GORILLA TREKKING IN BWINDI NP VERSUS MGAHINGA GORILLA NP

GORILLA TREKKING IN BWINDI NP VERSUS MGAHINGA GORILLA NP

Uganda is one of the three countries in Africa that are blessed to be with the endangered mountain gorillas. It is of common knowledge that gorilla trekking in Africa is only done in Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo. They are the only countries where travelers get opportunities of having real up close encounters with the great apes in their natural environments.

Apparently, gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in two national parks of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga national park, both located in southwestern Uganda and part of the Virunga ranges shared  by three countries.

Uganda has more than 500 mountain gorillas calling her two national parks homes, which is almost three quarters of the total remaining population of gorillas in the world. This is probably the reason why gorilla trekking is the prime tourism activity in Uganda. Travelers barely leave the country without trekking the gentle giants in the impenetrable forests.

Before visitors decide to book their gorilla safaris in Uganda, they need to convince themselves that they are choosing the best destination for gorilla trekking in Uganda. For this reason, we compare gorilla trekking in Bwindi and that in Mgahinga national park. And note that all these parks furnish awesome trekking experiences, but basing on the needs and expectations of the travelers, comparison maybe vital.

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is a UNESCO world heritage center situated in southwestern Uganda in Kisoro, Kanungu and Kabale districts. More than 400 mountain gorillas call it a home and this is the park’s flagship. Almost half of the world’s total population of mountain gorillas dwell here, putting Bwindi on the travel map of the world.

Mgahinga national park is also located in southwestern Uganda, though at the extreme corner of the country in Kisoro district. The park is positioned on the Virunga ranges shared by three countries of Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo. In contrast to Bwindi, Mgahinga has very few mountain gorilla hiding it its tropical forests.

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has 14 habituated gorilla families compared to the one group in Mgahinga national park. Trekkers in Mgahinga are only exposed to only Nyakagezi gorilla family, but in Bwindi, trekkers have a variety of families to trek in one of the four gorilla regions. In Buhoma region located in the north of the park, travelers can trek the Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura and Katwe gorilla family which is the most recent habituated troop. From the eastern side in Ruhija, one can visit the Kyaguriro, Oruzongo or Bitukura families. And travelers that opt for the southern region are sure of trekking in either in Nkuringo or Rushaga sectors for numerous gorilla families that reside there.

Both Mgahinga and Bwindi are accessed by road using the same route going through Mbarara, Kabale and Kisoro. They can also be accessed by air and flights don’t take more than two hours from Entebbe international airport to Kisoro using Aero link.

About the accommodation, Bwindi impenetrable forest national has lodges spread all around the forest ranging from budget, midrange to luxury that give trekkers chances to decide accordingly. But in Mgahinga national park, there are limited options to choose from, the only upmarket lodge here is Gahinga lodge and the rest are located in Kisoro town.

For Bwindi’s closer proximity to other national parks also makes it the most appropriate destination for trekking the gorillas in Uganda as it can easily combine with other park activities for memorable experiences. It is just a two hour drive from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth national park, so a traveler heading to Bwindi can easily do a gorilla and wildlife safari in Uganda. 

Queen Elizabeth national park is the second largest national park and with the highest number of wildlife species in Uganda. It is famously known for its beautiful landscapes filled with craters rolled in the soaring hills in western Uganda. One thing that visitors never miss out while in this park is a boat ride on Kazinga channel joining Lake Edward and Lake George, it is probably the longest channel in the world. Also lion tracking is rampant here as the park is the only place with tree climbing lions, a species that is most sought by almost all visitors in Uganda in her Ishasha sector.

Indeed, if it’s an African gorilla safari, and it’s not in Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, then it’s not worth it. Don’t be cheated on any gorilla tour that doesn’t allow you trek the gorillas of Bwindi impenetrable national park.