uganda or Rwanda, with a Congo gorilla trekking permit (foreigners) costing $400 and a Congolese permit costing $150. The park is Africa’s oldest, and it has the most biodiversity.

The Park still exists as one of Africa’s most distinctive locations with a multitude of magnificent characteristics including the active volcanoes; Nyiragongo which can be ascended in one day and the Nyamuragira Volcano which last erupted in 2011.

Despite the instability, violence, and conservation challenges, the team and park rangers have managed to increase the number of mountain gorillas from 75 to over 300 individuals over the years.

There are approximately 6 habituated families in Virunga, however, these numbers fluctuate as new families are introduced and groups of gorillas might travel from Rwanda. All mountain gorillas may be found in the Park’s south-eastern section, near the borders with Uganda and Rwanda.

In addition, the number of people visiting the park has surged since 2014, when it reopened after a long period of closure. In addition to trekking gorillas, Virunga National Park has a habituated troop of chimps that you may visit.

While deciding where to hike mountain gorillas, there are several aspects to consider. The cost of a gorilla permit does not provide a whole picture of what it is like. So, since we are comparing Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we should consider other factors such as the airport to fly to, the location where gorilla trekking begins, the number of habituated gorilla families, accommodation options, weather conditions, safety, and other activities to do.

 

The Most Affordable Safari

If all you want is the cheapest Gorilla safari, DR Congo is the place to go. It is also pretty inexpensive and simple to go to Virunga because you fly to Kigali and then drive 3 hours to Goma. Nonetheless, there are a number of safety concerns in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Some activities to do after hiking include watching habituated chimps or climbing Mount Nyiragongo to round up your time in DRC.

 

The Elite Traveller

Are you looking for more private and personal encounters as a premium traveler? Rwanda responds nicely. The lodges in and surrounding Volcanoes National Park are magnificent, in stunning locations, and have prominent brands in the luxury tourism industry.

 

The Low-Cost Traveler

Uganda’s gorilla permit costs $ 600, yet the country has ten national parks, compared to Rwanda’s four. As a result, there is a lot to see and do in Uganda.

Despite the fact that Rwanda’s gorilla permit is the most costly than Uganda and DR Congo (offered at $1,500 per permit), Rwanda still stands out as the most well-organized and safest area to hike gorillas.

After the trip, you may extend your experience by visiting Dian Fossey’s grave, seeing local towns, climbing volcanoes in the region, visiting Lake Kivu, visiting the Dian Fossey Gorilla Museum, and watching golden monkeys.