Discover mountain gorilla trekking- It’s unfair to compare gorilla tracking in Uganda to that of Rwanda. The fact is that Uganda has wildlife in savannah parks and much more activities to offer other than Rwanda where combining a savannah safari with gorilla trekking comes as a difficult choice.

Uganda safari leads on this comparison, below we will provide you with detailed information to discover gorilla trekking experiences in Uganda and Rwanda to enable you make the perfect choice that fits your interest time and budget.

Mountain gorillas are species of gorillas that are further subdivided into lowland gorillas and mountain gorillas. Lowland gorillas are smaller in size and have brownish-grey far coats, small ears, distinct brow ridge and auburn chests.

There are more than 100,000 lowland gorillas widely spread in Cameroon, DR Congo, Central African Republic, Gabon, Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea but mountain gorillas are now endangered species with about 1080 left in the entire world

Mountain gorillas can be trekked in 3 countries that is Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo. In Uganda mountain gorillas can be seen in Mgahinga gorilla national park and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. In Rwanda mountain gorillas can only be found in volcanoes national park while for the case of Democratic Republic of Congo, mountain gorillas can be seen in Virunga national park.

Discover gorilla tracking in Uganda – trekking mountain gorilla is an amazing activity. Most of the habituated mountain gorilla families in these national parks are habituated by well experienced experts in order to avoid dangerous encounters with human beings. These mountain gorillas are dominant and very strong when seen by they are shy to human beings in their habitats and they only attack when provoked to protect themselves.

You are always given rules and regulations to follow when you meet them in order not to threaten them. Gorilla trekking can take you 1 to 8 hours depending on where the gorilla family your trekking is, nature of the terrain, season and the speed at which you are hiking

Mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO with over 550 mountain gorillas. The park 19 habituated mountain gorilla families open for gorilla trekking in 4 different regions of Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo all managed by Uganda wildlife authority.

Mgahinga gorilla national park is located in south western Uganda on higher attitudes between 2,227 and 4,127 meters. The park has only one habituated gorilla family called Nyakagezi gorilla family which years ago used to be a nomadic family crossing the borders to Rwanda and even DR Congo.

Important information about mountain gorilla experiences in Uganda

A gorilla permits in Uganda costs $700 for foreign non – residents, $600 foreign residents and UGX 250,000 east African residents

Permits are booked from Uganda wildlife authority or through any trusted tour operator

20% of a gorilla permit revenue goes to community development

Bwindi host half of the total population of mountain gorillas in the entire world

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga Gorilla Park are easily accessed from Kigali international airport via Cyanika border and Katuna border taking you only 3 – 4 hours. You can also use a flight from Kajjansi Airfield and Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro and Kihihi airfields.

While in Mgahinga Gorilla Park, you can merge gorilla trekking with golden monkey trekking

Gorilla habituation can be done in Bwindi impenetrable national park for $1500 per person per day

Uganda has a lot of attractions such as birds, wild animals, lakes, plateau, mountains, and rivers.

Bwindi impenetrable forest and Mgahinga national parks are all World Heritage Sites by UNESCO

You can drive from Entebbe international airport or Kampala to Mgahinga gorilla and Bwindi impenetrable national parks for about 8 – 9 hours which is long. However, you can board a flight from Kajjansi airfield or Entebbe international airport to Kisoro or Kihihi airstrip in a few minutes or you can cross from Kigali international airport via Katuna and Cyanika border to the parks taking you only 3 – 4 hours

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is located in a remote area and some roads are not accessible

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has dense vegetation and taking pictures might be challenging

Mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda

Volcanoes national park in Rwanda is the only park in the country where gorilla trekking can be done. Getting to the park is just a 3 hours drive from Kigali international airport. Volcanoes national park has 10 habituated gorilla families that are open for gorilla trekking and they are limited to 8 people per gorilla family per trek. Rwanda gorilla permits allow you one hour with gorillas

Important information about mountain gorilla experiences in Rwanda

Driving from Kigali international airport to volcanoes national park takes you only 3 hours making it shorter than that of Uganda which is 9 hours

Volcanoes national park has vegetation which is not dense and the pictures can be taken clearly

Rwanda roads are good and easily accessible

There is golden monkey trekking in the country

You can hike any of the Volcanoes Mountains

There are 10 habituated gorilla families open for trekking

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is more expensive costing you $1500 a permit compared to Uganda where it’s just $700

They don’t have specific rates for residents, all people are required to pay $1500

Rwanda has not much to offer for they have only one Savannah Park (Akagera national park)

There are a few accommodations and the ones near the parks are very expensive

10% of the gorilla permit value is given back to community development

Only 80 permits are issued out per day

The country doesn’t offer gorilla habituation experience