Which is better, gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda? Which is ideal for you will depend on your needs, but both are excellent choices. We’ll examine some of the distinctions between gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda in this piece. Here are some key comparing elements to help you choose where to go on a gorilla trek.

Comparison 1: Permit Count

Gorilla trekking is growing in popularity as one of Africa’s best wildlife experiences. Fortunately, stringent laws are in place to safeguard these gentle giants, and there are only a certain number of licenses granted each day. On any given day, no more than eight guests may spend more than an hour with any particular gorilla troop. Twelve tracking groups are available in Rwanda, all of which are located in Volcanoes National Park. In Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to around 25 trackable groups, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to one group.

The Virunga Mountains’ Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a fantastic location for gorilla trekking. However, it isn’t a popular choice because there is only one gorilla group and not many lodging options nearby. The comparisons below are between the two most well-known and easily accessible gorilla trekking locations, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Bwindi in Uganda. This off-the-beaten-path gorilla park has been excluded from the analysis for the sake of this blog.

Second Comparison: Landscape & Habitat

The primary gorilla trekking parks in Rwanda and Uganda have rather varied environments and topographies. Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is a section of the Virungas, a volcanic mountain range that is primarily inactive. The bamboo forest zone is where the gorillas spend nearly all of their time here, making it a stunning place to see these magnificent primates. It’s simple to observe the greenery because it’s usually rather open.

On the other hand, Bwindi Impenetrable, the most visited gorilla trekking destination in Uganda, is a vast area of tropical rainforest. Although the scenery is breathtaking, it can occasionally be difficult to get a good glimpse of the gorillas due to the park’s dense foliage, as the name implies.

Third Comparison: Price

The price is another crucial factor to take into account when contrasting gorilla trekking in Rwanda vs Uganda. The cost of a gorilla trekking permit for a foreign nonresident is US$800 in Uganda and US$1,500 in Rwanda. a significant distinction. Of course, you could counter that when factored into a 10-day vacation package, the difference isn’t quite that big.

Travel plans including lodging, transportation, and your guide are not included in this price. Only the activity, the park ranger who will serve as your gorilla trekking guide, and the trackers who go out to locate the gorillas are covered.

Extra tips are provided for the guide, trackers, and optional porter. It should be mentioned that only nonresidents who are not nationals of an African nation are subject to these full expenses. East African nationals pay US$200 in Rwanda and US$80 in Uganda for permits, whereas international residents pay US$500 in Rwanda or US$700 in Uganda. In both nations, holders of other African passports must pay US$500.

Comparison 4: Trek Conditions

Trekking conditions in Rwanda are often a little easier than in Uganda. However, this is not a given. Depending on where the gorillas are, conditions vary every day. Every gorilla troop has a territory, and some are typically more accessible than others.

After a lot of rain, the forest paths become extremely slick, which tends to worsen the situation. This is particularly true in Bwindi, which experiences year-round extremely heavy rainfall. Whereas the routes in Uganda are typically exceedingly steep and overgrown, the tracks in Rwanda are typically fairly defined. However, for some people, Rwanda’s higher elevation can be a problem.

Comparison 5: Options for Accommodations

Rwanda and Uganda offer decent lodging choices for gorilla trekking. While Uganda offers a few more mid-range options, Rwanda may provide a greater selection of upscale luxury resorts. While many hotels in Rwanda enjoy views of mountains and/or lakes, the majority are a little further from the forest line. In Uganda, several lodges are either within the park or border it, giving the impression that they are in a real forest.

Comparing 6: Reaching the Goal

Compared to Bwindi in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is much easier to reach. On a decent road, it can take up to three hours to drive from Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, to Volcanoes National Park. It takes about eight to ten hours to drive from Entebbe, which is where most tourists enter Uganda, to Bwindi. There are four distinct trailheads in Bwindi, but there is only one starting point for gorilla treks in Rwanda. It could take a decent 4×4 car to get to some of them. However, flights to Bwindi are scheduled.

An alternative is to include a visit to Bwindi in a longer road trip in Uganda that also includes stops at other parks and reserves. Rwanda is the most convenient country for a short gorilla trekking excursion or as an extension of a safari in Kenya or Tanzania.

Comparison 7: Safari as a whole

A gorilla hike is typically included in a longer safari. Compared to Rwanda, Uganda offers more possibilities for this. Two excellent savannah areas are Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls in Uganda. The most recognizable safari creatures, like as giraffes, buffalo, lions, and elephants, can be seen here.

With the exception of rhinos, which are exclusively found in Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch, all five of the Big Five—lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhino—are present. After an exciting safari, Lake Bunyonyi is a terrific place to relax for a few days, and Uganda is also a popular destination for chimpanzee trekking.

Although Rwanda is not as well-known as a safari destination on its own, there are some excellent off-the-beaten-path finds that are worth including in your gorilla journey. The two most noteworthy are Nyungwe National Park, a highland rainforest that is home to 13 primate species, including trackable chimpanzees, and Akagera National Park, a picturesque Big Five savannah park.

Comparison 8: The Ideal Time to Travel

In Rwanda and Uganda, June through August is the ideal time of year for gorilla trekking, with December through February being somewhat less favorable. The driest months are these ones. Hiking in the forest is easier at this time of year because the trails are usually less slick. Rain is less likely to disrupt your enjoyment.

However, overall rainfall is lower in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, and conditions are often good from May to February. Being a rainforest, Bwindi is a place where you could be wet at any time. However, you will still be able to see the gorillas. You should be fine as long as you stay away from April through May and October through November, when the rains are at their worst. Naturally, waterproof jackets are essential.