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Greetings from East Africa!
With the end of the year rapidly approaching, we have been busy reviewing the destinations we feature to determine which has been our most popular tailor-made itinerary in 2024. From the spectacular sights of the Maasai Mara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, to the lesser known wonders of Akagera, Murchison Falls and Ruaha National Parks, the standout winner is our Rwanda & Uganda Combo-Itinerary, which visits the magnificent mountain gorillas of the Virungas.
When speaking with our travel advisors about their customer's wishlists, we are often asked if it is possible to combine mountain gorilla tracking in both Rwanda and Uganda, without having to spend an excessive amount of time transferring from one gorilla park to the other. The answer is: absolutely! What many agents are not aware of is that it only takes 2.5 hours, by vehicle, to transfer from Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda to Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, which also includes the time to cross the international border. These two countries operate a seamless one-stop border, which means crossing from Rwanda into Uganda, and vice versa, is very straightforward.
According to the most recent census, the population of mountain gorillas in the Virungas has increased from 480 to 604 individuals. Being wild, mountain gorillas do not abide by the demarkations of international borders and instead are free to roam between all three countries sharing the Virunga Massif: Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC. What defines the gorilla tracking experience in each country is the number of habituated gorilla groups tourists can visit and the standard of the accommodations. In Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park there are currently 12 habituated groups, whereas in Mgahinga there is only one, although if rumours are to believed, a second group might be made available for tourists to visit in the not too distant future.
From a customer's perspective, there are many benefits of gorilla tracking in both countries. Although Rwanda and Uganda share many similarities as they are located next to each other, they are also distinctly different from one another. From the culture and vibrancy of the local populations to the look and feel of the towns and villages, many customers enjoy experiencing both. Visiting East Africa is often a trip of lifetime and being able to compare and contrast is a definite highlight of any safari.
Lastly, we have included in this month's newsletter the current status of the Marburg virus, with official country, travel advisory and WHO updates looking very promising. We have also listed the latest announcements of new property openings or refurbishments in East Africa.
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