3-day gorilla trekking: Rwanda Vs Uganda vs DR Congo

Gorilla trekking is one of the most popular tour activities that you can do on your visit in Uganda, Rwanda and democratic republic of Congo. These three countries are the only destinations in the world where you can witness the magnificent mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. Mountain gorillas can be found with the parks that makes up the Virunga massif range. These parks are volcanoes national park of Rwanda, Virunga national park of democratic republic of Congo and Mgahinga gorillas national park of Uganda.

Currently Virunga national park of democratic republic of Congo is closed due to political unrest surrounding the area. The park was first closed in 2019 due to Covid but it continues to be closed up to the date, five years later.

Another place where gorillas can be trekked which is not part of great Virunga massif is Bwindi impenetrable national park found in southwestern Uganda. On Uganda-Congo border. This park is the home to over 50 percent of the remaining mountain gorilla population with four sectors offering differing gorilla experience.

It is only from this park where you can do the gorilla habituation experience where you spend four hours with mountain gorillas. Gorilla habituation is only offered at Rushaga sector of Bwindi national park where there are two mountain gorillas being habituated.

The difference between gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo

Gorilla trekking in DR Congo

As we have already stated, mountain gorilla trekking at Virunga national park is not possible due to the political instability around the area where the park is located. However, Congo is the only place in the world where you can trek the eastern lowland gorillas. These gorillas are found at Kahuzi-Biega national park. The good news is that this park is open for the tourist. Therefore, you will be to meet these human cousins in their natural habitats.

The price of trekking gorillas in democratic republic of Congo is $400 and the money is paid to the park authority or through your trusted tour operator

Although, you have that moving through DRC is generally challenging due to the political unrest that characterize the country. This will lead to an increased transportation costs and finding a safe and comfortable accommodation is relatively challenging. However, if you are willing to take a moderate risk, Congo is the one of the topmost tour destinations in Africa

Gorilla trekking in Uganda

Another place where the endangered mountain gorillas can be found in their natural habitat is Uganda. Uganda has two places where you will be able to see gorillas and that is Mgahinga gorillas national park and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. The country is the home to over 50% of world mountain gorilla population with Bwindi alone having around 500 gorillas.

The price of gorilla trekking in Uganda is $800 and is paid to either Uganda wildlife authority or through your reputable tour operator. Beside gorilla trekking, Uganda is the only destination that offers the mountain gorilla habituation. The price of gorilla habituation experience is $1500. The habituation will give 4 hours with these great apes in their natural habitats compare to the one hour that you will spend with gorilla during the trekking.

You can also go gorilla trekking in Uganda starting from Kigali airport of Rwanda. The drive to Mgahinga from Rwanda is a 4-hour drive while driving to Bwindi from Kigali is a 6-hour drive

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda

With its promotion of high-end tourism, it is not a surprise to know that Rwanda mountain gorillas are the most expensive among the three countries. The price of Rwanda gorilla permits almost double that of Uganda and almost quadruple that of Congo. That is, you only need to add $100 to either get 2 Uganda gorilla trekking or to get 4 Congo gorilla trekking permit. At a price of $1500, the countries gorilla permit is extremely expensive, but the cost is worthy it.

It will only take 2 hours to drive to volcanoes national park where gorilla trekking is done. This will save you time compared to some one trekking gorillas from Entebbe to southwestern Uganda which is a full day drive. For those looking for the exclusive experience, Rwanda also offers an exclusive gorilla trekking at $15,000. During this experience, you can trek a gorilla family only with your selected close relatives.

3-day Rwanda gorilla trekking

The three-day Rwanda gorilla trekking will take you to Kigali city tour, gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking at Volcanoes national park

Trip overview

1st Day: Arrival at Kigali airport, Kigali city tour, transfer to volcanoes

2nd Day: Golden monkey trekking

3rd Day: gorilla trekking

Detailed itinerary

1st Day: Arrival at Kigali airport, Kigali city tour, transfer to volcanoes

On your arrival at Kigali international airport, you will be welcomed by your guide who will brief you on your itinerary before heading for a city tour of Kigali. The places you are likely to visit include genocide memorial museum, Kimiroko market and Amahoro stadium. After the city tour, you will be transferred to Volcanoes national park for the night stay and dinner.

2nd Day: Golden monkey trekking

After your morning breakfast, you will will be transferred to volcanoes national park where you will be welcomed by the park guide. The guide will assign you to the group of maximum of about 16 people and brief you about the dos and don’ts of golden monkey trekking before heading to the forest for the once in a lifetime encounter of these unique primates. Once you encounter the golden monkey, you will be given one hour o interact with them before departing back to your lodge for the lunch and relaxation

3rd Day: gorilla trekking

Another day has come, and it is a climax of our trip. The day start very early in the morning with the breakfast at around 6 am. After the breakfast, carry your packed lunch to the park headquarter for the briefing and group allocation. You will head to the forest directed by the park guide and ranger where you will encounter the gorillas within one to six hours depending on the gorilla family that you will be assigned.

After meeting gorillas, you will spend one hour with these human relatives before heading back to Kigali for your flight back home or to your next destination.

The cost of this safari will range between $2300 per person for the budget traveller to $5000 dollars for high-end traveller. The major determinant of cost beside the permit is the choice of accommodation.

3-day Uganda gorilla trekking from Kigali

The 3-day Uganda gorilla trekking will take you to Mgahinga national park sharing the same terrain as volcanoes national park as they are all part of the greater Virunga massif

Trip overview

1st Day: Arrival at Kigali airport, transfer to Mgahinga national park

2nd Day: gorilla trekking

3rd Day: golden monkey trekking

Detailed itinerary

1st Day: Arrival at Kigali airport, transfer to Mgahinga national park

On your arrival to the, you will be meant by your local guide who will brief you about your trip itinerary before driving you to Mgahinga gorilla national park. Along the way you will enjoy the scenic view of the different landscape that characterize Rwanda and Uganda. You will check in your lodge late in evening for the dinner and night stay

2nd Day: gorilla trekking

Wakeup very early in the morning at around 6am for the breakfast. Carry your packed lunch to the park headquarter where you will be meant by the park guide who will brief you about the gorilla trekking experience. After the briefing the guide will lead you into the jungle to search for gorilla. The search will last for between 1 to 6 hours. Once you meet the gorilla, you will be allocated one hour of interaction with great apes and photogenic moments. Return to the park headquarter where your driver will be waiting to take you back to your lodge for the dinner and sleep over.

3rd Day: golden monkey trekking

Our final day will start with the usual breakfast before heading to the park headquarter where the guides will be waiting for you to tell you the dos and don’ts and leading to the golden monkey encounter in the wild. Once you meet the golden monkey, you will have a full hour of observing their behavior before returning to the park headquarter to meet your driver and returning to Kigali for your next safari destination

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