Rwanda as a country might seem be a small in size, but it is such a beautiful place to visit. The land of a thousand hills is a perfect safari destination for those looking for a new and rich African experience. Uganda is a land-locked country mostly in the Rift Valley, on the shore of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake and the world’s largest tropical lake.
Game viewing is the most popular tourist activity in Uganda. Wild animals like lions, buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes, elephants are common in Uganda’s ten national parks. Uganda is one of only three countries where it is possible to visit the endangered mountain gorillas. The others are Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Mountain gorillas are found in two separate locations: the Virunga range of extinct volcanic mountains on the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R.C), Rwanda and Uganda, and in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. Both Rwanda and Uganda are gifted with counts of the critically endangered mountain gorillas in their respective parks of Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks for Uganda and Volcanoes National Park.
When it comes to comparing gorilla trekking safaris prices in Rwanda and Uganda, there are many things that can be considered that cover a ranger of aspects. In May 2017, the Rwanda Development Board recently announced an increase in the price of Gorilla Permits from US$ 750 to US$ 1,500 for all visitors. The cost of a gorilla permit in Uganda is much more affordable. Each gorilla permit costs US$ 600 per person, and in the low season the country offers discounted gorilla permits costing just US$ 450 per person and more than US $1,000 cheaper than a permit in Rwanda.
Rwanda raised its Permit Prices in order to help it pay the way for Gorilla Conservation, assist the local communities surrounding the trekking areas with much-needed infrastructure and to market Rwanda as an upmarket Gorilla Trekking Destination.
Gorilla Permits for trekking in Rwanda are now at US$ 1500 per person while in Uganda one gorilla permit to trek gorillas in Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park is at US$ 600 per person. Therefore this means that gorilla tracking in Rwanda is more expensive compared to gorilla trekking in Uganda. Once can save US$ 900 if he tracks in Uganda and can use it to track chimpanzees in Kibale National Park. With this prevailing, you would need at least two days to complete your gorilla tour in Rwanda and 3 days for a Uganda gorilla tour.
However, Rwanda’s pride is in the ability for one to do the gorilla trek even in one day and fly back home which is impossible for Uganda. Volcanoes National Park is located 2 hours’ drive from Kigali. On the other hand, Bwindi is located about 8 – 9 hours’ drive from Kampala/ Entebbe Airport. In this case, you will spend at least 3 days for your gorilla trek tour for one-day traveling to Bwindi, the another day doing the gorilla trek, and the other day driving back to Kampala/Entebbe.