How safe is the border crossing between Rwanda and Uganda? Are you planning to visit Rwanda and Uganda for your African safari? And wondering whether it is safe to cross borders between these two top African safari destinations in East Africa?
There are only three active border points between these countries, and all travelers interested in visiting the two countries can expect to cross at least one of these borders if you are traveling by road. For example, tourists up for gorilla trekking tours in Uganda starting and ending from Kigali, Rwanda.
These border points include (Gatuna) Rwanda, (Katuna) Uganda, (Cyanika) Rwanda, (Kyanika) Uganda, (Kajitumba) Rwanda, (Mirama Hill) Uganda.
Crossing through these border points is safe and smooth with the required documents and paperwork at the immigration offices, such as a passport, an East African visa or single-entry visa, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
Why choose Uganda gorilla tours from Kigali?
A large number of tourists plan their gorilla tours to Uganda by flying into Kigali Airport, after which they transfer by road to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, crossing either through Katuna or Cyanika borders and back to Kigali after the trek in Bwindi or Mgahinga instead of flying in and out of Uganda’s Entebbe Airport.
Basically, Uganda gorilla tours starting and ending in Kigali are mostly preferred by all those tourists looking for a cost-friendly gorilla trekking experience. Uganda gorilla permits cost $700 per person per trek to all foreign nonresidents, compared to Rwanda, where it costs $1500 per person per trek to foreign nonresidents.
Therefore, the difference in the cost of gorilla trekking permits from these two outstanding gorilla trekking destinations in Africa leads to the massive number of travelers interested in Uganda gorilla trekking tours from Kigali, which helps them save some dollars.
In addition to gorilla permit costs differences, Uganda gorilla tours starting from Kigali, Rwanda save time spent on traveling to the gorilla parks.
Traveling from Kigali airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, crossing the Katuna border, is approximately 4 hour’s drive compared to the long drive of 9 hours traveling from Entebbe airport to Bwindi National Park.
Therefore, most travelers and tourists interested in seeing Gorillas in Uganda without long journeys prefer to fly into Kigali Airport, track Uganda gorillas, and return to Kigali as their departure spot as well.
How to book Uganda gorilla tours starting from Kigali?
You will need to contact us and tell us your preferred dates for the trek, and we will check for gorilla permit availability with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, which is the body in charge of gorilla permits in Uganda.
If the permits are available, we will reserve the permits you need and send you an invoice to make a deposit payment to purchase and secure the gorilla permits for your trek. When money is received in our account, we will go ahead and buy the permits, and this shall definitely confirm your booked gorilla trip.
The fact that gorilla permits are always in high demand in Uganda and Rwanda, with a limited number of them issued per day, means it’s highly recommended to book these permits quite enough in advance, at least about three months ahead of tracking dates.
When is the best time to see gorillas in Uganda?
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a year-round adventure. Each day that rises is a great opportunity to visit and see the endangered habituated mountain gorillas in the wild.
Uganda hosts over 50% of the only remaining mountain gorilla population in the world in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Parks, and this makes Uganda a prime gorilla trekking destination in Africa.
How hard and challenging is gorilla trekking in Uganda?
Many visitors interested in gorilla trekking are normally bothered to know how challenging or hard the entire trekking experience can be. But honestly, it requires the minimum level of fitness as it involves hiking through the rainforest of Bwindi or Mgahinga Mountain in search of the gorillas.
Gorillas live up in the forest and roam freely at all times; therefore, trekking to find them may last between 1 hr and 6 hrs depending on their movement – thus one has to be ready for the experience as it can be a bit challenging with slippery trails when it rains and rough terrain at times.
However, you may opt for hiring porters to help you maneuver and make it to see the gorillas. Porters are always available at a small extra charge of about $20, and these can help you carry your packs on the trek, and a walking stick is offered freely to assist you in walking along the trek.
For the elderly, there is a sedan chair service to the gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where they are carried on a stretcher-like chair by four strong, energetic men to the gorillas and back.
Through your tour operator, sedan chair service can be arranged for you early enough at a charge of $500. There is no limit on the maximum age for people who can track the gorillas in Uganda, but the minimum age limit is highly considered and respected as 15 years.
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