Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tour from Kigali, Rwanda
Uganda Gorilla Trekking tour from Kigali, Rwanda? That might not be the first thing you think about doing when you arrive in Rwanda, the land of a thousand Hills. But of course, with the high concentration of mountain gorillas in Uganda (at least half the World’s population of these Giant Apes), you can imagine that Uganda offers the most unforgettable gorilla trekking adventures. You can also go gorilla trekking in Uganda with Native Africa Tours.
Uganda is the home of Gorillas.
Uganda has half the World’s mountain gorilla population living in two incredible Protected Areas—Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. However, even with its high concentration of these Giant Apes and the resultant numerous habituated gorilla families, as well as the relatively cheaper gorilla permits, travelers would rather trek gorillas from Rwanda. We shall give you one of the reasons.
Seeing mountain gorillas up close in their natural habitat is one of Africa’s most riveting and indescribable wildlife experiences. This experience is possible in only three African countries—Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Uganda alone has half the population, while the remaining half is shared among Rwanda and the DRC (35% and 25%, respectively). Rwanda is another excellent gorilla trekking destination, but its hefty gorilla permit costs discourage travelers on a budget.
Why start your Uganda gorilla trekking tour from Kigali?
Back to why gorilla treks in Uganda aren’t as popular as they should be. One of the reasons is the location of gorilla trekking destinations from Entebbe and Kampala (the starting points for gorilla tours). Travelers must drive 8-9 hours from Kampala or Entebbe to get to Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks, which is hectic, considering gorilla treks are also physically challenging. One would say flying to nearby airports to the parks is the best option, but this is costly and unfavorable to travelers on a budget.
This is where our Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tour from Kigali is the perfect solution. All you have to do is arrive in Kigali, drive to Bwindi or Mgahinga, which is halfway, and take the journey from Kampala or Entebbe to any of the parks. Remember that you will visit two countries during one trip, so please be careful when applying for your Visa. Nonetheless, the East African Tourist Visa allows you to explore these two countries (and even Kenya if you wish to) multiple times for tourism purposes. It is valid for 3 months/90 days.
Uganda Gorilla Trekking permits
As mentioned earlier, Ugandan gorilla trekking permits are relatively cheaper than those in Rwanda. Permits currently cost $800 per person for foreign non-residents and $700 per person for foreign residents. Visitors under the foreign resident category must present valid work permits as proof. Permits also cost $500 per person for travelers from the rest of Africa, other than East Africa. At the same time, Citizens from the East African Community member states pay Shs. 300,000 for Uganda Gorilla permits.
A Gorilla permit is the number one requirement that will authorize you to access Bwindi or Mgahinga to track one of the habituated gorilla families. There are 20 gorilla families, each of which is visited by a maximum of 8 visitors daily. This, therefore, means that the Uganda Wildlife Authority issues at least 160 gorilla permits each day. One important detail you have to always pay attention to when booking Uganda Gorilla Permits is the location/gate, which will indicate Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, or Nkuringo for Bwindi, or Ntebeko for Mgahinga National Park. This is because it determines where your accommodation will be based. While some sectors/gates are not far from each other, others are very far.
For instance, you can stay at Buhoma and trek mountain gorillas from Ruhija and vice versa. Still, you cannot trek from Nkuringo/Rushaga because they are over 5 hours away from Buhoma/Ruhija. However, you can stay in Rushaga and visit Nkuringo gorilla families and vice versa.
What is the best time to go on a Uganda Gorilla Trekking tour from Kigali, Rwanda?
Uganda Gorilla Trekking from Kigali, Rwanda, is every primate lover’s happy place, and any time of the year is an excellent time to visit Bwindi and Mgahinga. However, if you had to choose, we would say the best time to undertake this gorilla tour is in the dry season. This is from June to September and December to February. Of course, the dry season experiences less rain, making it less challenging to navigate the forest while searching for the mountain gorillas.
Thanks to the reduced precipitation levels, vegetation is sparser, and forest trails are drier, making it less challenging to search for Giant Apes in their natural habitat. However, getting gorilla permits during these months is difficult if you don’t book in advance. For this reason, we recommend booking your gorilla safari at least 6-12 months in advance if you hope to visit during the high season.
What about the Wet Seasons?
Although heavy rains and denser vegetation mark the wet season (March to May and October to November), it doesn’t rain all day, and gorilla treks have never been canceled due to bad weather. The wet season has mild weather and provides excellent photography opportunities as skies are cleared of dust and vegetation is greener. Also, you will be surprised that there are higher chances of spotting mountain gorillas faster than during the dry season when Giant Apes move deeper into the forest or to higher altitudes. It is undeniable that forest trails become muddy and slippery during the wet months, but if you plan appropriately, you will enjoy your adventure. This, and the reduced rates offered by some Safari lodges in the wet months/low season, make it a perfect time for travelers on a budget.
Now let’s burst your bubble.
Mountain Gorilla natural habitats are generally heavily forested (a rainforest region), hence, rain can be experienced at any time of the year. However, the only difference is in the intensity. Regardless of the time you intend to undertake our Uganda Gorilla Trekking tour from Kigali, Rwanda, it is crucial to be prepared and pack certain essentials. These include a waterproof rain jacket, a waterproof backpack, gardening gloves, long-sleeved shirts, long safari pants, a hat, sunglasses, a first aid kit, and an insect repellent. A gorilla safari without a good camera is incomplete because you must have memories of your unforgettable trip. You will also need a pair of binoculars, a first aid kit, toiletries, and sunscreen.
Getting to Uganda for your Gorilla Trekking Tour from Kigali
Your arrival point should be Kigali, Rwanda. Depending on when you arrive in the land of a thousand hills, you will either spend the night in Kigali or continue straight to Uganda. If you arrive anytime beyond 1200 hours, we recommend spending the night in Kigali, and Native Africa Tours can make arrangements for that. Your journey from Kigali to Bwindi or Mgahinga will take about 4-5 hours, with the border crossing at Cyanika or Katuna while taking in breathtaking countryside views from both countries.
In conclusion, Gorilla Trekking is one of the unmissable wildlife experiences in Africa. But sometimes, visitors are limited by budget and time. Our Uganda Gorilla Trekking tours from Kigali, Rwanda, are an excellent option for travelers interested in visiting gorillas on a budget, yet wouldn’t want to drive all day to get to the National Park. Talk to our safari experts to arrange your gorilla safari of a lifetime.
