Gorilla trekking is an amazing unique experience done in Bwindi Impenetrable national park and mgahinga national park in Uganda. Both Bwindi and maghinga inhabits over 450 gorillas which is half of population census in the whole work. However, gorillas can also be spotted in volcano national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bwindi impenetrable national park is a home of about 400 gorillas and they are in four sectors which include Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringo and Rushaga where Mgahinga national park inhabits only one gorilla family which Nyakagezi.
Mountain gorillas are known to be close relatives of humans due to 98%DNA. Gorillas produce, protect and gorilla silverback heads the family.
How to access Bwindi and mgahinga?
Bwindi impenetrable national park and mgahinga national park can be accessed by either road transport or air transport. By road transport, visitors may be use private, public vehicles or buses to reach Bwindi and mgahinga national park. Visitors may use Masaka -Mbarara route or may use Kigali katuna boarders to reach the park. From Masaka and Mbarara route takes about 9 hours drive which seems to a long journey but its worthy it due to beautiful sceneries spotted along the way like Equator, Lake Mburo national park, Landscape of Swizz of Africa, Lake Bunyonyi, tropical forest of Bwindi and many more. Or visitors may use Kigali katuna boaders which will take about 4-5 hours to reach the park as you explore the thousand hills beauty in Rwanda.
What are rules and regulations of gorilla trekking?
- Children above 15 years of age are allowed to do gorilla trekking.
- Illed visitors with diseases like cough, flue, covid-19 and many more are not allowed to trek gorillas since they can easily be affected by diseases.
- Visitors for gorilla trekking are limited to 8 individuals per gorilla family.
- Visitors must wash hands and sanitize before gorilla trekking.
- Before gorilla trekking, visitors must do briefing where they are briefed to avoid throwing wastes in the forest which may affect gorillas health.
- Visitors are given 7m distance while they are with gorillas in their habitats.
- While in the jungle searching for gorillas, visitors are briefed to keep together with rangers and guides for safety and not to get lost in the forest.
What to pack?
- Cameras
- Rain coat.
- Comfortable hiking boots.
- Long trousers,
- long t-shirts.
- Gloves
- Bags
- Water &snacks.
- Hiking sticks
Where to stay while in Bwindi Park
Are you planning a Uganda gorilla safari and you’re worried where to spend a night? Worry not because Bwindi and mgahinga national park have the best lodges which some are luxurious, mid-range and budget.
some lodges are located at the edge of park whereas other lodges are positions at the heart of the parks. Most lodges offer panoramic view of the tropical forest, Mt Rwenzori ranges and Virunga ranges. some lodges accommodate families, singles, double, twin rooms which are self -contained with flushing toilets, showers with hot and cold water, slippers, towels and many more. The lodge is well facilitated with restaurant where meals are served to visitors, well stocked bar with both alcoholic and non- alcoholic drinks, and free wifi where visitors are free to chat with friends and families. However, some lodges offer camping with all camping equipment’s and some lodges are not self -contained offering public toilets, showers and many more.
- Ichumbi safari lodge
- 4 Gorillas lodge
- Clouds mountain safari lodge.
- Bakiga lodge
- Rushaga safari camp.
What are the activities to do in Bwindi and mhahinga besides gorilla tracking?
Golden monkey tracking.
While on a Uganda safari, visitors are advised not to miss out gold meeting silver in mgahinga national park. Golden monkey tracking is a unique activity that is only done in mgahinga park in Uganda. Visitors tracking golden monkey are advised to pack cameras, rain coat, water &snacks, comfortable hiking boots, long trousers, long t-shirts, hiking sticks and many more however they are briefed first before tracking. Mgahinga national park is also a home of Nyakagezi gorilla family, various bird species like kingfishers, white egrets, owl, great blue turacos, long horned billed bird and many more. Golden monkey is a primate where visitors are given one hour visit and allows children above 15 years above to track. During the search, visitors are able to spot other primates like black and white monkeys, vervet monkeys, baboons, and many more
Birding.
Despite the fact that Mgahinga and Bwindi park are tropical forests, it makes the park the best safari destination for bird lovers as birding paradise. Birding can be done morning hours and evening hours as addition activity however visitors can do birding full day. Bird lovers are expected to pack cameras, binoculars, long trouser, long t-shirt, rain coat, comfortable hiking boots, hiking sticks and water &snacks. Before birding, bird lovers are first briefed about dos and donts of birding in the forest. After they will be led guides who are experts in birding. While in the forest you will spot various birds which include long horned billed bird, great blue turacos, white egrets, kingfishers, owl, spurfowl, and many more.
Nature walk.
Nature walks in Bwindi and mgahinga is always done as an additional activity after birding or gorilla tracking. Nature walk involves footing and visitors are encouraged to be physically fit. During the activity, visitors are led by guides who said to be local people and knows the best for visitors. They will lead them to local communities to visit local markets, to be entertained with traditional dances, to visit iron smelting, taking them to elders for storytelling, visiting local women associations to teach them how to cook local meals, collecting firewood and many more.
While on Uganda gorilla safari, visitors are advised to explore wildlife in savannah national parks like queen Elizabeth national park, kidepo valley national park, Murchison falls national park, Lake Mburo national park and many more.
