RWANDA AND UGANDA COMBINED TOURS

Uganda and Rwanda are some of the best destinations for taking combined gorilla trekking tours or wildlife and gorilla trekking safaris. The two countries are located in the eastern parts of Africa close to Kenya and Tanzania. With amazing safari destinations including national parks and cultural sites, Uganda and Rwanda are the best places to be for a combined wildlife, gorilla, and cultural tour.

Planning a combined Rwanda and Uganda gorilla trekking safari can be a challenging task, especially for first-time travelers. This is usually because the two countries have identical safari destinations. Some of these amazing gorilla trekking destinations in Rwanda and Uganda include; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Volcanoes National Park.

The countries are similar in other aspects like chimpanzee trekking tours done in Uganda’s Kibale National Park are almost similar to those of Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Combined tours in Uganda take travelers to amazing safari destinations like Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park, Mount Rwenzori National Park, Akagera National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe National Park and many more.

The safari is never complete with a tour of the Kigali Genocide Memorial Sites. The tour allows you to visit the sorrowful places where thousands of people lost their lives during the 1994 Rwanda Genocide.

A comparison of Uganda safaris and Rwanda Safaris? Where should you go and why?

Are you stuck between a rock and a hard place in choosing whether to take a safari to Uganda or Rwanda? Do not fret, here is an insight into each of these countries.

Uganda Safaris

Uganda safaris usually start from Entebbe International Airport or Kampala. Upon arrival at the airport, a company guide or driver will meet you and greet you warmly as you transfer to either a hotel in Kampala or your first Uganda Safari destination. For those opting for Uganda flying safaris, each national park in Uganda is linked to an airstrip or airfield. The chartered flights take you to different corners of the country as you enjoy the landscape right from the sky.

Uganda has an interconnected safari destination, especially in the western circuit. Uganda safaris take place in the 10 National Parks namely; Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National, Mount Rwenzori National Park, Mount Elgon National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Semuliki National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, and Kibale National Park. The parks are blessed with diverse wildlife, plant, and bird species that help travelers create unforgettable memories during their Uganda safaris.

Savannah Parks like Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park allow you to spot herbivores and predators on a wildlife game drive and boat cruise. On the other hand, forest parks like Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kibale National Park, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park allow travelers to get up close with primates including olive baboons, mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, white colobus monkeys, golden monkeys, and many more.

Other than the wildlife experiences, Uganda offers the best hiking adventure safaris in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Rwenzori Mountains, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Mount Elgon National Park.

The exceptional Uganda cultural tours among the Batwa, Bakiga, Baganda, Karamojong, Ik, Banyoro, Batoro, and many other communities are exceptional on a Uganda cultural safari.

Rwanda Safaris

Rwanda safaris usually start at Kigali International Airport. Tours in Rwanda take you to places like Akagera National Park, Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe National Park, and Gishwati Mukura National Park.

You will participate in activities like mountain gorilla trekking, game drives, boat cruises, and cultural tours. A visit to the Genocide Memorial Sites will allow you to spend time at the places where thousands lost their lives during the 1994 Rwanda revolution.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda or Gorilla trekking in Rwanda?

Choosing between trekking gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda is a tricky thing to do. This is because both countries are amazing gorilla trekking safari destinations. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These parks comprise a mixture of vegetation and terrain dominated by bamboo forests, swamps, rivers, and many tree species. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has 4 major gorilla trekking sectors with up to 26 gorilla families.

On the other hand, gorilla trekking in Rwanda is done in Volcanoes National Park. The park is majorly dominated by bamboo forests and has 10 habituated mountain gorilla families available for trekking.

Considering the costs of mountain gorilla trekking permits, Uganda is slightly cheaper than Rwanda. A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs USD 800 per person per trek and gorilla habituation permits in Uganda go for USD 1500 Per person per trek. On the other hand, a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda costs USD  1500 per person per trek. The difference in the prices implies that a gorilla safari in Uganda is more cost-effective than that in Rwanda.

For those seeking a gorilla safari that does not involve driving for longer hours, Rwanda is the best option. It takes only three hours to drive from Kigali International Airport to Volcanoes National Park. This is less than the 9 hours needed to drive from Kampala (Uganda) to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for gorilla trekking.

It is important to note that gorilla trekking in Uganda can also start from Kigali since Bwindi and Mgahinga parks are three hours from the airport. Having said that, book yourself a combined Uganda and Rwanda gorilla safari and create an everlasting experience.