blog

Gorilla trekking in these countries is one of the best life experiences one should explore on the earth. The intimacy of being with these endangered species gives exhilarating unexplainable feel. Once your eyes are set on your trekking group, one hour will be spent with them since they are endemic to human diseases. The gorilla can only be seen after getting a gorilla permit at US $ 750 for the ones of Rwanda and US $ 600 for the trek in Uganda.
The current number of mountain gorilla is about 840 some of which are for research purposes and other habituated in families making there homes in Rwanda’s volcanoes national park, in Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable national park, in Mgahinga gorilla national park and in D.R Congo’s Virunga national park. A maximum number of 8 people only can visit the allocated group within a day.
GENERAL COMPARISON IN PRICE, BEST RESULTS OF TREK AND ACCESSIBILITY OF THE GORILLAS
Although gorillas can be visited in the volcanoes OF Uganda, Congo and Rwanda, Rwanda has a slight advantage over the others because of its well habituated groups usually found in the bamboo rather than the dense forest in case of the others making there photographing easier.
The biggest problem concerning the Rwanda gorilla trekking is its gorilla permit which is at US $ 750 making it US $ 150 higher than that of Uganda which is US $ 600. However amidst the US $ 150 price difference, Rwanda’s strength lies in its ability to trek in one day which is impossible with Uganda. The list days of trekking in Uganda should be 3 days. the distance between Rwanda’s volcanoes is 116 km only a 2 hours drive from the country’s capital Kigali and for Uganda the distance between Entebbe and Bwindi impenetrable national park is 500 km taking around 8 hours plus drive. however this long hours drive gives you a chance of viewing the natural beauty of Uganda like the equator, lake Mburo national park, queen Elizabeth national park the real true jungles of Africa which is not the case with Rwanda.
Though 1 day gorilla trekking is possible in Rwanda, we would recommend the list to be two days to avoid pressure and enjoying enough of your tour in Africa.
The low gorilla permit in Uganda is however without the long distance transport cost and the time spent on the way. Some of the road to Bwindi impenetrable national park are not so comfortable to drive on as it aren’t the case with Rwanda.
With the transport cost from Kampala to Bwindi, the price of the trekking has to be increased since transport is exclusive on the permit cost. You have to travel 2 days to and from roughly a low budget gorilla trekking for 3 day can cost a bout US $ 1250 with the gorilla permit, accommodation and transport inclusive. Yet a 2 days Rwanda gorilla trekking goes for about US $ 1220 gorilla permit, accommodation and transport inclusive and a 3 day Rwanda trekking costs about US $ 1280 with the permit, accommodation and transport inclusive.

In case the traveler is not only interested in mountain gorillas alone and wants to venture into other activities and watch more animal species, Uganda can be the best option. Rwanda can be the best choice if the interest is only to see mountain gorillas and that’s why many travelers always cross and come over to Uganda to see more of the wildlife missed in Rwanda. Uganda’s many parks like queen Elizabeth national park along the way to Bwindi has got a number of wild life including tree climbing lions and many other big primates, lake Mburo national park, the equator enticing the real pearl of Africa even before even the actual trekking.
With this information, it’s all a bout ones choice, time and the pocket all countries can give you their best. But a combination of both Rwanda and Uganda can be the best with the gorilla trekking in Rwanda then end up in Uganda for the big 5 among others in the queen Elizabeth national park.

Rwanda is sometimes referred to as a country with’’ a thousand Hills’’ with beautiful scenery. It is a landlocked country like its counterpart Uganda and it is considered one of the smallest countries not only in the east but also in Africa covering an area of about. Such a small country is better than many other big countries in terms of tourist attractions. It is gifted with very many nature wonders most of them can’t be found elsewhere. Rwanda is blessed with much wildlife diversity and bird species which form its core products with hospitable people ,from the time you land on the Rwandan soil you will be received by hospital people until when you’re handed over to the range guide to the forest, all these among other have attracted a lot of safaris to Rwanda. Rwanda houses a unique creature considered endangered that’s the mountain gorilla which has made Rwanda very proud of as it houses almost a half of world’s population and it’s considered the best gorilla safari destination in the world. These giant gorillas are only found in three African countries the other two are (Uganda and the democratic republic of Congo). Many people whole over the world leave their beautiful offices and homes to come to this African country (Rwanda) and spend at least 1-2 days in the wild watching these giant species face to face in a close distance of about 7-10metres. Gorilla tracking is a major highlight to any travelers in Rwanda and about 80% of people who visit Rwanda go gorilla tracking, this has boosted the economy of the country.

Mountain gorilla are listed endangered by the IUCN and in Rwanda these primate species live in the rain forest of the volcanoes national park, the park is located in Ruhengeri Musanze district and the park can be reached in 2-3 hours drive on a clear weather condition from Kigali Rwanda’s capital and its largest city up to kinigi park headquarters . Rwanda’s Volcanoes National park is shared by Mgahinga national park in Uganda and Virunga National park in Democratic Republic of Congo all these inhabit these endanger mountain gorillas læs. These might giants mostly depend on fresh leaves, shoots, fruits and piths but they rarely drink water since most of the food they eat contain water and a lot of moisture.
Gorillas are the largest apes of all primate species, they are also regarded the second closest relative of man nest to chimpanzee sharing almost 98% of human DNA make up. Tracking these giant is a moment in life no one wish to miss seeing while on a safari in Rwanda they are fabulous fan to watch in their nature habitat.

Gorillas live in a group ranging in size from 15- 27 and each group is lead by a dominant silverback who take control of the group, he is responsible for mating, decided on where to feed, where to sleep the following night and also responsible for protecting the group in case of any attack from other animals and if it means dying a silver buck can lose its life when defending the group. How do you see meeting this giant ape and have a close look as well as taking as many photos as you can (a flash camera is not needed). In fact Mountain gorillas offer the best safaris experiences for ever while on your safaris to Rwanda and Uganda. Many writers contend that, a safari in Africa is only complete when you visit mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, in the true African wilderness, deep in the heart of Africa.

Gorilla safaris can be conducted in volcanoes national park(Rwanda) and this park has about 10 habituated gorilla families ready for tracking and you can’t mention gorillas in Rwanda without talking about Diane Fossy, this was a prominent primatologist who studied the behaviours of mountain gorillas for a period of 20 years he habituated gorillas to human standards that they can tracked safely in their natural habitat however she was killed by poachers whom she had made herself very unpopular. Gorillas in Uganda can be conducted in Bwiindi Impenetrable national park and the park is located in the south western part of Uganda and this park has about 11 habituated gorilla groups. Uganda also has another group of mountain gorillas known as “Nyakagezi gorilla group” found in Mgahinga National Park, however this group is unstable it still migrate to Rwanda or the democratic republic of Congo to look for new adventure so if you’re to in this group it is always better to inquire from your travel company before you book your gorilla safari in Mghinga gorilla forest national park. Gorilla trekking safaris also offer tourists with the additional opportunity to spot different bird species, other animals and other primates like the golden monkeys and the silver monkeys
You must wake up very early in the morning at report at the park headquarters in Kinigi (volcanoes national park) for a short briefing about the do’s and don’ts while with these animals and also to get assigned to the group booked for.

So it’s better to book you’re accommodation around the park a night before the trek. Among the accommodation options around Volcanoes National Park include Sabyinyo Silverback lodge, Virunga lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Hotel La Palme and Kinigi Guest House among others. If you decided to sleep in Kigali you are recommended to leave Kigali in the morning at 4.30am, takes about 2-4 hours up to Kinigi park headquarters. Gorilla tracking permits in Rwanda are at a fee of $750 per person per tracking and you are advised to pay in time at least 3-4 hours before you start your safari, gorilla permits are always on high demand, they are issued on first come first served basis so the earlier the better.

A certificate is given to however who has fully participated in the life time adventure at the end of each adventure. Contact us for more information about gorilla tracking or book with us any gorilla safari to either Rwanda or Uganda we shall provide you the best.