Gorilla trekking and wildlife safaris are both exciting exploration activities carried out in Uganda.  They help visitors have access to a handful of rare wildlife species. However, they do have some differences that make them stand out uniquely.  Gorilla trekking activities are unique from wildlife safaris in various ways and these incorporate;

Gorilla trekking activities take travelers through dense rainforests with the aim to access wild mountain gorillas while the wildlife safaris allow visitors an uncommon opportunity to traverse through the Savannah parks in search for untamed animals especially the big cats, rare and exciting smaller species of animals especially the spotted hyenas, cheetahs, hartebeests, defasa waterbucks and the bigger land animals such as African Bush elephants, African buffaloes, rhinos and hippos.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is only done in two national parks that is to say Bwindi impenetrable and Mgahinga National Park while the wildlife safaris are conducted in seven national parks that is to say. Kidepo valley national park, lake Mburo, Mountain Elgon, Rwenzori mountains, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison falls and Semuliki national parks. 

Visitors in these national parks get the opportunity to observe rare wildlife species encompassing attractive species of flora and fauna.  Wildlife safaris also enable the visitors to set their eyes on extremely beautiful bird species endemic to the Great Lakes region especially turacos, abyssinian ground hornbill, black and white casquered hornbill, black bee eaters, cinnamons, lanner falcons, owls, scavengers, kori bustards and secretary birds.

The gorilla trekking activity is mainly done while moving on foot except for a few instances where one gets stretchers. Stretchers are used by people who cannot support themselves for long hours especially the elderly, disabled and expectant mothers who wish to have the experience of what it feels like to be close to the mountain gorillas.  Wildlife safaris on the other hand involve game drives which are somewhat exciting in their own unique way.

 Gorilla trekking requires permits that are paid for by the authorities, approved and presented to the park officials before 1 is allowed into the jungle for the trekking activity. In contrast, wildlife safaris just require the park entrance and payment for some activities.

The gorilla trekking activity has a set of unique rules governing it that are somehow different from those of the wildlife safaris  especially the prerequisite that the visitors should not go trekking when they have communicable diseases especially flu which can be easily transmitted to the gorillas. 

Gorilla trekking is only done in one session whereas the wildlife safaris may be carried out through a series of sessions due to the activities and the search for specific animals especially the Wildcats that is to say lions, leopards, caracals and cheetahs. Game drives for instance can be done the entire day  and up to night which is not possible in the gorilla trekking expeditions. 

Several activities make up a wildlife safari for example game drives, hot air ballooning, bird watching to mention but a few whereas the gorilla trekking activity entails only traversing through the thick forests to encounter the gorillas one-on-one. 

Gorilla trekking allows the visitor to get pretty close to the animal through observing a distance of about 7 meters while the wildlife safaris may not always allow such opportunities since some animals are harsh and may end up attacking the travelers. 

The gorilla trekking activity gives visitors a chance to meet habituated animals and spend good time with them, watching them interact in their communities  unlike the wildlife safari where most of the animals are not habituated. 

How to combine gorilla trekking and wildlife safaris in Uganda.

Combining gorilla trekking and wildlife safaris in Uganda is one of the most exciting adventures one can indulge in in the Great Lakes region. Visitors can realize such an accelerating trip by collaborating with tour operators to know the most exciting activities the visitor is willing to indulge in. It is always advisable to let the most exciting activity be the last done on the safari to keep the morale of the visitor and interest high.

Most wildlife and gorilla trekking safaris are combined in two of the most exciting national parks in Uganda that is to say Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

In this case, Queen Elizabeth National Park would be the first to be visited. It is known for sensational wildlife encounters. Visitors to Queen Elizabeth National Park get the opportunity to see tree climbing lions alongside other exciting creatures.

The traveler will then travel to Bwindy impenetrable National Park after having all the exciting moments in Queen Elizabeth National Park. In Bwindi, the traveller will get the opportunity to meet the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, the tropical rainforests they have inhabited since existence.

Distance between both parks, driving distance and hours.

The distance from Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park is approximately 373.6 kilometers which takes about a 6 hours and 14 minutes drive. From Kampala to Bwindi, it is about a 10 hours drive covering a distance of approximately 501.4 kilometers on the Kampala – Mbarara – Kisoro road. The distance between the two national parks is 106.4 kilometres  taking approximately 5 hours and 16 minutes using the Kabale – Kisoro road. 

It is however important to note that both parks can be accessed by air transport too with Queen Elizabeth National Park using the Kasese airstrip and Bwindi impenetrable National Park using the Kihihi airstrip from where the visitors can be picked up by professional guides with all terrain vehicles to take on the jungle adventures.