koreansteve

Hi, I'm going to be going to E Africa and I was wondering which country you would suggest backpacking -- Tanzania or Uganda?

I've heard great things about both. I'm not really that interested in doing a safari (cost) and would like to keep things pretty cheap (i think it'll be tough to get a cheap day at a nat'l park but maybe you guys know something i don't). I like Zanzibar and Mt. Kilimajaro in Tanzania...and I like the Gorillas (cost?) and whitewater rafting the Nile in Uganda.

I've obviously just started my research, but i was hoping some guys with personal experience could clue me in as to which country is more preferable to backpack in (although i imagine both are pretty awesome).

Thanks.

cruisinred

You will probably have better luck with your question on the Lonely Planet thorntree board...not too many budget backpackers on Fodors.
As for the gorillas, permits run about $350 for a one hour visit with the gorillas....that does not cover accomodation, transport or anything else.

koreansteve

Thanks...

And good night that's a lot of money to see some gorillas.

koreansteve

anyone else?

fuzzylogic

Hi - yes - spent some time in both countries though while travelling independently in Tanzania I did not attempt to take in any game parks.

Times may have changed but on my last visit to Tanzania English was still far less spoken than in Uganda. That just makes it a little more difficult to get around.

I like Tanzania, but I adore Uganda. Love it to bits. Easy to travel around - always a shared minibus (matatu) to take you where you want to go, though you may have to wait for a while for it to leave and then spend some more time while it circles whatever town it is in looking for the last few pax.

Kampala - brilliant. The Sese Islands - divine - Fort Portal - the Ruwenzoris. Never got to see the gorillas. Well to be honest it wasn't on the agenda - had visited before at Virunga in what was then Zaire.

Another alternative you might think on - just casting it out for your consideration - is to combine a trip to Tanzania, specifically Zanzibar, with Malawi - another gorgeous destination with so much to offer.

If I can help some more please just post again.

Nyamera

Koreansteve,
Why not Kenya? Earlier I recommended Savage Wilderness for whitewater rafting, but now I’ve discovered that Nairobi Backpackers do it as well – in Kenya and Uganda. They’re probably cheaper. http://www.nairobibackpackers.com/html/rafting.html
I wish I knew how to get a cheap day or week or month or year at a national park …

dlo

Tanzania is my favorite country but i also love Uganda and i agree with fuzzylogic that it is easy to get around in.It is also a lot cheaper than Kenya and Tanzania and i mentioned loads to do there in another post.You could go Chimp tracking for $20 in Budongo as an alternative to Gorilla tracking but i would do everything i could to see the Gorillas if possible.