Gorilla Trekking Uganda from Kigali

Have you heard about gorilla trekking Uganda from Kigali Rwanda? Many travelers wonder what it means. This is trekking gorillas in one of Uganda’s national parks but with the safari starting and ending in Rwanda. Uganda is bordered by Rwanda in the west and has gorilla habitats that are just close to Rwanda.

It is very possible to trek gorillas in Uganda from any part of the country, however, if you are arriving via Entebbe International Airport, then you must be ready to have a full day’s drive to and another from the airport to the park. This is why the shortest gorilla tour in Uganda with the arrival of international flights is the 3 days Uganda gorilla safari. Contrary to Rwanda, it is about 5 hours’ drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and about 4 hours to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

This is why it is popular to hear about Uganda gorilla safaris from Kigali because of the shorter drive distance compared to that of Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport to the parks. The few hours on drive make it more favorable tourists intending to trek gorillas to plan their flights for Kigali International Airport. With arrival and departure in Kigali, it is possible for tourists to arrive at the airport and transfer to the park on the same day and also possible to return to the airport after departure which isn’t possible in Uganda.

There are mountain gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and this is where Rwanda gorilla tours are undertaken. However, one may wonder why then would a tourist prefer to trek gorillas in Uganda yet arriving and departing from Kigali International Airport. This is because an Uganda gorilla trekking permit is cheaper than that of Rwanda which is USD 1500 compared to USD 700 for Uganda. This makes Uganda cheaper than Rwanda and therefore a much preferable destination.

Uganda Gorilla trekking Experience

Gorilla Trekking Uganda from Kigali

Uganda is home to more than half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. It hosts the single largest gorilla population without about 19 habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

In Bwindi forest tourists who would also love to learn more about gorillas can undertake a gorilla habituation experience that can’t be found anywhere else. In Uganda still, tourists can trek mountain gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

To trek gorillas in Uganda, you need an Uganda gorilla trekking safari permit which costs USD 700 for foreign nonresidents, USD 600 for foreign residents, and UGX 250,000 for East African citizens.

Unlike Rwanda, Uganda offers at least a lesser cost for foreign residents and East African citizens. This makes it easier for residents to trek gorillas.

Each permit is valid for individuals above 15 years of age and can be used for a single trek. A maximum of 1 hour is allowed for trekkers to be in the presence of the Mountain Gorillas.

The disadvantage with the Uganda gorilla habitats is that they are distant from the national airport and therefore require a long drive on a safari vehicle to get to the park. It’s about 470km to reach Bwindi and this lasts more than 8 hours therefore, you need a whole day to reach the park and another to return.

Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safaris Itineraries

Here are some of the gorilla trekking packages that you can choose from to book your tour

3 days Rwanda gorilla safari Volcanoes

5 day Rwanda gorilla safari

6 day Rwanda wildlife safari

10 Rwanda wildlife safari

14 days Rwanda gorilla safari

3 days gorilla safari Uganda

12 days jungle safari Uganda

7 days great primates Uganda safari

9 days Uganda wildlife tour

14 days Uganda safari Eco-explorer