Advantages and Disadvantages of Booking Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tours from Kigali

Pros and Cons of Booking Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tours from Kigali

Trek Africa Expeditions, like many other tour operators, offers daily gorilla safaris starting from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and back. Although there are several reasons why tourists and tour operators prefer trekking mountain gorillas in Uganda, they often choose to fly into Kigali and then drive to Uganda to visit mountain gorillas in either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park.

Booking Uganda gorilla safaris starting and ending in Kigali has the advantage of reducing the drive time to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park. The statistics show that it takes 4-5 hours to drive from Kigali International Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, especially in the southern parts of Rushaga and Nkuringo. The same drive time applies to those driving from Kigali to Mgahinga National Park. If you’re concerned about the long drives involved in gorilla trekking, you can opt to book gorilla tours to Uganda from Kigali, ranging from 2 to 3 days or more, depending on your interests and time. Just send us an email and we’ll prepare a personalized tour for you.

If you choose to book Uganda gorilla trekking safaris from Kigali, you can complete your gorilla trek in just one or two days, whereas it takes three days if you use Entebbe International Airport as your entry point. It’s important to note that the minimum days required for a short gorilla trekking trip to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Entebbe or Kampala is three, but you can book a one or two-day tour to see gorillas in Uganda via Rwanda. This is because the drive time from Entebbe to Bwindi is approximately 8-10 hours, which means that the first day is for driving to the park, the second day for gorilla trekking, and the third day for flying back since driving isn’t possible. Therefore, if you prefer landing in Entebbe or starting your trip from Kampala, you will need a minimum of a 2-night, 3-day gorilla tour.

Our 2-day gorilla safari to Bwindi, which starts from Kigali, offers not only a chance to avoid long driving hours, but also an opportunity to save on transport, fuel, and accommodation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. With this package, you can achieve your dream of trekking mountain gorillas in just one night and two days, all at an affordable price.

Booking Uganda gorilla trekking tours from Kigali has the added advantage of cheaper gorilla permits compared to Rwanda. Uganda gorilla permits cost USD800, which is significantly less than the $1500 charged for Rwanda gorilla permits to visit the Volcanoes National Park for one hour with the mountain gorillas. The cost of a single Rwanda gorilla permit could cover all expenses for a 3-day gorilla tour in Bwindi impenetrable National Park, including transport, accommodation, and the gorilla permit itself. By trekking Uganda mountain gorillas from Kigali, one can save up to $800, a substantial amount to consider when planning a gorilla trekking tour.

There are several advantages and disadvantages to booking Uganda gorilla trekking tours from Kigali, including the chance to visit two beautiful East African countries: Uganda and Rwanda. The journey from Kigali to Uganda to see gorillas will give you a glimpse of Rwanda’s beautiful countryside before you cross over to Uganda, also known as the pearl of Africa. If you choose to book your gorilla tour starting and ending in Entebbe, you will not only endure a long drive but also miss out on the opportunity to experience Rwanda’s beauty.

Booking Uganda gorilla trekking tours from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park has its pros and cons, including the availability of the East Africa tourist visa. This visa, which costs $100, allows tourists to visit three countries of Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya without hassle and for transit purposes. However, it is relatively expensive compared to the Uganda tourist visa, which costs $50 per person.