Gorilla Tracking in Uganda Vs Rwanda

Number of Gorilla Groups

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has 12 habituated gorilla groups open to visitors for gorilla tracking. Among these are; Buhoma section – Mubare, Habinyanja, and Rushegura Groups, The Ruhija section comprises of Bitukura and Oruzogo groups while the Nkuringo is the only group in the area and Rushaga region has Nshongi, Mishaya, Kahungye, Bweza and Busingye groups. Mgahinga national park yet has one group open for visitors called the Nyakagezi gorilla family. This group to roam across the 3 country borders but 3 countries, but later settled in Mgahinga national park. Volcanoes National Park is home to 10 habituated gorilla families that are open to tourists each single day. Habituated gorilla families in Rwanda include; The Susa group which was originally studied by Dian Fossey and inhabits the slopes of Mt. Karisimbi together and Susa B – the Karisimbi group that broke away from Susa. The Sabinyo group is the smallest, easy to trek family located along the slopes of Mt. Sabinyo, The Amahoro group also called the most peaceful of all families and Umubano group which broke away from Amahoro. The Kwitonda group, Hirwa family, Bwenge, Agashya group and Ugenda are all part of the gorilla groups in Volcanoes national park.

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour

Hiking Experience

Altitude

Bwindi national park is mostly at 1500 meters – 2000 meters while Volcanoes national park is at 2500+ meters. This means that climbing will be harder in Volcanoes given its altitude.

Price of the Gorilla Permit

Price of the trekking permit differs in the different destinations; Rwanda sells its permit at $750, Uganda sells at $600 during the peak seasons. In the low season, Uganda gives permits at $350.

Driving Distance

Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is 2 hours drive from the capital Kigali while Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is 8 hrs drive from the capital Kampala. This means that it is more costly to reach Bwindi from Kampala than it is from Kigali to Volcanoes. Although tourists can access Bwindi national park from Kigali crossing via the Cyanika border through Kisoro to Uganda’s Bwindi national park on a 3 hours drive.