Uganda gorilla trekking from Kigali

Did you know it is easier to track gorillas in Uganda coming/starting from Kigali, Rwanda? Yes, it is possible to come through Rwanda for the gorilla trekking tour in Uganda and it is easier and cheaper alternative. The drive from Rwanda’s Kigali International Airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda is about 4 – 5 hours. This is a much shorter journey than if you fly into Uganda and start from Uganda’s capital Kampala or Entebbe airport which takes 8 – 9 hours of drive to the gorilla parks; Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park.

Save on the gorilla trekking permit

Planning to visit Rwanda for a gorilla trekking tour but find the 1500USD for the gorilla permit/ticket way beyond your budget? Then you can come through Kigali city in Rwanda and drive to Uganda where the gorilla tracking is 700USD, about half of the cost of the permit in Rwanda.

Visiting Rwanda and tracking the cheaper gorillas in Uganda also frees up funds allowing you include other amazing tours in Rwanda such as the chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest, safari trip to Akagera National Park, and golden monkey tracking in the volcanoes among others.

Which border crossing to use for the gorilla trekking in Uganda starting from Kigali

The nearest border from Kigali is Gatuna/Katuna border which is about 2 hours’ drive. From the Gatuna/Katuna border to Bwindi National Park is about 1.5hours. This is the ideal border to cross into Uganda if you will be tracking in the Ruhija and Buhoma sectors of Bwindi.

Note that there are four gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi National Park i.e. Ruhija, Buhoma, Rushaga and Nkuringo. The border to go through, either Cyanika or Gatuna border, depends on the sector of Bwindi National Park you would be tracking in.

The other border crossing, Cyanika border is about 3 hours drive from Kigali. From Cyanika border to Bwindi National Park is about 1.5 hours drive. This is the ideal border to cross through if tracking in Rushaga and Nkuringo, the other two sectors of Bwindi National Park.

Cyanika border is also the nearest border to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda’s second gorilla park.

If you will be doing any activities in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park before or after your gorilla trip in Uganda, Cyanika is the only border to think about.

Therefore, the border crossing to use for a shorter drive depends on the sector (in the case of Bwindi National Park) and park where you will be tracking in Uganda.

It is easy to combine trekking in Rwanda and Uganda

Do you wish to combine the incredible experience of tracking gorillas both in the Virunga volcanoes of Rwanda and the impenetrable Bwindi jungle of Uganda? Well, it is easy and possible by land as there is just about 1.5 hours of drive separating Rwanda’s gorilla park from Uganda’s two gorilla parks via the Cyanika border.