Gorilla Trekking Uganda from Rwanda

Gorilla Trekking Uganda from Rwanda: Gorilla trekking in Uganda is the leading activity done almost on a daily basis by different primate lovers worldwide thus it has become the leading tourist activity in the pearl of Africa. However, travelers have always faced a challenge of long drives from Entebbe international airports which is 9-11 hours via Kampala– Masaka – Mbarara – Kabale – Kanungu / Kisoro road. As of now, several travelers on a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda opt for a short ride from Rwanda and cross the border into Uganda for gorilla trekking as long as they reach the minimum age limit and have valid travel documents including Visa and a gorilla trekking permit as well. To trek gorilla in Uganda from Rwanda, one requires to take flight into Kigali International airport where our company representative/driver welcomes him/ her and embark on 4-5 hours’ road drive through Katuna border or Cyanika border depending on which sector you intend to trek gorillas in Uganda. 

Gorilla Trekking Uganda from Rwanda

In Uganda gorilla trekking is done in two destinations which include Bwindi impenetrable forest national park that harbors more than half of the still surviving mountain gorillas in the wild. Bwindi has 4 sectors including Rushaga, Ruhija, Buhoma, and Nkuringo. Another gorilla trekking destination in Uganda is Mgahinga gorilla national park with only the Nyakagezi gorilla family. All the two sectors are situated in the Southwestern part of Uganda the pearl of Africa.

Reasons for trekking gorillas in Uganda from Rwanda

Trekking mountain gorillas in Uganda from Rwanda has got a lot of advantages ranging from the availability of many habituated gorilla families in Uganda, the close distance from Kigali to southwestern Uganda, the cheaper gorilla trekking permit as includes in this article.

Shorter distance: since mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in Bwindi and Mgahinga both located in the hills of south western Uganda in border with Rwanda, then it is a good idea to fly into Kigali international airport and take a short drive to Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park or Mgahinga gorilla national park for a gorilla trekking safari and return to Kigali for departures other than driving for longer drives from Entebbe international airport to the home of mountain gorillas in Bwindi and Mgahinga. Comparing a 9-11 hours’ drive from Entebbe to Bwindi/ Mgahinga with a 3-5 hours’ drive from Kigali automatically indicates that it is better to trek Uganda gorillas from Rwanda than from Entebbe.

Cheaper Uganda gorilla trekking permit: the Uganda Wildlife Authority sells its gorilla trekking permits at a relatively cheaper price as compared to Rwanda thus travelers on a Rwanda safari normally add a Uganda gorilla trekking safari on their travel list in order to enjoy cheaper rates of the gorilla permit at as low as $700 starting from July 2020 which remain cheaper as compared to $1500 to trek similar gorillas in Volcanoes national park with in Rwanda.

Availability of many habituated gorilla families in Uganda available for trekking. It has become very advantageous to trek gorillas in Uganda from Rwanda due to the fact that Uganda has over 20 habituated mountain gorilla families thus offering over 160 trekking permits per day. This is a very big number of gorilla permits as compared to Rwanda which has 12 habituated gorilla families thus RDB issues out only 96 gorilla trekking permits on a daily basis. Making Uganda the best place for gorilla trekking tours from Rwanda.

Availability of many accommodation facilities: Uganda has got very many lodges located within the park where gorilla trekkers has an option of choosing which lodge they need most ranging from  budget, midrange and luxury at a minimized rate.

Other things to encounter: gorilla trekking in Uganda from Rwanda is very interesting especially for trekkers who decide to take park in Nyakagezi gorilla trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park as there is possibility of landing into cheerful golden monkeys along mountain gorillas in the same jungle. 

Best sectors for trekking Gorillas

There are three best sectors that favor gorilla trekking in Uganda from Kigali due to the fact that they are situated in close vicinity with Rwanda. And these include; Rushaga sector, Nkuringo sector both in the extreme southern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park and Nyakagezi in Mgahinga gorilla national park with in Virunga massif bordering Volcanoes national park on Rwandan side and Virunga national park with in Congo side.

Gorilla trekking in Rushaga sector: this is the best sector for travelers on a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda from Rwanda. Rushaga sector is easy to access via Cyanika border and has the recorded highest number of habituated mountain gorilla families and it’s also in Rushaga sector that gorilla habituation experience is carried out. Next to Rushaga sector is Nkuringo sector which is also the best sector for gorilla trekking in Uganda from Rwanda. And finally, Nyakagezi is another close sector for gorilla trekking in Uganda from Rwanda.

Gorilla Trekking Uganda from Rwanda
Gorilla Trekking safaris

Requirements for gorilla trekking

Like any other gorilla trekking safari, to take part in trekking gorillas, one needs the following;

  • A Ugandan gorilla trekking permit: to crossover from Rwanda to trek gorillas in Uganda, you need to have booked a Ugandan gorilla trekking permit at $600 and by July 1st 2020, it will be $700 per person. 
  • Vaccination: Uganda doesn’t allow people to enter into the country without the proof of vaccination. Therefore to take part in gorilla trekking in Uganda from Rwanda, one needs to be fully vaccinated against Yellow fever, TB, and other diseases.
  • An East African Visa: Trekking Gorillas involves crossing the border between two countries of Rwanda and Uganda there for, trekkers need to obtain an East African tourist visa in order to enjoy the safari at ease.

Conclusion

Gorilla trekking Uganda from Rwanda is the best African safari where travelers on a gorilla trekking safari enjoy the benefits of visiting two different destinations in both Uganda and Rwanda exploring different people of Rwandese and Ugandans, and experiencing different climatic conditions in different destinations.

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