Why Choose Uganda Over Rwanda For Gorilla Trekking?

Why Choose Uganda Over Rwanda For Gorilla Trekking?

Why Choose Uganda Over Rwanda For Gorilla Trekking? So, you’ve settled on gorilla trekking as your intended wildlife experience, but are torn between Uganda and Rwanda. These two countries are the most well-known gorilla trekking safari destinations. We are constantly asked, “What is the best destination for gorilla trekking?” And the short answer is, “It depends on what you want from your adventure. One of the countries is home to Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks. The other country boasts the spectacular Volcanoes National Park, renowned for being the base of Dian Fossey during her Mountain Gorilla research/studies in Africa.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Regarding gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, you will undeniably be spoilt for choice with similar gorilla trekking experiences. Therefore, if you are looking for a definite answer on the better gorilla trekking destination, there’s no clear answer.

Thanks to our many years of experience building hundreds of bespoke gorilla trekking packages for visitors. We usually advise enjoying the adventure in both countries to make the most of their time. However, if you have to choose just one, we recommend Uganda, as you will discover in this article. Here are some of the reasons why you should select Uganda over Rwanda for your gorilla trekking experience;

Uganda offers cheaper gorilla trekking permits.

Regarding gorilla permit costs, Uganda is the cheaper of the two options. The Pearl of Africa charges USD 800 per person for foreign non-residents, USD 700 per person for foreign residents, and Shs 300,000 for Citizens of the East African Community bloc. Conversely, Rwanda charges USD 1500 per person for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. If cost is what you consider when choosing your next gorilla trekking destination, then you will select Uganda.

Two Gorilla Trekking Destinations

If you choose Uganda for gorilla trekking, you will do it from either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. However, Rwanda has only one gorilla destination: the 160-square-kilometer Volcanoes National Park.

Uganda has more mountain gorillas and habituated gorilla families.

Uganda’s high concentration of Mountain gorillas comprises half the World’s population of these Giant Apes.  On the other hand, Rwanda has 35%  of the total population of these creatures, which is another reason you should choose Uganda.  This country boasts more than 25 habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park alone, hence almost 200 gorilla permits are issued daily for this Park alone. Mgahinga, also the country’s smallest National Park, has one habituated gorilla family, meaning eight gorilla permits are issued daily, thus adding to the country’s overall gorilla permit numbers.

Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park has 12 habituated gorilla families, meaning only about 96 gorilla permits are issued each day because only a group of 8 visitors is allowed to visit each habituated gorilla family daily. For both countries, visitors can trek only with families fully habituated to human presence, which takes 2-5 years to finalize.

Therefore, the high concentration of mountain gorillas and the higher number of gorilla permits are other reasons to choose Uganda over Rwanda for gorilla trekking.

Uganda offers the opportunity to spend more time with the Giant Apes.

All three countries sheltering mountain gorillas (Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo) offer standard gorilla trekking tours, which usually climax with a one-hour encounter with Giant Apes. Uganda is a better choice than Rwanda because it provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend more time (four hours) with the mountain gorillas during an activity known as the “Gorilla Habituation Experience.” This adventure is only offered in southern Bwindi (Rushaga sector), with permits costing USD 1500 per person.

Gorilla Habituation Experience introduces visitors to semi-habituated mountain gorillas. Only one gorilla family has been set aside for this four-hour trekking adventure. Just so you know – only four permits are issued daily for this semi-habituated gorilla family; hence, booking in advance (6-12 months earlier) is best to avoid last-minute disappointment. Like standard gorilla treks, you will walk several hours (1-6 hours) in the forest searching for the mountain gorillas, except they are usually shyer than those of fully habituated families.  

There’s much more to see in Uganda than in Rwanda besides gorilla trekking.

Uganda’s diverse wildlife, birds, and spectacular landscapes beyond the endangered mountain gorillas offer an exciting array of adventures.

Uganda has eight other National Parks and 12 Wildlife Reserves besides Bwindi and Mgahinga, while Rwanda only has three different National Parks after Volcanoes National Park. This means you have a wide range of activities to enjoy in Uganda before or after your unforgettable gorilla trekking adventure, and these include;

• Chimpanzee trekking tours in Kibale National Park and Budongo Forest 
• Safari boat cruises in Murchison Falls, Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Lake Victoria.
• Rides on Dugout canoes on Lakes Bunyonyi and Mutanda.
• Enjoy game drives in Murchison Falls, Kidepo Valley, and Queen Elizabeth
• Multi-day mountain climbing/hiking adventures on Mount Elgon, the Rwenzori Mountains, and the Virunga Volcanoes.
• Jinja adventure tours include bungee jumping, whitewater rafting, horseback rides, quad bike rides, and cycling tours.

When to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda

The best time for Uganda Gorilla trekking is generally during the dry season, which typically runs from June to September and December to February. These months offer drier, less humid conditions, making it easier to navigate and explore Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park while searching for Giant Apes. This is why the dry months are also the peak season for gorilla safaris.

The rainy season typically runs from March to May and October to November. This season provides exceptional experiences, like exploring muddy/slippery forest trails. The dry season is usually favored and loved by many travelers. Gorilla treks through Bwindi or Mgahinga after a rain shower awaken the sounds of animals, birds, and insects. These combine to produce exceptional melodies that rival the sounds of any orchestra. This season has several challenges, including muddy and slippery trails due to increased rain showers. This makes navigating the forest while searching for the mountain gorillas challenging.

In conclusion, Uganda is one of the unrivaled gorilla trekking safari destinations offering a better alternative to Rwanda. This is because this country offers cheaper gorilla trekking permits and provides two Gorilla Trekking destinations. Uganda has more mountain gorillas and habituated gorilla families. This provides a chance to spend more time with the Giant Apes. Don’t miss out on your gorilla trekking adventure of a lifetime. Begin planning your trip with Native Africa Tours today!