Endangered mountain gorillas are unique creatures that are only spotted in three countries in the whole world. Mountain gorillas are 98% DNA humans and lives in families with silverback being the head, mother and infants. These gorillas are spotted in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Virunga conservation area which is comprises of mgahinga national park, Virunga national and volcano national park. Uganda is blessed country with two national parks where gorillas are spotted unlike other countries that is Rwanda and Congo.
Population census of gorillas in whole world is 1067 individuals and Uganda is a home of 25 gorilla families with over 459 individuals in Bwindi and over 100 individuals in Mgahinga.
About Bwindi impenetrable national park
Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in southwestern part of Uganda bordering Rwanda and Congo. The park is home of 459 gorillas and 350 bird species including 14 that are unique to the park. The park hosts 24 gorilla families and these are located in four sectors including Nkuringo, Buhoma, Ruhija and Rushaga. The park offers gorilla habituation in Rushaga which offers more time to be with gorillas.
The park can be accessed by either road or air transport. By road transport, visitors may access the park via Rwanda or Uganda using private or public vehicles. From Uganda, the park is reached using masaka-mbarara- kabale route taking about 9-10 hours depending which sector you’re going too. However from Rwanda, visitors may access via kyanika border takes about 4-5 hours to reach the park. Bwindi impenetrable national park can also be accessed via flights from kajjassi or Entebbe International airport to Kisoro airstrip.
About Mgahinga national park.
Mgahinga national park lies in south western park of Uganda in Kisoro district. The park is a home of endangered mountain gorillas called Nyakagezi and golden monkeys. Mgahinga national park also hosts various bird species which some are migrates and endemic including dusky turtle dove, cape robin chat, brown crowned tchagra, strange weaver, cinnamon bracken warbler, cinnamon chested bee eater and many more.
Mgahinga lies in Virunga conservation area with volcano and Virunga national park. while at the park, visitors may spot more primates like red tailed monkey. The park can be accessed via Rwanda and Uganda although via Uganda the journeys takes about 9-10 hours. Although it looks long distance, it worthy t due to spotting beautiful sceneries along the way like Equator, kabala landscapes, lake mburo national park and many more.
About volcano national park.
Volcano national park is located in Rwanda in northwestern bordering Bwindi impenetrable national park in Uganda. The park was first gazetted in 1925, as a small area bounded by Karisimbi, Bisoke and Mikeno, intended to protect the gorillas from poachers. The park is a home of endangered mountain gorillas and various bird species. The park later became the base for the American naturalist Dian Fossey to carry out her research on the gorillas.
The park can be accessed in Rwanda and Uganda although via Uganda, the journey seems to be long but worthy it due to beautiful sceneries spotted along the way like lake Mburo national park, Equator, landscapes, and many more.
About Virunga national park.
Virunga national park is located on the eastern edge of the Congo Basin, the world’s second-largest tropical rain forest, Virunga has become known as the park of fire and ice for its diverse habitats ranging from the Rwenzori peaks to savanna and volcanic plains. The park is a UNESCO world heritage site and Africa’s most biodiverse protected area, home to over one thousand species of mammal, bird, reptile, and amphibian as well as 1/3 of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas.
Virunga national park is constantly threatened by war, poaching and illegal activities as well as unpreventable natural disasters which have affected tourism industry in Congo.
What are rules and regulations of gorilla trekking?
- Before Gorilla trekking, visitors will first gather for briefing where rules and regulations by rangers.
- Visitors must sanitize themselves before trekking and must wear musks.
- Visitors must be above 15 years of age to trek gorillas.
- Gorilla trekking visitors are given one hour to be with gorillas
- Visitors who are ill are not allowed to trek gorillas to protect them from diseases.
- Visitors are advised to keep 7meter distance while they are with gorillas.
- Visitors are given one hour visit while they are with gorillas unlike gorilla habituation visitors who are given four hours visit.
- Visitors are advised not to throw trash into the forest which may be harmful to gorillas.
- Cameras are allowed without flash lights.
What to pack for gorilla trekking?
- Cameras
- Binoculars
- Comfortable hiking boots.
- Long trousers, long t-shirts, long stocking.
- Rain coat
- Water &snacks.
- Hiking sticks.
How much is a gorilla permit in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo?
In Uganda, gorilla permits are issued by Uganda wildlife Authority and they are charged differently. Gorilla permits for foreign residents cost $700, foreign non -residents cost $800, rest in Africa cost $500, and East Africans pay UGX 300,000. However, gorilla habituation visitors always $1500.
While in Rwanda, both East African and foreigner’s gorilla permits are the same costing $1500 per person. Gorilla permits in Rwanda are issued out by Rwanda Development Board.
By Congo, foreign non- residents pay $400 per person per trek during peak season and $200 per person per trek during low season.
What is the best time to visit gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo?
Although the national parks with gorillas can be visited annually, there is always the best time to trek them. Despite the fact that that Uganda, Rwanda and Congo lie in East Africa and these face two seasons that is either dry season or wet season. Dry season is highly visited and described as the best season in tourism industry in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. Dry season months include June to August and December to February.
Dry season is always busy because during gorilla trekking, visitors find trails dry and safe to trek in as they search for endangered mountain gorillas.
However, in wet season, visitors may also trek gorillas in Bwindi, mgahinga, Virunga and volcanoes national park, but with slippery and muddy trails. Wet season months include March to May and September to November.
