Mountain Gorillas are a unique and special attractions you should not miss to visit while in Africa on your wildlife safari or adventure tour, these primate species are rare in that are not found in all parts of Africa but found in some parts of East and Central Africa. These shy endangered mountain gorillas are mostly found in the Central and Eastern part of the African Continent in the three countries named Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo with Uganda hosting almost half of the world’s gorilla population in its two major parks namely Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Forest National Park and then the rest in Volcanoes and Virunga National Parks respectively.
Uganda in the eastern part of the African Continent its bordering Kenya in the East, Democratic Republic of Congo in the West, South Sudan in the North, Rwanda and Tanzania in the South, Rwanda also in the Eastern part of the African Continent is ordering Uganda in the North, Democratic Republic of Congo in the West, Burundi in the South and Tanzania in the East, Democratic Republic of Congo in the Central part of the African Continent is bordering South Sudan in the North, Congo Brazzaville in the West, Zambia in the South, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania in the East. Therefore, one can experience a combined amazing gorilla trekking safari in Africa in the above mentioned countries and their respective safari parks.
Since mountain gorillas are found in the three countries named Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo you can easily find them in these gazetted and protected areas where they are habited as listed below: –
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Uganda
This is one of the major gorilla hosting destinations in Africa and rated to be with the highest population of mountain gorillas among the all destinations, it’s located in the Western part of Uganda covering some parts of Kisoro and Kanungu; it’s characterized with strong and thick impenetrable forest which comprises of big tree species, shrubs and green vegetation. It’s about 8 – 9 hours’ drive from Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. This park is commonly known for the shy endangered mountain gorillas in the mist and the Batwa people; it has over Eighteen gorilla families seventeen for gorilla trekking which is 01 hour experience and one family for gorilla habituation experience & research which is 4 hours experience, these gorilla families are grouped into four sectors named Ruhija, Rushaga, Buhoma and Nkuringo sector with each sector having more than two gorilla families apart from Nkuringo sector which has only one gorilla family for gorilla trekking.
Most of the international travelers planning their Uganda tours with local tour operators or private trips start or end with the visit to the Bwindi Forest National Park for the mountain gorilla safaris and then add on wildlife, cultural and holiday excursions in Uganda.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda
This is the second gorilla hosting destination in Uganda if not Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park; it is also located in the western part of Uganda near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and it is inclusive of the Virunga Masiff with Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda and Virunga National Park of Democratic Republic of Congo. It’s characterized with both rain forest and Bamboo forest where Golden Monkeys are residents; it’s about 8 – 9 hours’ drive from Kampala to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This park is also much accessible to tourists from either Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo for more gorilla trekking experience or the mount Sabyinyo hiking and the endangered golden monkey tracking. The Uganda gorilla permits cost $ 600 USD per person and the gorilla habituation experience costs $ 1500 USD per person throughout the year.
This park also in additional to the gorilla tourism offers the Batwa trail and this is full day experience at $ 80 USD per person and it explores you into the lifestyle of the Batwa from history to the current life. These were forest dwellers and they used to fight for the jungle with the mountain gorillas and later the conservationists had to bring these people from the forest to create enough space for the apes and today they live near the parks and some of the gorilla permit fees is allocated to their projects as away of awareness to protect the great apes.
This Park is rated to be having the least gorilla population with only one gorilla family for trekking named “Nyakagezi gorilla family” and since there are bordering each other with Volcanoes and Virunga National Park research put it that these three destinations are sharing same gorilla species and the vegetation is so light and it is spotted to be good destination for those interested in light gorilla photography experiences in Africa.
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
This is Rwanda’s most popular destination you should not miss to visit while on your lifetime Rwanda Safari, it’s located in the North western part of Rwanda bordering Virunga National Park of Democratic Republic of Congo. It’s commonly known for the shy endangered mountain gorillas with over twelve gorilla families for gorilla trekking experience like Susa, Amahoro, Umubano, Sabyinyo, Kwitonda and more and the gorilla permit in Rwanda costs $ 1500 USD per person and then in low season (November – May) every year while visiting 2 or 3 parks of Rwanda a permit cost $ 1050 USD per person and another option is when you attend a conference and seminars you can get a permit at $ 1275 USD per person. Volcanoes National Park is characterized with both Rain forest and the Bamboo forest where the golden monkeys are residents.
For Shy endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda they are only found in this Volcanoes National Park, it’s about 2-3 hours’ drive from Kigali city to the great Volcanoes National Park. Apart from gorillas it’s also known for awarding an amazing golden monkey tracking experience which is mostly found in the Bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park. More so for adventurous tourists you can hike the Mount Karisimbi and Bisoke, Dian Fossey Digit and on these hikes, you can experience the work of Dian Fossey at the Karisoke Research Center.
Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo
This is rated to be the oldest park in Africa and was gazetted in 1925 to provide protection to the remaining shy endangered mountain gorillas in Democratic Republic of Congo, it was formerly called Albert National Park and it is currently managed by a Belgian company. It’s located in the Eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo bordering Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda and it’s characterized with thick rain forest and this park is currently commonly known for the shy endangered mountain gorillas in the Virunga massif, Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage Center at Rumangabo sector and the active mount Nyiragongo Volcano that attracts a lot of tourist for hiking starting from the Kibati patrol.
Inconclusion, whoever looking for an amazing gorilla trekking safari in Africa check out with us for your premium local tour operator majoring in arranging all modes of safaris in Africa to different gorilla hosting destinations in East and Central Africa.
For more information visit: www.ugandantour.com
