No other wildlife encounter in Africa matches the amazing experience of spending time face to face with wild gorillas that put Rwanda and Uganda on map of adventurers and all kinds of travelers across the globe. Gorilla trekking allows you to spend time with gorillas in the wild an experience you can only find in Rwanda, Uganda and Congo the three mountain gorilla that share the remains living population.
Gorilla Permit Prices
Both Uganda and Rwanda are great countries for gorilla safaris in Africa though the fact that Rwanda gorilla permits cost $1500 each while Uganda gorilla permits go for $600 which is a total tour cost for a 3 day Uganda gorilla safari tour to Bwindi forest or Mgahinga national park. In this case one can fly to Rwanda in Kigali international airport and track gorillas in Uganda with an experience in Rwanda for a city tour in Kigali. Rwanda is a beautiful country to not to be explored once in East Africa says one of the tourists who flied in Rwanda and tracked gorillas in Uganda.
Transit Time
All visitors to Uganda via Entebbe international Airport need 9-10 hours to Bwindi forest national park or Mgahinga National Park with full day scenic drive. Many stops can be made on the way, one at the Equator, Mbarara town, Igongo cultural Museum, before proceeding to the park Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga and Ruhija or Kisoro town by road the cheapest way to get to the park.
However, If one fly’s to Rwanda at Kigali international Airport, it’s very easy to transfer to Uganda by road and it takes only 3-4 hours to Bwindi forest hence being one of the main reasons for flying to Rwanda and tracking gorillas in Uganda. However, before the increase of Rwanda gorilla permit prices, tourists could fly to Kigali and track gorillas in Volcanoes national park Rwanda in just 1-3 days since Rwanda is one of the top mountain gorillas trekking safari destination in Africa.
Gorilla safari Tour price
Today Uganda gorilla safari tours are more affordable compared to Rwanda gorilla tours yet the trekking experience is the same. Travelers find it cheap to fly to Rwanda and track gorillas in Uganda. Besides, Uganda offers discounts on gorilla permits for April , May and November which makes travelers save hence preferring Uganda gorilla tours for Rwanda. Also Rwanda gorilla tour prices are too high for budget travelers and backpackers who can’t put their eyes off Rwanda due to high gorilla safari tour prices. Therefore, budget travelers explore Rwanda other attractions like Nyungwe, Lake kivu, Akagara and Kigali city and track gorillas in Uganda.
Above all tracking gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda is the same, treks kick off at 8am local time with a briefing from park rangers on guidelines and how to behave with gorillas and later the forest search starts that lasts between 2-6 hours ending with the one hour allowance of tourists to observe the gorillas and also enjoy photography. Same procedure applies in all gorilla tracking parks –Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga national Park and Volcanoes National Park.