Gorilla tracking holidays via Kigali to Bwindi forest

Gorilla tracking holidays via Kigali to Bwindi forest – Drive to bwindi from Kigali-Rwanda

Gorilla tracking holidays via Kigali-Rwanda to Bwindi Impenetrable forest are now popular and easily done. Here travellers fly into Kigali International Airport of Rwanda and cross to trek the mountain Gorillas in Uganda. Tracking mountain Gorillas in Uganda has surely been challenging due to a full day of driving from Entebbe/Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable or Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks. This for the past decades has made Rwanda a stop centre for most Gorilla trekkers due to the ease of access to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Kigali International Airport. However, Rwanda’s recent doubling of its Gorilla permit from USD750 to USD1500 has diverted most travellers’ attention to neighboring Uganda.

The short distance to Bwindi forest the home to Uganda’s mountain Gorillas has been one of the reasons for an increased number of travellers to book Gorilla tracking safaris to Bwindi forest from Kigali International Airport. The good news is that short Gorilla safaris are now possible in Uganda via Kigali-Rwanda. On reaching Kigali International Airport, travellers cross over to Uganda connecting to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park both in the Uganda Rwanda borders where Kigali has presently become a doorway to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks home to the endangered mountain Gorillas in Uganda.

The drive time is 3-4 hours from Kigali International Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in south-western Uganda. Bwindi forest is home to almost half of the mountain Gorilla population with over 550 mountain Gorillas inhabiting there. Connecting to Bwindi National Park from Kigali is through either Chanika border to Kisoro district or Katuna border to Kabale district in the south and north sectors of Bwindi respectively. Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors are located in the southern sector of Bwindi hence easily accessible through Chanika border while Ruhija and Buhoma are easily accessed through Katuna border. This ease of access assures travellers the possibility to trek in any of Bwindi’s sectors which is a golden opportunity at a relatively low cost.

Interestingly, Gorilla tracking safari via Kigali is a saving opportunity for travellers especially budget travellers where Uganda Gorilla permit is twice less the cost of a Gorilla permit in Rwanda at USD1500. This USD1500 only buys a single Gorilla permit in Rwanda excluding accommodation and transport. The low cost of a Gorilla permit has, therefore, made Uganda a saviour for budget travellers who had been discouraged from trekking by the long distance.

For a 2 days Uganda Gorilla tracking holiday via Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, travellers transfer to Bwindi immediately after reaching Kigali which is an opportunity for them to take part in much extra activity such as a cultural visit to the Batwa community or a forest walk, which gives them a pre tracking experience. The second day is for Gorilla tracking and traveling back to Kigali for a return flight or at your hotel in case you still have some time to stay in Rwanda.

All travellers booking our Gorilla tracking holiday via Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park will be required to apply for an East African tourist Visa which allows you cross and travel freely to Uganda and Rwanda without any need to apply for a single entry Visa in any of the two countries. An East African Visa costs USD100 valid for 90 days hence no worry regarding the Visas.

In addition to Gorilla tracking, Uganda offers a Gorilla habituation experience in Rushaga sector at a cost of USD1500. A traveller can, therefore, opt for a four hours interaction with the semi habituated endangered mountain Gorillas instead of a one hour trek in Rwanda at the same cost. Presently, 1 Gorilla family of Bikingi in Rushaga sector is undergoing habituation and four people visit this family every day.
Other activities that can be done in south-western Uganda besides Gorilla tracking include a visit to Batwa and Bakiga local communities, hiking the Virunga volcanoes in Mgahinga National Park, Boat rides on Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mutanda, Forest and Nature walks a combination of these activities makes your Gorilla tracking safari via Kigali to Bwindi forest an experience for a lifetime.
In conclusion, Gorilla tracking holiday via Kigali-Rwanda is an added advantage. Fly to Rwanda now and connect to Uganda for a memorable Gorilla tour at a relatively low cost.