Gorilla tours aim at introducing travelers to Mountain Gorillas. In Uganda, Mountain Gorillas are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (MGNP). Both parks are found in south western Uganda (7-8hrs drive from Entebbe International Airport in Uganda or 3-4hrs drive from Kigali International Airport in Rwanda. Travelers on tight schedule can fly to Kigali Airport and trek Gorillas in any of the parks. Alternatively, you can fly to Entebbe Airport in Uganda and then fly to Kihihi Air strip (Trek Gorillas in Muhoma sector) or fly to Kisoro Air strip to trek Gorillas in Rushaga sector, Nkuringo or Ruhija sector.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!About Uganda Gorilla parks:
There are two Gorilla parks in Uganda namely; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, all situated in south western Uganda. BINP was gazette as a national park in 1991 and declared a UNESCO Natural world Heritage site in 1994. BINP protects the largest number of mountain Gorillas in the entire world (all most half of the total number of Mountain Gorillas) with over fifteen habituated Gorilla families. Four tracking sectors include Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo sector which widens the travelers choice of deciding where to trek Gorillas from.
On the other hand, Mgahinga is situated in the Virunga crescent, together with Volcanoes National Park i Rwanda and Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Only one Gorilla family is recorded in the park (Nyakagezi Gorilla group) which is never stable (sometimes cross the boarder) to Rwanda or DRC. In 2019, Nyakagezi received a visitor Gorilla group known as Hirwa from Rwanda and still in Uganda. We shall update you about the gorilla group fate in case of any changes. Mgahinga National Park covers 33.7 square Kilometers making it the smallest National Park in Uganda.
How Gorilla Trekking is conducted in Uganda
For more information, Gorilla trekking is the top tourist activity in Uganda and earn the country more foreign exchange than any other activities. Its evidenced by the highest amount of money paid per Gorilla permit (US$700). Uganda Gorilla trekking begins early morning with briefing which is conducted by Game rangers at the park headquarters. The 30 minutes briefing equip trekkers with the Dos and Don’ts in the course of Gorilla trekking. During briefing, trekkers are grouped into eight per Gorilla family under the guidance of ranger guides, one must be armed for security reasons.
Each group is therefore set free to visit a particular gorilla family basing on their physical fitness, age and health status among others. In the process, the rangers go on teaching trekkers about others attractions found on the way, he historical back ground of different areas, the physical formation and so on. Such education enables tourists widen their knowledge and above all making the exercise more enjoyable and memorable.
On meeting Gorillas, 7 meters distance should be maintained to prevent the spread of infectious diseases from human to the primates and the reverse is true. No flash cameras, Low voices, cleanliness among others should also be empathized. Meet all the guidelines set by rangers, take photos and stay amidst Gorillas for the maximum of one hour and there after return to the park headquarters for the award of certificate of Gorilla trekking exercise.