Compare gorilla trekking safari in Uganda Vs Rwanda from Asia, Australia, Europe or America

Make a choice for a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda Vs Rwanda with gorilla permits or pass being the most crucial requirement for tracking mountain gorillas in both these countries. Gorilla habituation is only done at Bwindi impenetrable national park giving an opportunity to visitors up to 4 hours per day with the Gorillas along with their care takers/ rangers, doctors and researchers at a charge of $1,500. A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs $800 while gorilla permit in Rwanda costs $1500 where you will spend an hour with gorillas when you meet them.

Gorilla trekking safari in Uganda Vs Rwanda inspiration

What next after finding mountain gorillas?

As soon as you locate these mountain gorillas, you will be allowed to stay with them for over an hour as you are having photos, observing, asking questions and so on. However, during this session, you are not allowed to eat anything, drink, and take photos when the flash lights are on.

You are not allowed to get too close to the gorillas and also advised to wear a mask if you’ve got one a regulation aimed at protecting the primates from catching viral or bacterial respiratory diseases like flue or cold.

When the one hour of staying around a particular gorilla family elapses, you are asked to get back to the lodge and leave the jungle for the gorillas.

Gorilla trekking safari packages in Uganda Vs Rwanda

Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda Vs Rwanda

1 day gorilla trekking Rwanda safari

On tailored categories of 1 night 1 day or 1 day full alone, the 1 day gorilla trekking Rwanda safari in the Volcanoes N.P is a top opportunity for busy travelers to encounter mountain gorillas in a short time plan. If you arrive on the previous evening, you move from your lodge where you've spent the night and head to the park headquarters for a pre-trekking briefing. When you arrive in the dark morning hours, you'll drive for 2.5 hours to Kinigi where Volcanoes N.P is located. Mountain gorilla trekking takes between 3-6 hours after which you head back to Kigali for departure.

1 day gorilla trekking Uganda safari

The 1 day gorilla trekking Uganda safari starts from Kigali- Rwanda on a 3 hours drive to Mgahinga or Bwindi gorilla national parks. This itinerary will require to find you to in Kigali city followed by a very early morning drive to the gorilla parks headquarters. Or, this itinerary can also be a 1 hour fly-in from Entebbe to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips that are near Bwindi impenetrable forest and Mgahinga national parks respectively. Along the gorilla trekking experience, you'll also see crater lakes, reptiles, colobus monkeys, Albertine rift bird species, turacos etc.

2 day gorilla trekking Rwanda safari

Considering an adventure weekend in Africa! the 2 day gorilla trekking Rwanda safari is a perfect itinerary to fit your inspiration. This 2 day Rwanda gorilla trek tour is a focused Kigali city tour & mountain gorilla trekking experience. Day 1 of this trip gets you around Kigali city taking you to local markets, museums, art & craft shops, nature parks etc. after where you head to Kinigi at a long near the Volcanoes N.P. 2nd day is the main gorilla trekking day that takes between 3- 6 hours after which you return to Kigali for departure. During the trek through the tropical rainforests, you also enjoy bird watching, monkeys etc.

2 days gorilla trekking Uganda safari

For more affordability, a 2 day gorilla trekking Uganda safari from Kigali can be considered given the $800 gorilla permit cost Vs the $1,500 permit cost in Rwanda. The drive from Kigali to Uganda's Bwindi impenetrable or Mgahinga national parks takes a 3 hours road drive a little different to the 2.5 hours to Volcanoes N.P. Day 1 offers a Kigali city tour through coffee shops, museums, local markets, malls & nature parks before crossing to Uganda. Mountain gorilla trekking on day 2 takes 3- 6 hours after which you immediately travel back to Kigali to wait for your departure flight.

2 days fly-in gorilla trekking Uganda safari

Another affordable luxury 2 day gorilla trekking Uganda itinerary combines gorilla trekking at Buhoma sector in Bwindi and a game drive experience at Queen Elizabeth N.P. On arrival, you connect to a domestic flight to Kihihi on a 1 hour flight. On reaching reaching Kihihi, you'll have a brief rest and head out for a game drive in the Ishasha sector. Towards the evening, you'll head to your booked lodge in Buhoma as you wait for the next day's trekking activities. After gorilla trekking on the 2nd day, you'll head to the airstrip to catch up with your return flight. During the gorilla trek, you enjoy birding, hiking, rift valley scenes, crater lakes etc.

4 day gorilla & golden monkeys Rwanda safari

A focused primate trekking 4 day gorilla trekking & golden monkey tracking Rwanda safari is a gem for primate lovers. Both mountain gorillas and golden monkeys are rare endangered species that are only found in the Virunga massif as their natural habitat in the world. Rwanda has also most 50% of the world's remaining endangered mountain gorillas coming next to Uganda likewise to the golden monkey population. You will travel to Kinigi where Volcanoes N.P is located after an amazing Kigali city tour that show cases museums, art & crafts shops, local markets with fresh natural fruits etc.

5 days gorilla trek & birding Uganda safari

The 5 day gorilla trekking & birding Uganda safari is a combined combo that starts from Kigali- Rwanda till Kampala- Uganda and then depart. On arrival in Kigali, you will head to lake Bunyonyi for a brief tour and a hot lunch before finally diving into Bwindi impenetrable forest lodges. Mountain gorilla trekking starts the 2nd day with evening game drives in Queen Elizabeth N.P. Day 3 is a full day for continuing to explore Queen Elizabeth game park. Half of the 4th day is spent in Semuliki N.P with the rest getting you travel back to Kampala. Very early on the last day's morning, you'll explore mabamba swamp on the lake Victoria shores for shoebill sightings.

5 days gorilla trek & wildlife Rwanda safari

A perfect gorilla trekking & Africa's big 5 combo is best done on a 5 day gorilla trek & Africa's big 5 Rwanda safari given the itinerary having both Volcanoes and Akagera national parks visits. Akagera national park is home to Africa's big 5 (lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, rhinos) in Rwanda along other wild game like giraffes, zebras, antelopes, warthogs etc. Volcanoes N.P has one of the world's highest mountain gorilla population giving a 99% guarantee to encounter the gentle giants. Rwanda is a perfect for the mountain gorilla trekking & Africa's big 5 combined combo thanks to the short distance to parks.

5 days Gorilla trek & chimpanzees Uganda safari

Uganda also renown as the primate capital of the world is a top perfect destination for primate trekking especially on combined gorilla trekking & chimpanzee tracking combined safaris. This 5 day gorilla trek & chimpanzees Uganda safari also involves game drives in Queen Elizabeth N.P which is next to the Kalinzu forest reserve where chimp trekking is done. The 5 day gorilla trek, chimp tracking & wildlife can either starts from Kampala or Kigali- Rwanda. Other great sightings along primate trekking include bird watching, crater lakes, boat cruise, massive hippo pods, elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, hyenas, the great rift valley, mtn. Rwenzori snow caps, nile crocodiles, antelopes etc.

A pair of young mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) playing around while hanging from a tree in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

8 days Rwanda- Uganda gorillas & wildlife safari

Excellent 8 day Rwanda- Uganda gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking & Africa's big 5 combined combo is an Africa trip worth every beginner & seasoned safari traveler's staycation holiday. The 8 day Rwanda Uganda safari starts with a Kigali city tour then into Akagera N.P home to Africa's big 5 (lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants & rhinos) from where you'll cross to Uganda for gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking is done in Bwindi impenetrable forest which alone harbors almost 50% of the world's remaining endangered mountain gorilla species. Next to Bwindi impenetrable montane tropical forests are the vast plains and rift valley of the Queen Elizabeth national park that offer great wonderful scenes on game drives for example up to 52 crater lakes, rift valley escarpments, tree climbing lions, Kazinga channel, the world's highest population of hippo pods, mtn. Rwenzori snow caps, shoebills & 660+ bird species. Chimpanzee tracking is also done in the lowland forest of the Queen Elizabeth ecosystem. Another amazing activity on this safari is the lake Mburo walking safari that gets you to encounter beautiful wildlife on feet or horseback rides.

12 days Rwanda Uganda primates, wildlife & R. Nile tour

Another mega Africa safari combined combo with gorilla trekking, Africa's big 5 encounters, chimpanzee tracking, source of the R. Nile & the world's strongest water falls is a gem for safari adventure travelers. The multination 12 days Rwanda Uganda primate trekking, Africa's big 5 & Nile river expedition is worth every dollar/ penny spent given the different unique activities done in their destinations for example gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest which has the world's highest population of mountain gorillas, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale forest which has the highest chimp concentration in the world, visit source of the river Nile (for water rafting, river tubing, bungee, quad biking, horseback rides etc.), hiking to the top of the Murchison water falls- the world's strongest water falls, a walking tour for near encounters of southern white rhinos at Ziwa rhino sanctuary etc. Bird watching is another excellent accompaniment to the major itinerary activities with Uganda host almost 25% of Africa's total bird population with species for example shoebills, great blue turacos, Albertine rift endemics, sunbirds, secretary birds, kori bustards, eagles, kingfishers, hornbills, flamingos, Egyptian geese, starlings etc.

Mountain gorilla deep in the Ugandan jungle - Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Portrait

16 days gorilla trek, wildlife & R. Nile Uganda safari

The 2 weeks/ 16 day primate trekking, wildlife and adventure Uganda safari package offers top scenic Africa wildlife and geographical features for example mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, crater lakes, water falls, the ancient river Nile, the great rift valley, hot springs, shoebills, nile crocodiles, chimpanzees, hippos, mtn. Rwenzori snow caps among others. Numerous adventure activities come along these wildlife excursions for example bungee jumping, water rafting, flat water nile tubing, kayaking, boat cruises, city tours, abseiling at Sipi falls, quad biking, horseback riding etc. Also expect and note compulsory major wildlife experience activities to take on this 16 days gorilla trek, wildlife & R. Nile Uganda safari for example gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale forest N.P, golden monkey tracking in Mgahinga N.P, hiking at Sipi falls & mtn. Elgon N.P, prehistoric shoebill sightings, boat cruise to the source of the Nile and visit Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary in lake Victoria.

Compare drive distances on gorilla trekking safari in Uganda Vs Rwanda

It will take 9- 10 hours to drive from Entebbe international airport to Bwindi impenetrable national park in Uganda; with another option to use Kigali international airport from Rwanda to Uganda taking 3 hours only. It takes only 2.5 hours to drive from Kigali international airport to the Volcanoes national park in the northwest of the country. Both countries are relatively doing well in terms of security and higher priority is given their tourism sectors.

Best time for gorilla trekking safari in Uganda Vs Rwanda

Gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda is done all year round though the dry seasons in these areas are the best for the gorilla trekking experiences that is from June to August and December to February. It’s easier to trek to the higher altitudes where gorillas stay during dry seasons when there’s rainfall that makes the terrain slippery and muddy thus making it difficult to achieve to gorilla nests easily. Also gorillas like any other animals tend to roam more during the dry season creating higher chances of finding them easier than during the wet seasons.

Gorilla trekking guide & rules on gorilla trekking safari in Uganda Vs Rwanda

Only persons of 15 years and above can engage in the activity
Tropical countries have unpredictable climate, rain gear is a must have
Insect repellent
Recommended clothing – long trousers and long sleeved sweaters or shirts while in the forest to avoid insect and plant stings.
Sturdy hiking boots are essential, especially ones you have used before.
Drinking water, however eating, drinking and smoking near the gorillas is strictly forbidden – your guide will communicate designated time and place.
Photography is permitted, although you must not use flash
Porters are available to help you carry your day-pack for a small charge.
You will not be allowed to trek gorillas if you have communicable disease like flu or cough