Bwindi national park is located at the extreme edge of Uganda Rwanda border, much close to Rwanda and easily accessible from Kigali international airport on a 3 and half hours’ drive as compared to arrival in Uganda’s capital at Entebbe International airport on 8 – 10 hours drive to The best Places in Bwindi.
Planning a short gorilla tour in Uganda from Rwanda is dependent on the best place / region / sector in Bwindi Forest national park. The closest gorilla trekking sector from Kigali city and the international airport to the Rwanda Uganda border is the surest way to arrive on time for briefing and thus join gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park for your given date.
Bwindi national park is located at the extreme edge of Uganda Rwanda border, much close to Rwanda and easily accessible from Kigali international airport on a 3 and half hours’ drive as compared to arrival in Uganda’s capital at Entebbe International airport on 8 – 10 hours drive to Bwindi forest.
The Bwindi impenetrable forest has 4 sector or regions or locations where gorillas are located each sector with its own gorilla families and an independent head office where tourists arrive to start the gorilla treks.
The sectors of Bwindi Forest include the Ruhija sector, Buhoma, Rushaga and Nkuringo region. The sectors closest to the Uganda Rwanda border is the best region for gorilla trekking on a short tour arrangement from Rwanda.
There are 2 Uganda Rwanda border posts though which we must access the nearest sector of Bwindi national park.
From the Katuna border post into Kabale district the nearest sector of Bwindi is the Ruhija sector while from the Cyanika border at the deeper south of Uganda into Kisoro district the nearest region is the Rushaga sector.
Therefore the 2 sectors of Ruhija and Rushaga are the best options for a 1-day gorilla trek from Rwanda into Uganda and a sure way to see mountain gorillas.
Frequently asked questions while planning Gorilla trekking from Rwanda
- Why is Ruhija the best sector for a Rwanda Uganda gorilla tour
- Will I see gorillas on a Short Gorilla tour?
- Is a 1-day gorilla trek safe?
- What is the set off and return back time to Kigali after the trek?
- Can one trek in Mgahinga national park?
- Uganda Rwanda Visas and border crossing requirements
- Bwindi gorilla permits and sector Logistics
- What Medications and vaccinations do I require
- Other things to see on a 1-day gorilla trek
Why is Ruhija the best sector for a Rwanda Uganda gorilla tour
Ruhija sector is 3 hrs. and a half from Kigali capital city of Rwanda driving through the Katuna border post into Uganda’s busy town of Kabale. Katuna border is open 24hours and tourists can easily work though border logistics of visa verifications and acquisition and drive off to Ruhija sector in time for briefing and setting off for the trekking adventure.
Ruhija sector comprises of 4 gorilla families offering a total number of 32 gorilla permits each day. Its important to book and secure your gorilla permits in advance as the chance of buying a gorilla permits at the park office is very small. Gorilla permits are booked and paid at the Uganda Wildlife offices in Kampala and not at the park offices in Bwindi Forest national park.
Will I see gorillas on a Short Gorilla tour?
For as long as you have your gorilla permits reserved and booked at your given date, your chance of seeing mountain gorillas in Ruhija sector for any given gorilla family is 100%. The logistics of gorilla trekking instruct that the trackers have already found the gorilla groups when they walk through the forest very late in the night to locate the actual positions of the gorillas in the forest. As the park guides are briefing you on the does and don’ts of gorilla trekking they are also in communication on radio-calls with the trackers on where in the forest your gorilla group is located.
As you trek thought the impenetrable forest, your guides are being directed on where the gorilla family is. He knows how long you will be hiking to the gorillas and the nature of the terrain to your gorilla family.
If you like an easy, medium or tough trek, request for your best hike at the briefing station because the guides are aware which trek is tough or easy.
Is a 1-day gorilla trek safe and feasible?
The trek is very safe, gorillas are gentle giants which are harmless. Mostly very shy and going about with their daily activities as you watch them in the jungle, mountain gorilla groups are habituated and aren’t threatened by presence of tourists in their habitant.
Before heading off for gorilla trekking, the park guides brief you on what to expect and what to do and not when with the gorillas. The rules and regulations protect the tourists and the gorillas and must be followed fully.
What is the set off and return back time to Kigali after the trek?
Set off time for the 1 Day gorilla trek from Kigali is 3:00am. The clients can be picked from their hotel or Kigali international airport to drive to katuna border and into Uganda to Ruhija sector of Bwindi Forest.
Return back time to Kigali from Bwindi after gorilla trekking depends on the time you will be back from the gorillas. Normally the latest group comes back by 02:00pm. Return back time to Kigali is 6:00pm. Its possible for the tourists to trek gorillas in Uganda and flight out same day.
Can one trek in Mgahinga national park?
Mgahinga national park from Rwanda is much closer to Kigali than Bwindi national park as it shares boundaries with Volcanoes national park of Rwanda since it’s the same Virunga conservation region.
The only hiccup is that the Cyanika border which connects Rwanda and Uganda immigration office closes at 10:00pm and opens at 7:00am for clearing tourists. Gorilla trekking starts in Uganda starts at 07:00am with briefing at all tourists must attend.
Visas and border crossing requirements
The Uganda visa costs $50 and can be obtained at the Uganda Rwanda border when crossing. The immigration office only accept cash and not credit card.
Tourists can also have the single East African visa as well as a multiple entry vids back into Rwanda.
Bwindi gorilla permits and sector Logistics
Its very important to make sure you book your gorilla permit in the right sector of Bwindi natal park. Showing-up at the wrong sector attracts a wrong sector charge of usd150 per permit because they are expecting you at your actual sector.
What Medications and vaccinations do I require
Yellow fever vaccination is no longer mandatory at the border as tourists cross into Uganda. If you have one, travel with it but if not, you will not have a problem entering.
Malaria medication is a precaution one can take but not a must. Advisable to carry a mosquito repellent ad apply it right before setting off for gorilla trekking.
Other things to see on a 1-day gorilla trek
Apart from gorilla trekking, tourists can easily pass by lake Bunyonyi for lunch and if time allows can do canoeing, quad biking around the beautiful lake, zip lining and swimming to cool off.
