For travelers looking forward to comparing Volcanoes national park Rwanda and Mgahinga gorilla national park, here is a detailed guide to help you while planning for your safari. These two national parks are good destinations for gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking tours in east Africa.

Volcanoes national park in Rwanda is a luxury gorilla trekking destination situated in the north-western region of Rwanda whereas Mgahinga gorilla national park is located in the south western region of Uganda on the border with democratic republic of Congo and Rwanda.  These two parks are neighbors to each other and they both neighbor Virunga national park of democratic republic of Congo. Volcanoes national park, Mgahinga national and Virunga national park are part of Virunga conservation area which comprises of 8 Virunga mountains that lie within the Virunga volcano massif.

Volcanoes national park in Rwanda is situated in Ruhengeri district near Musanze. Volcanoes national park is the oldest national park in Rwanda and east Africa first established in 1925 and it’s a home to over 200 species of birds, over 300 mountain gorilla, over 13 primates and a big number of mammals

Volcanoes national park is a perfect place for visitors that are looking to have a luxurious gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda. Gorilla trekking activities in Rwanda cost USD 1500 per day. Although the cost of gorilla trekking permits in volcanoes national park Rwanda is high compared to that of Mgahinga National Park, where a gorilla trekking permit goes for USD 600 to USD 700, it has not stopped visitors from trekking gorillas in volcanoes national park.

Gorilla trekking activity in volcanoes national park Rwanda are done in groups of 8 individuals who trek the same gorilla group or family. Each group is given a well-trained guide and an armed park ranger who guide you which routes to use and protect them from dangerous wild animals.

Gorilla trekking involves hiking steep slopes of mountains and dense vegetation and this means the visitors must be physically fit, patient and health. However the visitors who are disabled can be carried by porters on their stretchers but this comes at an additional cost.

Gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park Rwanda involves travelers tracking down gorillas for about 2 – 8 hours depending on where the gorillas are located. When the gorillas are found tourists are allowed to have an hour one with them as they take pictures, record moments, learn about the feeding habits and behavior among others.

Gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park is done by tourists above 15 years of age. Apart from gorilla trekking, travelers in volcanoes national park can participate in other activities offered by the park such as golden monkey, guided forest walk, bird watching, hiking to musanze caves, hiking Mountain Bisoke and Mountain Karisimbi, hiking Dian Fossey grave site, iby’iwacu community village and karisoke research center.

A trip to volcanoes national park Rwanda can be merged with a short trip to Mgahinga national park of Uganda located in the south west. This trip option is very convenient and workable for a visitors on a fixed budget and wish to participate in gorilla trekking. This is precisely because the cost of gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park in Rwanda is way expensive than gorilla trekking in Mgahinga national park.

Mgahinga national park is one of Uganda’s national parks located in south western part of Uganda in kisoro district. Mgahinga national park has a park size of 33.7 sq. km.

After Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park is the second destination in Uganda where gorilla trekking can be done. There are two habituated mountain gorilla groups in Mgahinga National Park and these are Hirwa gorilla group and Nyakagezi gorilla group. Hirwa group of gorillas recently migrated from volcanoes national park of Rwanda.

Gorilla trekking activities in Mgahinga National Park commences from Ntebeko at the visitors center at 8 am every day. Visitors are advised to reach early to be briefed by the head ranger guide in the park. Gorilla trekking in the park is done in groups of 8 individuals and trekking can last between 2-8 hours. Once visitors have found a gorilla group the spend one hour with them as they take pictures and record moments, learn animal behaviors, feeding habits watch them build nests among others.

Apart from gorilla trekking so many activities can be done by visitors who visit Mgahinga national park can do other activities such as golden monkey trekking, bird watching, guided nature walks, hiking and mountain climbing, community visits and batwa forest group of people

Where to stay in volcanoes national park

Accommodation in volcanoes national park Rwanda is always available for travelers who want to spend a night or more days in the park and these include Bisate lodge, Virunga Lodge, Mountain Gorilla view, Sabinyo Silverback Lodge, Le Bamboo Gorilla lodge, Gorilla Volcanoes Lodge and Kinigi guest house.

Accommodation in Mgahinga national park

Mgahinga national park has got a variety of accommodation facilities which are near by the park such as Bunyonyi overland resort, bird nest Bunyonyi resort, kisoro traveler’s rest hotel, mountain gorilla safari hotel and countryside guest house.

Visitors from volcanoes national park in Rwanda traveling to Mgahinga national park Uganda can pass via kyanika border taking them about one and a half hours