Gorilla Trekking Uganda from Kigali
Gorilla Trekking Uganda from Kigali is one of the top-selling Uganda Safari packages whereby travelers trek Gorillas in Uganda arriving from Kigali. Gorilla trekking is one of the famous activities that can be carried out in the Virunga Mountains that is Uganda, Rwanda and Congo in Volcanoes national park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga national park and in Virunga national park.
Gorilla Trekking destinations in Uganda
Uganda is the hub of gorilla trekking in Africa where the activity can be carried out with a lot of ease and in a secure environment. The government of Uganda has promoted tourism in the country by promoting a safe environment where the activity can be carried out without any inconvenience this has attracted a number of tourists in order to carry out the famous activity all over the globe.
If you’re a tourist interested in gorilla trekking in Uganda, then you are on the right track, Uganda will offer an amazing experience with added values/ experiences to make your gorilla trekking safari in Uganda memorable. In Uganda there are two national parks where gorilla trekking can be carried out and these include the following;
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi impenetrable national park will give you the utmost experience once you visit it for the ultimate gorilla experience in Uganda. There are 19 gorilla families that a tourist can visit at any time of the day. The park is a home to over 1000 animal species, 250 bird and butterfly species that you will get to see while you trek through the forest to visit the gorilla families in the like habinyanja gorilla family, Mubare, Kyaguliro, Bitukura, Mukiza, Bukarara gorilla group among other gorilla families. These gorilla families can be found in different sectors including Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Ruhija.
Mgahinga national park
Mgahinga gorilla national park is one of the national parks that houses one of the eight virunga mountain that is mount sabyinyo other virunga mountains include Mount Gahinga, Mount Nyiragongo, Mount Mikeno, Mount karisimbi, mount Bisoke, Mount Muhabura, and Mount Nyamuragira. That can be seen while you visit volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in Congo.
Mgahinga national park has one habituated known as the Nyakagezi and the newly migrated Hirwa group from Rwanda where you will have chance to see while you hike up mountain sabyinyo where you will find the group in the bamboo trees of the mountain
Why carry out gorilla trekking in Uganda
It is cheaper when it comes to comparing gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, a tourist should choose Uganda because of the prices of the gorilla permits in both countries. The Rwanda gorilla permit costs 1500USD which is quite a large amount compared to the Uganda gorilla which is currently at 600 USD but come July 1st 2019 will be 700 USD which will still be cheaper than that of Rwanda and also you will have a chance to see a variety of attractions as compared to those in Rwanda.
It is not as exhausting as it is in Rwanda, gorilla trekking in Rwanda will involve you hiking the different mountains in volcanoes national park which is not the case in Uganda where you can only trek through the forest of Bwindi, and if you choose to trek in Bwindi, you will only hike Mount Sabyinyo. Therefore if you’re looking for an area to carry out gorilla trekking without much exhaustion where it won’t involve hiking the high elevations of the mountain, then Bwindi impenetrable national park is the park to be.
Uganda has a number of habituated groups which are 19 in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and also the Nyakagezi group in Mgahinga gorilla national park which is many compared to those in Rwanda. If you are looking to having high chances of trekking gorillas in their wild then Uganda is the gorilla destination to choose because it always has a number of permits daily as compared to Rwanda.
The Gorilla habituation process can only be carried out in Uganda in Bwindi impenetrable national Park therefore if you want to take part in the process of getting the gorillas used to human presence then Bwindi impenetrable is the park to visit in order to participate in the interesting experience which to some tourists find better than gorilla trekking because you will have a chance to spend more time with the gorillas as compared to the gorilla trekking process. The gorilla habituation process is carried out in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park.
You can track in two parks while in Uganda, if you are interested in double-tracking, Uganda is the gorilla destination you can visit in order to participate in the double-tracking adventure and here you will be able to do it in different destinations that is mgahinga gorilla national park and Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Other added benefits while trekking in Uganda for instance if you carry out gorilla trekking in Uganda, you will be able to visit the Batwa, while on your Batwa trail where you will be able to understand the culture of the Batwa people who are also known as the forest people that spend most of their time in the forests and mainly survive on forest products, for instance, they hunt small living creatures of the forest for food, they collect honey from the forest and other forest products.
Just close to the park you can visit Queen Elizabeth national park where you will be able to see a number of attractions including the tree climbing lions that will be seen in the ishasha sector of the park, in the park you can also carry out chimpanzee trekking in the kyambura gorge to have fun while in the park.
Another interesting aspect about your tour to Bwindi impenetrable national park, you will also have a chance to visit lake Bunyonyi the deepest lake in Uganda where you find interesting attractions including the different islands with their rich history for instance islands like akampena island also known as the punishment island where they used to punish young girls who got pregnant before getting married by abandoning them at the island where a number of girls lost their lives which a boat trip at the lake, you will see the different islands including also sharp’s islands and so many more.
The lake is also a home to a number of bird species that can also add on you experience while at the Lake and some of the bird species that can be seen include; flycatchers, sunbirds, Cardinal Woodpecker, and weavers, White tailed blue Monard, African Harrier Hawk, grey crowned cranes, Herons, egrets, the cardinal woodpecker, the levillant cuckoo, slender-billed baglafetch, weavers
Gorilla Trekking Uganda from Kigali
While carrying out gorilla trekking in Uganda from Kigali, you will arrive at Kigali international airport where you will be picked by a representative of your trusted tour company. From there you will be transferred to the national park where you will carry out your gorilla activity but it should be noted that the activity cannot be carried out where you will not carry out the activity on your day of arrival because the activity is carried out early morning, therefore, you will transfer to a lodge near the national park of your choice where you will carry out gorilla trekking and this can be in either Mgahinga national park or Bwindi Impenetrable National park.
In order to carry out gorilla trekking in the park, you should have a gorilla permit which can be obtained at the Uganda wildlife authority or through trusted tour operators or companies. After you have obtained your permit, you will then be ready to participate in the gorilla trekking experience. The gorilla trekking experience can take approximately 8 hours and you will then spend an hour with the gorillas trying to understand them and their habits while in the wild.
Advantages of Gorilla Trekking Uganda from Kigali
Driving from Kigali airport to the parks is near: While driving from Entebbe international airport Uganda’s national airport to mgahinga gorilla national park, it will take you over 8 hours which is quite exhausting as the 4 hours from Kigali international airport to mgahinga national park. From Entebbe international airport to Bwindi impenetrable national park the park is 9 hours away but when you compare accessing the park from Kigali international airport is only 4 hours, therefore, it is much easier to access.
Direct flights: While traveling to Uganda you will have a couple of stopovers at different international airports because the international airport does not have direct flights to the country therefore in order to avoid such inconveniences, you should travel to Kigali then carry out gorilla trekking in Kigali because Kigali has direct flights making it less stressing
While gorilla trekking in Uganda in Bwindi impenetrable national park, you will have a chance to pick from a variety of lodging options as compared to volcanoes national park. The different variety lodging options range from budget, mid-range to luxury options whereas volcanoes national park has only luxury accommodation options which will leave out midrange and budget travellers.
