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Which is better for gorilla trekking, Rwanda or Uganda?

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Which is better for gorilla trekking, Rwanda or Uganda? Are you embarking on a gorilla trekking safari to view the magnificent primates that share 98.3% DNA with humans? Do you want to observe the mountain gorillas few meters in their habitats while they are foraging, having social interactions or resting? Are you debating on whether to go for gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda? Both Rwanda and Uganda offer excellent gorilla treks where you spend 1 hour with the selected gorilla families upon finding them. In Rwanda, gorilla trekking is done in Volcanoes national park while in Uganda gorilla trekking is done in Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park. So how do you choose whether to go to Rwanda or Uganda for gorilla trekking? There are assortment of considerations taken that may be based on individual preference such as costs involved, lodging options, safety, landscape, best time to go for gorilla trekking in both Uganda and Rwanda. Where can you trek mountain gorillas from in Rwanda or Uganda? With only 1,063 world’s population of mountain gorillas by 2025 thanks to conservation efforts that the numbers have increased, you could be wondering where you can trek them, mountain gorillas are endemic to Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo with them living in high elevation montane and rain forests. Volcanoes national park in Rwanda. Situated in North Western Rwanda, it is home of 12 habituated mountain gorilla families and inhabits the steep slopes of magnificent Virunga  extending from sea level to 4507m encompassing the summits of five of East Africa’s dormant volcanoes that is to say mount Karisimbi, Sabinyo, Gahinga, Muhabura and Bisoke. It is approximately 160 square kilometers and 2-3 hours drive from Kigali. Other attractions in it include; the Dian Fossey’s tomb, Iby’iwacu cultural village, twin lakes making it an awesome destination. Bwindi Impenetrable nation al park in Uganda. It is located in South Western Uganda along the Albertine rift valley, it is a UNESCO world heritage site covering 330.8 square kilometers, home of half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas constituting 24 habituated gorilla families. It is 8-10 hours journey from Entebbe airport. Other attractions include variety of bird species, Batwa experience. Mgahinga national park. It contains the least number of mountain gorillas in Uganda with only 1 habituated gorilla family. It is also home of the golden monkeys, other mammals like the forest hogs, buffalos, pigs and inhabits the Batwa. It is 33.7 square kilometers  making it Uganda’s smallest national park. What can you consider when choosing whether to go for gorilla trekking in either Rwanda or Uganda? Choosing to trek mountain gorillas in either Rwanda or Uganda varies according to individual preferences, whereas others might consider going for gorilla trekking in Rwanda, others choose Uganda as their gorilla trekking destinations as explained bellow; Cost of Gorilla permits. Rwanda’s gorilla permits cost US$ 1500 for foreign non-residents, US$ 500 for foreign residents and Rest of African citizens, US$200 for East African citizens while Uganda’s gorilla permits cost US$800 for foreign non-residents, US$700 for foreign residents, US$500 for rest of Africa and UGX300,000 for East African citizens. Rwanda’s gorilla permits are more expensive than Uganda’s gorilla permits because of conservation efforts and community projects, Rwanda also targets high-end travelers whereas Uganda targets broader segments. Vegetation cover and Landscape. Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable national park is a tropical forest with dense undergrowth that requires cutting through, muddy and slippery trails, it has uneven terrain requiring trekkers to navigate through the dense forest making the  gorilla trekking activity more challenging since it can even limit visibility of the mountain gorillas. Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park is characterized by bamboo forests, grassland with the park having an higher elevation making it easily accessible to spot the endangered mountain gorillas and take photographs due to scenic views that it offers. Gorilla families and availability of gorilla permits. Uganda has 25 habituated gorilla families with 24 gorilla families found in Bwindi impenetrable national park and 1 gorilla family found in Mgahinga national park making Uganda to host half of the world’s population of the endangered and endemic mountain gorillas while Rwanda has 12 habituated gorilla families for tourism activities in Volcanoes national park therefore, the gorilla permits offered in Uganda in a day is higher than that of Rwanda since 8 gorilla permits are given out each day to visit a gorilla family in both countries. Accommodation options. Volcanoes national park offers luxurious, high-end and world class accommodation facilities that offer exceptional services and amenities. Even though its main target is luxurious travelers, it also offers mid-range and budget-constraint accommodation facilities. Whereas Bwindi Impenetrable national park offers budget-friendly accommodation options with also some luxurious lodging options. Accessibility and location. Accessibility is a vital considerartion when choosing to either do gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda. Bwindi impenetrable forest and Mgahinga national park are approximately 8-10 hours drive from Entebbe International airport with winding roads and sometimes rough terrain however, the beautiful scenery along the road makes the trip worth it. Though there are flight options available, tourists who might be wanting to go for gorilla trekking by road and they have enough time always find difficulties because of the long distances involved to access the national parks with mountain gorillas. Volcanoes national park is 2-3 hours journey from Kigali International airport with well maintained roads making the journey smooth and quick for business travelers who might want to experience the gorilla trekking experiences and have no much time to spend in Rwanda. Best time for gorilla trekking. Volcanoes national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park offer all year-round gorilla trekking experiences howbeit dry seasons are the best time for gorilla trekking because of easy navigation as the trails are less muddy, offering better visibility and ideal conditions for photography. There are two dry seasons in Uganda ranging from June to August which is a peak tourism season and December to February. There are also two dry seasons in

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11 Days Uganda’s Primates & Wildlife Safari

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11 Days Uganda’s Primates & Wildlife Safari This 11-day Uganda Primates and Wildlife safari offers you an abundance of wildlife, scenery, and cultural experiences in Uganda. Gorilla and chimpanzee tracking are the highlight of this road trip, but expect to see rhinos, lions, hippos, buffaloes, leopard, elephants, and several species of birds and an abundance of dense green forest. Enjoy the thundering Murchison Falls in the north of Uganda and the crater lakes in the western part of the country. This journey will bring you close to nature and culture. Safari Highlights, Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary     Game drives     Boat safaris     Chimpanzee tracking     Community walk     Crater Lakes     Gorilla tracking Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa for Rhino Tracking Have morning breakfast and drive to Murchison Falls National Park with a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino tracking. You will spend an hour with the Rhinos after locating them with the help of your ranger guide. After this experience, you will proceed to Murchison Falls National park arriving there in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise Wake up early this morning for a game drive with packed lunch on the northern bank of the River Nile and look out for giraffes, elephants, hartebeest, Buffaloes, Leopards, Lions and different bird species. Indeed, it is a privilege watching wild animals in their habitat as they eat, play, and protect the young. In the afternoon, embark on a boat cruise providing more opportunities for spotting a variety of animals and birds like hippos and crocodiles. This boat cruise will give you great viewing of the falls.Dinner and overnight at Tilenga Safari Lodge Day 3: Transfer to Kibale National Park After an early breakfast drive to the home of Chimpanzees in Kibale National Park.On this journey, you will have stunning views as you pass small villages, local markets and several bird lives. This is a day trip with packed lunch or in a town enroute. You arrive at your lodge later that evening ready for tomorrow’s adventure. Dinner and overnight at Isunga Lodge Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi Community Walk Chimpanzee trekking is a fulfilling adventure that takes you deep into the tropical forest across streams of water.  With the help of your guide, you will locate the chimps. Enjoy the picture moments and watch as they play and feed. Besides chimps expect to see other animals like red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white Columbus monkeys, butterflies, and birds calling from the canopies while on this safari. In the afternoon you will visit Bigodi Village and wetland known for its rich diversity of birds and primates depending on the availability of time. By taking this tour, you are contributing to the development of this community because the proceeds are used to build schools and offer small loans. Dinner and overnight at Isunga Lodge Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park This day after breakfast, You will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a wildlife experience in the plains of Kasenyi. The drive will take us through views of several crater lakes and the mystical Rwenzori Mountain ranges en route. On arrival in the park, you will have a small game drive as we proceed to the lodge for lunch Accommodation at Bush Lodge Day 6: Game drive and Boat Cruise Today we arise early morning for a game drive. The game drive happens in Kasenyi plains in custom made safari cars for game viewing. Look out for Lions, Elephants, Buffaloes, Kobs, Water bucks etc all this in between the Rwenzori Mountains and the Rift valley escarpment. In the afternoon you will go on a boat cruise on Kazinga channel which is a stretch of water connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. The boat safari offers you great photography sessions in a relaxed way with lots of bird life on the shores, crocodiles, elephants, etc. Accommodation at Bush Lodge Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Today we start our journey to the home of the gentle giants of Bwindi impenetrable forest. The fulfilling journey takes us through ishasha sector home of tree climbing lions and the Kigezi highlands with great scenery of terraced hills. Your lodge in or near the impenetrable forest will offer you great rest as you prepare for the next day’s gorilla trek. Accommodation at Ihamba Residence Day 8: Gorillas trekking in Uganda The highlight of your safari will be meeting the gentle giants of Bwindi National Park! Enjoy the fullness of the impenetrable forest abounding with life, host to several species of birds, butterflies, primates, mammals. Eventually with help of your guide who is also a park ranger, you will find yourself face to face with the enormous and rare mountain gorillas. The trekking experience takes anything from on hour (rarely) to about 6 hours to accomplish. However, you only have one hour with gorillas to capture your finest moment. Accommodation at Ihamba Residence Day 9: Transfer to Jinja After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to the airstrip for your flight to Entebbe from where you will proceed to Jinja – the adventure capital of East Africa. Accommodation at Source of the Nile Hotel Day 10: White Water Rafting on the River Nile This morning after an early breakfast, you will transfer to the starting point of the white water rafting. In Jinja, the Nile finds its origin; visit the Source of the River Nile where it starts its 4000 km journey through Africa and a great challenge for rafters. You shall have a whole day white water rafting experience. Accommodation at Source of the Nile Hotel Day 11: Transfer to Entebbe We hope you have had a fantastic time exploring Uganda. This marks the end of your Uganda primates and adventure safari. The guide will transfer you to your hotel or Airport for your flight back home. End of Safari

10 Days Best of Uganda Safari
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14  Days Best of Uganda Safari

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14 Days Best of Uganda Safari This 14 Days Best of Uganda Safari offers you an abundance of wildlife, scenery, and cultural experiences in Uganda. Gorilla and chimpanzee tracking are the highlight of this safari, but expect to see rhinos, lions, hippos, buffaloes, leopard, elephants, and several species of birds and an abundance of dense green forest. Enjoy the top of the Falls at Murchison and the tree climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This journey will bring you close to nature and culture. What to expect, Top of the Falls     Game drives     Boat Cruise     Chimpanzee tracking     Bigodi wetland visit     Tree-climbing Lions     Gorilla tracking Day 1: Arrival and transfer to the hotel Upon arrival, you will be met and greeted by your English-speaking guide. He will briefly take you through the road trip plan and then transfer you to your hotel in Entebbe for an overnight stay. Accommodation: Via Entebbe Day 2:  transfer to kabwoya forest reserve After breakfast, you will drive to Kabwoya forest reserve. Along the shores of Lake Albert is Kabwoya Game reserve; untapped, intact and popular for breathtaking views of the Congo basin and wildlife species like Antelopes, small sized primates; colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys. All these we will have a chance to see on our early evening game walk upon arrival. Accommodation: Lake Albert Safari Lodge Day 3: transfer to murchison falls national park Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel and drive to Murchison Falls where you will hike to the top of the falls which will give you beautiful views of these waterfalls. You will gaze at the Nile River which is the longest river in the world, it’s forced through a small gap which is just 7m wide and it flows 43 meters down making it look very beautiful to the viewers. Accommodation: Heritage Safari Lodge Day 4: Morning game drive, top of the falls and afternoon boat cruise Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and proceed to search for wildlife species on a game drive. You will get a chance to view many species including; the giraffes, lions, elephants, buffaloes, birds and many more. After the game drive, you will be taken to hike the top of the falls. Hiking to the top of the falls will give you beautiful views of these waterfalls. You will gaze at the Nile River which is the longest river in the world, it’s forced through a small gap which is just 7m wide and it flows 43 meters down making it look very beautiful to the viewers. After the top of the falls, you will return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, do an afternoon boat cruise. This boat will allow you to get close to the water animals which include over 4000 hippos as well as the Nile crocodiles. The Nile has got many stunning bird lives which is also enjoyed while taking your boat trip; these include the bee eaters, colored king fishers, shoebill stork, grey throated and the yellow billed birds. Accommodation: Heritage Safari Lodge Day 5 Transfer to Kibale forest national park After breakfast you will checkout from the lodge and drive to Kibale forest national park. You will be able to enjoy an impressive sight of the legendary “mountains of the moon” which you will clearly see on the road to fort portal. You will as well pass through many traditional villages as you enjoy local people carrying out agriculture. Kibale forest national park is one of the great rain forests in Africa. This forest is mainly famous for around 13 primate species with chimpanzees being the main tracked chimpanzees. Other primate species include the golden monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, as well as bird species. On arrival at the park, you will check into your lodge for relaxation as you wait for dinner. Accommodation: Guereza canopy lodge Day 6: chimpanzee trekking and bigodi wetland visit Wake up very early and head to Kanyanchu by 8:00 am to start your chimpanzee trek in Kibale forest. Chimpanzees are considered to be the closest relatives of human beings since they share 98% of their DNA with that of human beings. As you proceed with the search for these beautiful chimps, you will view many other primate and animal species including the Lhoests monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, bush babies and many bird species including the yellow spotted nictor, ramped tinker, crowed eagle. This national park is a rain forest with many chimpanzee communities, each troop of these chimpanzees has over 100 individuals which are a competed social structure. In their groups, the adult males dominate the group and always defend the whole community against any danger and incursions by the females from outside. These primates are located by listening to their pant hooting calls, and then hurry to the place where they are calling from. You get a chance to observe them as they play, feed, and socialize as well as jumping around the trees. Immediately after the long trek, you will return to the lodge for lunch and then later in the evening, you will head out for the Bigodi swamp walk. Accommodation: Guereza canopy lodge   Day 7: transfer to queen elizabeth park with evening game drive After breakfast, you will checkout from the lodge and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This national park is famous for a variety of wildlife and chimpanzee species. This famous conservation area is bordered by Lake Edward in the south west and in the north east, it’s bordered by Lake George. This park was named after Queen Elizabeth the second and it has a variety of animal species including the impalas, kobs, forest hogs, elephants, buffaloes, tree climbing lions, and the cape buffaloes. This national park is also filled with many volcanic calderas which harbor many flamingos during several seasons. Upon arrival at Queen Elizabeth, you will have lunch and then go for an evening game drive