Uganda Airlines vs. Rwandair Business Class + Gorilla Trekking Review - Bwindi, Uganda

Trip structure: Fly out on Uganda Airlines (wet-leased via Ethiopian Airlines) → gorilla trek + stay at Abercrombie & Kent's Gorilla Forest Lodge, Bwindi → fly home to London via Rwandair → compare both flight experiences

Context: Bwindi is home to ~500 mountain gorillas — roughly half the world's population and more than anywhere else on Earth. Daily visitor numbers are limited, offering one hour with a gorilla family per visit.

Flight 1: Uganda Airlines (operated via Ethiopian Airlines wet lease)

Backstory: Uganda Airlines' only two A330-800neo aircraft were grounded for technical issues. Rather than cancel flights, they partnered with Ethiopian Airlines on a wet lease (crew, insurance, and aircraft all provided by Ethiopian) to keep flying.

Cabin/Seat:

• Business class in 2-2-2 configuration — no direct aisle access for window seats (middle seats only)
• Window seat felt spacious with some shielding from neighboring seat due to positioning
• Converts to a fully flat bed; comfortable padding, generous legroom
• Small storage nook with USB and universal power ports; no other storage
• Tray table stable but slightly slidy; one small shelf for iPad/laptop/books; IFE screen above

Amenities:

• Uganda Airlines-branded headrest cover (anti-macasa), amenity kit, and a soft/velvety pillow
• Kit includes: socks, eye mask, pen, lip balm, toothbrush, toothpaste, earplugs
• Blanket felt thin/underwhelming for business class

Food (lunch):

• Choice of chicken or beef
• Caesar salad starter: fresh, crunchy lettuce, but chicken was a bit chewy
• Beef with rice: delicious — soft, tender beef, fluffy rice, warm bread roll
• Dessert: apricot–white chocolate, cheesecake-like with cookie crumble — described as delicious

The Gorilla Trek — Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

• Trek time is unpredictable — could take minutes or hours
• Found a mother and baby gorilla after just 15 minutes
• Spent a full hour with the gorilla family — described as one of the most magical, insane, special experiences
• Called one of the most incredible travel experiences overall, not just the flights

Gorilla Forest Lodge (Abercrombie & Kent)

• 10 rooms set across a mountainside, each with views
• Comfortable beds, large rain showers, giant bathtubs
• Excellent food at every meal
• Thoughtful touches: packed lunch for trekking days, refreshing towels on return from treks
• Only lodge located inside the park gates — guests can trek directly from the hotel door

Connector: Entebbe → Kigali

• Short 40-minute hop on Rwandair's 737 in a 2-2 business class configuration
• Tight connection — required rushing off the plane
• Quick, montage-style coverage of this short-haul leg

Flight 2: Rwandair (A330-300, Kigali–London Heathrow)

Cabin/Seat:

• Business class in a single cabin section, 1-2-1 configuration
• Seated in window seat 4A; even-numbered window seats sit closer to the window for more privacy
• Modern cabin design — green, gold, and brown tones, a departure from typical aircraft colors
• Plenty of legroom, footrest included; front row has larger footwells for extra space
• USB-A and universal power ports
• Fully flat bed with adjustable firmness and a massage feature
• Tray table pops out from the side in one solid piece; large IFE screen

Amenities:

• Plump but slightly lumpy pillow; blanket smelled clean
• Bottle of water pre-placed at seat
• Headphones described as not the best
• Gray amenity kit: toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm, hand cream, hairbrush, eye mask, socks
• Bed mode: seat starts soft ("saggy bag") and can be pumped up to firm

Food:

• Starter: bresaola beef — fine, nicely presented, liked the small salt and pepper shakers
• Main: chicken with rice and vegetables — a clear improvement over the starter, though chicken could've been moister
• Note: seat padding wore thin/felt hard toward the end of the flight

Final Verdict

Uganda Airlines (via Ethiopian wet lease):

• Credit for keeping flights running despite aircraft issues
• Comfortable seat, good food, very attentive service and crew
• Wins the "Better Food" award

Rwandair:

• Strong first impression on cabin design
• Seat was disappointing — described as hard
• Service was efficient and friendly, but food was average

Overall takeaway: Both airlines offer direct flights to the gorilla trekking region, making the journey efficient and comfortable enough to justify choosing them over higher-rated airlines on other routes. The host's core message: however you get there, prioritize going to see the gorillas — and pairing the trip with a company like Abercrombie & Kent and a stay at Gorilla Forest Lodge elevates it into a luxury, life-changing experience.

Closing CTA: Host asks viewers for destination suggestions for a future trip.