Rwanda vs Uganda

Golden monkey in Volcanoes National Park

Rwanda and Uganda host a broadly similar set of attractions. Foremost among these mountain gorilla tracking, and while neither country could be said to offer a definitively better tracking experience than the other, our experience is that the more open nature of the forest in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park makes it slightly more reliable for photography than Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. For those with limited time, it is also far quicker to reach Volcanoes National Park from the Rwandan capital Kigali (3-4 hours) than it is to reach Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Uganda’s main air gateway Entebbe (a long one-day drive, but better split over two days). In Uganda’s favour, tracking gorillas there is a lot cheaper than in Rwanda, and overall it boasts a more diverse selection of other national parks, scenic landmarks and cultural attractions.

Akagera National Park

The ideal complement to the primate-oriented wildlife-viewing offered at Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, Akagera is a classic savannah reserve that has undergone an ambitious recent rehabilitation programme to become a fully-fledged Big Five safari destination. As with Rwanda other national parks, the setting is spectacular: a chain of low grassy mountains that slope down to a…

An adventure safari in Rwanda

Credit: Bloomberg Rwanda is a great destination for adventurous travellers. Gorilla tracking in the Virunga mountains is one of the world’s most thrilling - and physically demanding - wildlife encounters. More hardcore still are the steep day or overnight hikes to four of the volcanic Virunga peaks, most notably the 4,507m Mount Karisimbi, which is not only the tallest point in…

Central and Eastern Rwanda

Characterised by rolling green hills terraced with cultivation, Eastern and Central Rwanda is not so scenically spectacular as the western part of the country and it supports far less endemic wildlife than the Albertine Rift. That said, the region does incorporate the national capital Kigali, the starting point of most extended explorations of Rwanda, as well as the important cultural…

Relaxed holiday in Rwanda

Rwanda isn’t suited to a chill-out kind of holiday. It requires some effort to make the most of the country’s main highlights, and overall it is best suited to relatively active travellers. The closest thing to a real beach resort is Lake Kivu, but this is more the sort of place you would tag on to a longer visit than a reason to visit Rwanda in its own right. ...

Rwanda in October

Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night. Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night. October falls within the short rainy season and monthly rainfall in most parts of the country is high (100mm or higher). October is not an optimum month…

Rwanda in July

Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night. Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night. July falls within the long dry season and monthly rainfall in most parts of the country is low (well below 50mm). July is an excellent month for…

Medical emergencies in Rwanda

If no other assistance is at hand, emergency numbers are 111 for the fire department, 112 for ambulances and medical emergencies, 113 for traffic accidents and 999 for the police. Superior private hospitals in Kigali include the King Faisal Hospital (tel: 0252 588888) and Polyclinique du Plateau (tel: 0252 578767 or 0788 301630. A recommended pharmacy is the Pharmacie Conseil (tel: 0252…

Rwanda in January

Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night. Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night. January falls into the so-called short dry season and most parts of the country receives a medium precipitation (around 50-100mm). January is a good…

Rwanda vs Uganda

Our Recommended Itinerary

Meet the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda (12 days)

Entebbe, arrival

Your drive to Kibale is well worth it

Full day with the Chimps

Onwards to Queen Elizabeth

Witness the unusual tree climbing lions

Bwindi National Park all to yourself

Gorilla trekking, enjoy every minute

Buhoma Village walk

Drive via Kisoro to Rwanda

Visit the Dian Fossey Tomb

Fly Home

Popular Rwanda Safaris

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