A Detailed Comparison of Serengeti and Gorilla Trekking in Uganda or Rwanda
The Serengeti National Park: This Park is one of the most iconic and renowned wildlife destinations in Africa whoever is planning a wildlife safari to Africa wants Serengeti to be on the top of the list. Serengeti is found in northern Tanzania; Serengeti is one of the larger ecosystems in East Africa which spans over 30,000 square kilometers. Serengeti National Park is among the top 5 five most famous national parks in Africa because of its vast plains, Serengeti’s incredible wildlife diversity, and the dramatic Great Migration which is continuous annually where millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles traverse the plains in search of fresh water, grazing land, often facing predators along the way. It’s also on record that Serengeti National Park hosts large populations of cats in East Africa such as lions, leopards, cheetahs Hyenas among many others, and a variety of other wildlife species roaming freely
Game viewing and nature walking safaris are the main activities in the Serengeti typically include game drives, where visitors can observe the abundant wildlife, as well as hot air balloon safaris for a better aerial view of Serengeti savannah. Another exciting activity is getting the opportunity for nature walking safaris in the plains of Serengeti which allow tourists and other visitors to experience the beautiful landscape on foot with expert ranger guides.
Check out some of our most popular Tanzania wildlife safaris combined with Uganda gorilla trek
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Serengeti National Park can be easily accessible any time of the year, however, the best time to visit is during the dry season (June, July, August, October, September, December, January, and February, this is the time when animals gather around water sources others walk long distance looking for water sources, making it easier to spot different animals at close range.
Comparison of Gorilla Trekking in Uganda or Rwanda
It’s on the record in the whole world that Uganda and Rwanda offer the extraordinary experience of trekking mountain gorillas in their natural habitat of Volcanoes National Park located in the northern of Rwanda, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, both located in southwestern Uganda. Both Uganda and Rwanda provide opportunities for tourists and other visitors to get up close with these endangered mountain gorillas, however there is some differences in the gorilla trekking permit prices between Uganda check this link to see the differences in experience and logistics.
Uganda – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga are located in southwestern Uganda, both parks are one of the most biodiverse places in Africa. Bwindi Forest and Mgahinga park are home to more than half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population. Gorilla trekking experience in both parks offer the adventurous nature best, as tourists and visitors hike through dense misty forest trails that can be steep and challenging, gorilla trekking typically take anywhere from 3 to 7 hours however it depends on the location of the gorilla family being tracked on the given day. Bwindi forest and Mgahinga are also home to a rich variety of other wildlife such as golden monkeys, different bird species, buffalo, and forest elephants among other.
We talked the difference in the prices of the gorilla permit, Uganda’s gorilla trekking permits costs $800 per person while Rwanda’s gorilla permit costs $1,500 per person. Generally, this makes Uganda more affordable gorilla trekking destination than Rwanda, again making Uganda more budget-friendly option for many tourists travelling on tight budget and trekking experience and regulations are the same in both countries.
The Rwanda – Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is one of the best places in Africa where to see mountain gorillas, Volcanoes Park is found in the Virunga Mountains bordering with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, to many travelers believes that Rwanda is a premier destination for mountain gorilla trekking. Volcanoes Park is characterized by its amazing volcanic landscapes and mist-covered peaks. Unlike Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, the terrain in Volcanoes National Park is more manageable when hiking on a well-maintained trail and also less steep, however gorilla trekking is still physically demanding experience so one should prepare according.
Talking of tourism in Africa, Rwanda has poisoned themselves very well where it is often considered the gold standard for gorilla trekking experiences dominating other gorilla trekking destinations such as Uganda and DR-Congo, this is due to Rwanda’s higher level of organization and infrastructure over other countries. Rwanda’s eco-tourism policies ensure that gorilla trekking is done sustainably while the revenue generated from sell of gorilla trekking permits directly benefits local communities through different government programs.
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When compared with other mountain gorilla trekking destination, Rwanda’s gorilla permit is the most expensive among other countries such as Uganda, Rwanda also tend have more polished luxury lodges which attracts higher level luxury travelers, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda also has the advantage over other gorilla destination because of being relatively close to Kigali international airport which makes it easier to access compared to Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park which is located 9 hours’ drive away from Entebbe International Airport.
When you Compare Serengeti and Gorilla Trekking Experiences
We all know that anyone planning a trip to Africa, both Serengeti and gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda is distinct of wildlife experiences in the World, Game viewing in Serengeti and gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda offers a blend of excitement, adventure, and connection to nature than any other tourism activity.
The Wildlife Game Viewing Diversity vs Focused Trekking Experience: Serengeti National Park provides an African traditional game viewing safari experience that offers encounters with a wide range of different wild animals such as the famous African “Big Five” (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhinoceros), other include cheetahs, hyenas among others cats, and different bird species.
While gorilla trekking is a much more focused trekking experience with direct interaction with endangered mountain gorillas making it the highlight of every trip to Africa. Facing face-to-face with those great giants is often an emotional encounter for many travelers, as some tourists observe these gentle giants in their natural habitat of Africa.
The Landscape and Activity: Serengeti National Park offers world-classic savannah landscapes with endless plains, and acacia trees with a mix of open and wooded making it Africa’s destination wildlife safari, anyone can explore Serengeti via game drives or even walking one foot with the guidance of ranger guides. Mountain gorilla trekking takes place in dense forests and hilly, it requires significant physical effort to navigate the rugged trails before you reach the gorillas, however, the gorilla trekking experience is usually more intimate, and up close, once you find them you are allowed to spend one full hour with the gorillas observing them, taking photos and videos and as you see them going their daily business.
Check out some of our most popular Uganda gorilla safaris starting from Kigali
1 day Uganda gorilla tracking safari from Kigali
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14 days gorillas, chimpanzees, and wildlife safaris from Kigali
Combination of Serengeti and gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda: Most of our clients choose to combine a Serengeti game viewing safari with gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda, combination of Serengeti and gorilla trekking creates a comprehensive African wildlife adventure. This combination allows tourists to thrill at both iconic safari wildlife viewing and the intimate gorilla trekking experience with also the opportunity of visiting more than one country and ecosystem using an East African Tourist Visa which allows you multiple entry to more than one country in the East African Community.
In Conclusion: Serengeti and gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda offer the best two Africa’s most exceptional wildlife experiences, however, each activity has its unique appeal, for those who looking for a classic African wildlife safari with diverse dramatic landscapes, I must tell you Serengeti is hard to beat and for those who are after an intimate and unforgettable encounter with one of Earth’s most endangered species, then I assure you gorilla trekking is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that shouldn’t be missed, but it all depends on one’s interests, a combined tour of Tanzania and Uganda or Rwanda can offer the ultimate East African adventure. For more information and clarity, you can reach us via our email at info@kisorotoursuganda.com or call us at +256785790925 also on WhatsApp for a quick response
