Uganda the pearl of Africa is an amazing country with various attractions which include rivers and lakes, cultures, climate, wildlife, mountains and many more. Bwindi impenetrable national park and Maghinga national park are highly visited due to endangered mountain gorillas which are about 539 gorillas. However in the whole world, mountain gorillas can also be spotted in volcano national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in Democratic Republic of Congo adding up the population census of about 1067 gorillas. Uganda gorillas are highlight attractions whose gorilla permits cost 250000UGX per East African, $700 per foreign non resident and $500 per foreign resident. However, starting with July 2024, Ugandan permits will increase to 300,000 UGX per East African, $500 for rest of Africa visitors, $1000 for gorilla habituation for rest in Africa, $800 for foreign non resident and $1500 for gorilla habituation of foreign non resident.
About Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Bwindi park is located in south western part of Uganda neighboring Rwanda and Congo. The park is a UNESCO site Heritage which is managed and protected by Uganda Wildlife Authority. The park is a home of about 459 mountain gorillas with 24 gorilla families however hides other primates like Olive baboons, Black and white colobus monkeys, Chimpanzees, L’Hoests monkeys, Demidoff’s Galago, blue monkeys, Spectacled Galago, the red-tailed monkeys, baboons and a home of various bird species.
Bwindi impenetrable national park inhabits gorillas’ families in four sectors which Rushaga, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Buhoma. In every sector, UWA allows only 8 individual per day for gorilla trekking and only 4 individuals for gorilla habituation. However, visitors are first briefed and are advised to pack comfortable hiking boots, cameras, binoculars, insect repellent, rain coat, water & snacks, long trousers, long t-shirts, long stockings and many more.
The park is a tropical forest with an amazing view of Virunga mountains and a biding paradise for birders over 350 bird species. Some these birds are endemic and others are migrating include African green pigeon, African harrier hawk, chested bee-eater, Crowned horn-bill, Giant kingfisher
How to access the park?
The park can be accessed by either road or air transport. By road transport, visitors may use Kampala -Mbarara- Kabale route which takes about 9 hours to reach the park using private or public vehicles. Although the journey seems to be long, it is worthy it because beautiful sceneries are spotted like lake Mburo national park, landscapes of kabale, mountains, and many more. However, visitors may enter Bwindi park using Rwanda which are neighbors which takes about 4 hours drive from Kigali capital city of Rwanda.
By air transport, visitors may fly from kajjasi or Entebbe International airport to Kisoro airstrip or kihihi airstrip which will take about 1 hour where a visitor will be picked will have about to 2 hours drive to the park.
What to pack for gorilla trekking?
- Cameras
- Binoculars
- Water & snacks.
- Insect repellent
- Rain coat
- Long trousers, long t-shirt, long stocking.
- Comfortable hiking boots.
About Mgahinga national park.
Mgahinga national park lies in south western part of Uganda neighboring volcano national park and Virunga national park. The park is about 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) by road south of the town of Kisoro and approximately 55 kilometers (34 mi) by road west of Kabale, the largest city in the sub-region.
The park is located in Virunga conservation area with virunga and volcano national park. The park is a home of mountain gorillas which is Nyakagezi gorilla family making the total of 25 gorilla families in Uganda. Despite the fact the park is known for gorillas, it is also the tropical forest for golden monkeys and various bird species.
How to access the park?
Mgahinga gorilla national park can also be accessed by air transport means whereby tourists will book domestic scheduled or charter flights with Aero link Uganda limited from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips and then drive to the park headquarters.
However, by road transport, visitors may Kampala-Mbarara-Kabale route or Kampala-Mbarara- Rukungiri -Kihihi route which takes about 9 hours to reach the park using either public or private vehicles. Although it seems to be a long distance, visitors will enjoy it due to beautiful sceneries like mountains, lakes, rivers, Lake Mburo national park, landscapes and many more. Besides using these long routes, visitors may enter Uganda using Rwanda to Mgahinga which takes about 6 hour drive.
What are the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation?
Gorilla trekking.
- Visitors are first briefed at UWA center by rangers on what they are expected to behave while they are with gorillas.
- Visitors are briefed to pack comfortable boots, rain coat, insect repellent, water &snacks, cameras, binoculars, and many more.
- During the briefing, visitors are warned to stay together as a group to avoid getting lost in the tropical forest of Bwindi and Mgahinga.
- Visitors are limited to 8 individuals per day every gorilla family.
- Children under 15 years of age are not allowed to trek mountain Gorillas
- Visitors are advised not to trash wastes in the forest which may affect the health of mountain gorillas.
- While visitors are with gorillas, they are advised to keep 7meter distance to avoid being affected from human diseases like cough, Ebola, Covid-19, flue and many more.
- Cameras with flash lights are not allowed while with gorillas which may terrify them.
Gorilla habituation
- Visitors for gorilla habituation are given four hours to be with gorillas however advised not be so close to them since they were once wild.
- Visitors of gorilla habituation are limited to 4 individual per gorilla family.
