Combining Gorilla Trekking with Other Activities: Can I combine gorilla trekking with other activities? (Quick Answer, Yes)
Trekking to see mountain gorillas is a once in a lifetime experience that brings you face to face with the world’s most endangered primate species in their natural habitat. A gorilla trekking adventure is a must include in your bucket list when visiting Africa. Although gorilla trekking is a thrilling safari experience that anyone must include on their bucket list, your journey however doesn’t have to stop at only trekking gorillas. One of the most frequently asked questions by travelers is Can I combine gorilla trekking with other activities? Combining Gorilla Trekking with Other Activities is very possible and guarantees a mix of adventures. You can combine gorilla trekking with a visit to other nearby National Parks, hiking in Volcanoes, or a cultural visit to the local communities. Combining Gorilla Trekking with Other Activities creates well rounded and unforgettable travel experiences during your African Safari holiday.
Rwanda and Uganda are the two popular gorilla trekking destinations in Africa. Uganda has two National Parks that inhabit the endangered gorillas (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & Mgahinga Gorilla National Park). Rwanda on the other hand has only one gorilla trekking National Park (Volcanoes National Park). Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park hosts the largest number of the remaining gorilla population – more than half of the remaining gorilla population live in Bwindi. Both Uganda and Rwanda offer a number of exciting safari activities that you an add to your bucket list. Be it Rwanda or Uganda, you can combine gorilla trekking with a number of other safari activities like wildlife viewing in safari parks, cultural tours, chimpanzee trekking, and hiking adventures. If you’re still wondering ‘‘Can I combine gorilla trekking with other activities?’’ Yes, gorilla trekking can be combined with a number of thrilling safari activities in both Uganda and Rwanda.
What Can I combine with Gorilla Trekking in Uganda & Rwanda – Other activities to do besides gorilla trekking.
Both Uganda and Uganda are renowned primate tracking destinations, however, these two countries also offer a number of other safari activities and experiences. While on a gorilla trekking safari tour, you can add some of these activities to your itinerary. Some of these activities can be done within various parks just after or before gorilla trekking while others may require traveling away from your gorilla trekking location to another location. Activities that can be done in the park or near the park (cultural visit, nature walks, bird watching, and hiking) are the most frequently added experiences since they may not require extra days of travel.
On the other hand, you might also be interested in activities that are not necessarily done within the gorilla trekking national parks (Wildlife game drives, chimpanzee trekking, and boat safaris). Can I combine gorilla trekking with other activities? You can combine both activities near the park and those done in different locations with gorilla trekking in both Uganda and Rwanda.
Best Activities to combine with Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda
Batwa Cultural experience (Batwa Trail experience)
Combining Gorilla Trekking with Other Activities: The Batwa Pygmies are a hunter-gatherer group of people who live in the forests of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are one of the oldest tribes in Africa and have inhabited these forests for thousands of years. While on a gorilla safari in Rwanda or Uganda, you can add a visit to the local Batwa communities where you’ll have an opportunity to experience their unique culture. The Batwa are known for their unique cultures, way of life, and unmatched knowledge of the forest (hunting and gathering skills). Initially, the Batwa lived within these forests in a semi-nomadic lifestyle, where they kept looking for shelter and food within the forest. They were evicted from the forest and resettled in the adjacent areas where several communities have settled and established themselves.
Iby’Iwacu Cultural Experience in Rwanda
The Iby’iwacu Culture Experience in Rwanda is centered around the Iby’iwacu Village, located outside Volcanoes National Park. The Iby’iwacu Cultural Village is located in Kiningi, home to the Batwa people. While on a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda, ypu can as well visit this place for a memorable cultural experience. Iby’iwacu Culture Experience is an excellent cultural tour – you’ll experience the unique Culture of Rwanda people, with opportunities to interact with the local people and participate in some of the amazing cultural performances.
You’ll be introduced to various aspects of Batwa culture, including traditional dances, songs, and costumes. You will really enjoy amazing performances from the locals, with opportunities to join them during the performances. You will also have the opportunity to learn about hunting techniques, cultivation practices, and other customs passed down through generations in the Batwa Community.
Visiting Lake Bunyonyi
During your gorilla trekking tour in Uganda, you can also visit one of Africa’s Deepest and most scenic Lakes, Lake Bunyonyi for an opportunity to witness a reminiscent of ‘‘Lord of the Rigs.’’ This breathtaking safari lake was named ‘‘Bunyonyi’’ because of its large population of small bird species. During a visit here, you can have an opportunity to embark on activities like canoeing among others.
Combining gorilla trekking with wildlife viewing – Wildlife safaris & Gorilla trekking
If you are visiting Uganda, you can combine gorilla trekking with wildlife viewing in Uganda’s most popular safari parks. Uganda is home to 10 National Parks and 12 wildlife reserves that inhabit about 345 different wildlife species. Among the wildlife species in Uganda are primates like; mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, baboons, and various types of monkeys, carnivores like lions, leopards, and cheetahs, among others. Uganda is also home to the famous African Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant). Combining Gorilla trekking with a wildlife safari to Uganda’s National Parks allows you to witness different wildlife species that call Uganda home besides mountain gorillas. The popular wildlife viewing destinations in Uganda include; Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park among others.
Combining gorilla trekking with wildlife viewing in Rwanda
From Volcanoes National Park, your journey can also be tailored to feature a visit to Rwanda’s Akagera National Park. Akagera National Park is the only savanna park in Rwanda and boasts a wide range of wildlife species including the famous African Big Five. You’ll enjoy a memorable game drive in this scenic safari park, witnessing its incredible wildlife like lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, buffalos, giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, topis, elands, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, baboons, vervet monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, hyenas, mongoose, otters, and servals among.
Chimpanzee Trekking
Besides Mountain gorilla trekking you can also embark on a chimpanzee trekking tour in both Uganda and Rwanda. You can pair gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda with Chimpanzee trekking during your visit. For those visiting Uganda, there are three major chimpanzee trekking locations in Uganda; Kibale Forest National Park, Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park, and the Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
In Rwanda, Chimpanzee trekking takes place in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Just like mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda and Uganda guarantees excellent primate tracking experience.
Golden Monkey Trekking
Both Uganda and Rwanda host the endangered Golden monkey species. For those planning to go gorilla trekking in Uganda, you can add golden monkey tracking to your bucket list. In Uganda, golden monkeys live in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is also home to mountain gorillas.
In Rwanda, golden monkeys can be tracked in Volcanoes National Park. Book your Gorilla Trekking safaris with us and enjoy incredible adventures.