Tips For Choosing A Gorilla Trekking Destination

We are only faced with choices in life when we have options on the table. Without options, there is no need to make several considerations, more so if you have already decided to do something. For instance, most car rental agencies in Uganda rent out 4×4 cars. You will not have the option of a sedan in most cases. But that does not mean that there are no car rental agencies that rent out sedans.

The same applies to gorilla trekking. Based on Rwanda’s rigorous marketing, some people assume that gorilla trekking is only possible in Rwanda. Those who have an opportunity to trek gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park realize that they have options when it comes to gorilla trekking.

Once these three major gorilla trekking locations; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Volcanoes National Park, and Mgahinga National Park get on the table; you are left with no option but to start thinking of a choice that will not cost you the best gorilla trekking experience. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a gorilla trekking destination.

Cost Of The Gorilla Trekking Permit

Gorilla trekking permit rates vary according to the country you choose to trek gorillas in. In Rwanda, a gorilla trekking permit for foreign non-residents costs $1500 per permit. A gorilla trekking permit for Africans outside the East African community and foreign residents in Rwanda costs $500. A gorilla trekking permit for East Africans costs $200.

In Uganda, a gorilla trekking permit for foreign non-residents costs $800 per permit. Foreign residents’ permits cost $700 per permit, Permits for Africans outside the East African community cost $500 while permits for East Africans cost Ugx 300,000 ($80)

Gorilla Tracking – Bwindi National Park – Uganda

If your primary intention is to save money, then the above rates will guide you. Though Rwanda’s permit for foreign non-residents is very expensive, Uganda’s permit for foreign non-residents is more expensive than that of Rwanda.

Uganda also charges less than half the Rwanda price for East Africans. But if the permit concern is not one of your main concerns, you might have to consider accessibility as one of the major ways to choose a gorilla trekking destination.

Accessibility Of The Gorilla Park

The accessibility of the gorilla park can be looked at from two angles. The road conditions to the national parks and flights to the airport where you ought to start your trip. As of 2024, Rwanda Air has more international flights than Uganda Airlines making it more accessible to people from different parts of the world.

But let us assume that you are coming from a country where both Rwanda Air and Uganda Airlines have flights, what else should you consider regarding accessibility? The ease of accessing the gorilla parks.

In Rwanda, you will access Volcanoes National Park is less than 3 hours drive from Kigali International Airport while in Uganda, it will take you a minimum of 9 hours to transfer from Entebbe International Airport to either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

However, it is also important to note that you can access the Uganda gorilla parks from Kigali. The journey is shorter than Entebbe to the gorilla parks. Therefore if you wish to stick to a cheaper gorilla trekking permit but also ensure ease of access, then you will have to use Kigali as your gateway point. But do not forget that you will need to pay for a Visa when crossing to Uganda.

Accommodation

Rwanda offers you a great variety of accommodation. Instead of trying to find accommodation around Volcanoes National Park, you can spend a night in Kigali Rwanda, and still trek gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. This is not the case in Uganda given the fact that Kampala is over 9 hours away from the gorilla trekking locations.

Rwanda also has more luxury accommodation options than Uganda. If you intend to have a super luxury experience, then Rwanda would be a better option. However, it is also important to note that Uganda also has several luxury options that cannot match what Rwanda has to offer.

Bisate Lodge Rwanda

Uganda has a variety of accommodation options more so in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park. In this sector, you can get accommodation for all budgets.

Choosing Between Mgahinga and Bwindi Forest

The first choice you ought to make is choosing between Uganda and Rwanda. If you choose Rwanda, it means you have chosen Volcanoes National Park but when you choose Uganda; you still have to choose between Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Bwindi is the most popular gorilla trekking destination in Uganda. But unlike Mgahinga, Bwindi is divided into four sectors. The majority of the people tend to choose Bwindi over Mgahinga because of its high population of mountain gorillas. Those who choose Mgahinga are often inspired by the fact that they already have an idea of which gorillas they are going to meet because there is only one habituated gorilla family in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Virunga View From Kisoro

But if you choose Bwindi over Mgahinga, you ought to further choose the sector of Bwindi to trek gorillas in.

Choosing A Gorilla Trekking Sector In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is divided into four sectors; the Rushaga sector, the Nkuringo sector, the Ruhija sector, and the Buhoma sector. Of these four, the most popular sector is Buhoma because of its proximity to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The second most popular destination is the Ruhija sector because is easy to connect to Lake Bunyonyi from this sector.

Rushaga sector is recommended for those driving from Kigali to trek gorillas in Uganda. The sector is also very popular because it has the largest gorilla family in Bwindi impenetrable national park.

With the above few tips, you can make an informed gorilla trekking destination choice. In case you intend to take on a self drive gorilla safari, do not hesitate to contact 4x4uganda on our WhatsApp or email