Top gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda – Gorilla trekking – Gorilla Habituation.
Top gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda. Uganda is the most opted-for destination for gorilla trekking in the whole world. This is so because the country is home to more than half of the remaining population of these gentle giants worldwide.
In Uganda, mountain gorillas can be trekked from only two destinations and that’s in Bwindi impenetrable forest and Mgahinga gorilla national game parks.
Bwindi impenetrable forest national game park
Bwindi impenetrable forest national game park lies the in southwestern Uganda 0n the edges of the great East African rift valley. Its mist-covered hillside is blanketed by one of Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rain forests dating 25000 years. Bwindi is famously known as a safe home to more than half of the remaining population of mountain gorillas.
The park has over 19 habituated gorilla families and these are found in two famous sectors, and that’s the southern and the northern sector. The southern sector is known mostly for three gorilla families that’s Nshogi group, the Mishaya group, and the Nkuringo group. The northern sector is known as the Oruzongo group, Habinyanja group, and Rushera group.
Top gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda
Mgahinga national park.
At just 33.7 km2, Mgahinga National Park is Uganda’s smallest national park. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in the southwestern corner of Uganda. The Park covers the northern slopes of the three northernmost Virunga Volcanoes: Mt. Muhavura (4,127 m), Mt. Gahinga (3,474 m), and Mt. Sabinyo (3,645 m). The Park is about 10 km south of Kisoro and is bordered to the south by the Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda and to the west by the Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The park is part of the larger Virunga Conservation area that spreads over the three countries. Each of these countries protects its portion of the Virungas, in the Parc National des Volcans and Parc National des Virunga respectively. The three parks together form the 434-sq. km. ‘Virunga Conservation Area’ or VCA. Mgahinga is 33.7 sq. km, just 8% of the VCA. The entire Park is in Bufumbira County of Kisoro District.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is 33.7 sq. km and consists of the partly forested slopes of three extinct volcanoes. From far away, the huge cones of the Virunga volcanoes dominate the landscape and beckon you as you approach. When you reach the park, you can get a great overview of the area by walking up the viewpoint, just 15 minutes from Ntebeko Gate.
Mgahinga Park has great biological importance because, throughout the climatic changes of the Pleistocene ice ages, mountains such as these provided a refuge for mountain plants and animals, which moved up or down the slopes as the climate became warmer or cooler. The Virungas are home to a large variety of wildlife, including about half the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas. Read More
There is only one habituated gorilla group within Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Top gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda
Nyakagezi Gorilla Family
This gorilla family is the only fully habituated gorilla group in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park that offers visitors a great opportunity to track the rare mountain gorillas in the wild. This gorilla group is found in South-Western Uganda, just on the renowned slopes of the three Virunga Volcanoes including the Muhabura, Sabyinyo, and Gahinga. This fascinating group is the only habituated gorilla family popularly known for gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The group is comprised of 9 members including 4 silverbacks, 2 adult females, 1 juvenile, and 2 infants.
Both Bwindi and Mgahinga are extremely safe for the gorilla trekking adventure.
However, it should be noted that no visitor is allowed to go gorilla trekking in both destinations without a gorilla trekking permit. gorilla trekking permits should be booked early three to four months or even a year or two years before the adventure happens. They can be booked by a client directly from Uganda’s wild authority but we always advise booking it with a trusted tour company like us for easy preparations and a more swift safari. can be directly booked from the Uganda wildlife authority
Contact us by mail, direct phone call, or by a what’s up with any inquiries about organizing a gorilla trekking safari to Uganda.
