Which Is A Better Gorilla Trekking Safari Destination Bwindi Or Mgahinga National Park

Of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park the better gorilla trekking destination depends on the purpose for taking this Uganda safari. Mgahinga National Park may have one gorilla family called Nyakagezi but has more authentic mountain gorilla encounters as they are less visited. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park offers gorilla habituation experience other than gorilla trekking. Contact us

Gorilla trekking is an adventure where maximum 8 tourists visit a fully habituated gorilla family to spend only one hour with them. In Uganda, Gorilla trekking happens in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park only with so far about 450 mountains living on Uganda of the about 1000 in the world

Not that both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park lie in the south western part of Uganda even though Mgahinga National Park is situated in the deeper south western Uganda.

Bwindi impenetrable National Park has about 19 gorilla trekking families with so far four gorilla habituation families and Mgahinga National Park has so far one gorilla family open to the public.

Mgahinga National Park hosts the endangered golden monkeys as special primate specie that is close to extinctions too. In Mgahinga National Park one can plan to do the golden monkey trekking or habituation experience. Bwindi National Park is the only home of the mountain gorillas that hosts wild chimpanzees although not habituated to public viewing.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has more options of accommodations to use during gorilla trekking where as Mgahinga National Park is limited with choice of where to spend the night of this Uganda safari.

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Mgahinga National Park also offers excursion hiking as the parks has three Virunga volcanoes that is Mountain Gahinga, Muhavura and Sabyinyo. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park topography compared to other counterparts is fairly lower.

From Bwindi Impenetrable National Park the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a game safari is shorter that is about 64 kilometers via Ishasha sector. The drive from Mgahinga National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park for a game drive is about 74 kilometers

Note that whether gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park, the moment of meeting the mountain gorillas is always exciting. Be assured of finding the mountain gorillas whether gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National or Mgahinga National Park.

Brief Details About Bwindi Impenetrable National Park And Mgahinga National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a pristine forest and home to almost half of the population of mountain gorillas in the world. Bwindi as a prehistoric forest is believed to be over 25000 years old and a survivor of the ice age period between 12000 and 18000 years ago.   

More than 10 primate species including mountain gorillas, over 200 tree species, 88 months, 315 butterfly species, over 350 bird species and others are recorded as part of Bwindi forest.

Bwindi forest is vast yet separated by features that are hard to drive or walk through to cross from one area to another so it was diving into four areas that is Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga. Even the gorilla permits for Bwindi Forest are reserved according to these four areas rather than the gorilla trekking families.

When booking accommodations to use on gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi forest, it is best to consider the area where your gorilla permit is booked. This is to avoid having to wake up early morning to catch up with briefing in another area as there are obstacles along the way.

Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park is part of the vast Virunga area but home to mountain gorillas too. The golden monkeys are part of the inhabitants of Mgahinga forest .Golden monkey trekking or golden monkey habituation experience are open to the public.

The environment of Mgahinga National Park is influenced by three Virunga volcanoes that is Mountain Gahinga, Muhavura and Sabyinyo.  Chances of taking a hike on either of these mountains are available but you must be in company f a ranger guide from Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Mgahinga forest may be the smallest Uganda National Park but is also home to other mammals and over 115 bird species. Since Mgahinga National Park has not been an unpopular gorilla trekking destination it has got the chance to rejuvenate so the park has untamed nature.

How Much Is The Cost Of Gorilla Trekking Permit For Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park

The cost of gorilla trekking permits for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park is the same. Currently the cost of Uganda gorilla trekking permit is $800 for international nonresidents, $700 for International residents, $500 for Other Africans and 300,000 shs for East Africans.

Inclusions in the cost of gorilla trekking permits for Uganda are parks entrance fees, ranger guide fees, one hour of gorilla trekking, mountain gorilla conservation and others.

Exclusions in the cost of gorilla permit for Uganda tips, accommodation costs, transport to the destination and others.

Which Is Easier Gorilla Trekking In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Or Mgahinga National Park

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park is quite steeper than that in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park because of the three mountains and other highlands situated in Mgahinga forest. The  mountain gorillas sometimes spend time on the slopes or deep in the valleys. To find these mountain gorillas, one may be required to hike.     

The vegetation of Mgahinga National Park is tangled because not so many tourists have been visiting the park for gorilla trekking so the vegetation is thicker and untampered with.

Having some level of fitness is necessary before travelling to do gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park in order to maneuver the changes of the topography of this area.

Which Gorilla Trekking Families Are Easier To Find In Mgahinga or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

To determine which gorilla families are easier to find whether in Mgahinga or Bwindi forest is quite hard. This is because the gorilla family that was close the previous day may be the furthest the next day. In order to enjoy the excitement of finding the mountain gorillas open your mind to seeing other forest inhabitants too instead of focusing on locating these primates only.

When you start the search for the mountain gorillas, tourists with the ranger guides follow the trail heading where these primates were last seen the previous day. The ranger guides also use the clues availed by the early trackers who wake up to trace where the mountain gorillas may have slept.

Ranger guides also ask the tourists to help with tracing the clues left behind by the mountain gorillas including hairs, footprints, freshly chewed foliage and others.

No matter which gorilla family you are allocated too, keep the focus on the trophy, which is finding the gorilla family. You can also look out for other forest inhabitants to widen your wildlife collection.

Are Mountain Gorillas Violent During Gorilla Trekking

No mountain gorillas are not violent primates by nature even though there physically appearance may miss communicate there characters as being aggressive. The mountain gorillas are serene, calm, shy primates but can also charge when provoked.

During the gorilla trekking safari, you may witness the charged mountain gorillas when you see them chest thumping, grumbling, hooting and much more. It is not all the time that you witness this odd behavior that the mountain gorillas are angry with you so wait for the ranger guide establish the cause.

Accept to follow the new directives from the ranger guide in order to calm the situation which may include pretending to chew foliage, show submission and others. At times it is not a fault from any of the tourists in the ground that the mountain gorillas are charging so it is best to be patient as running away may escalate the situation.

When Is The Return Time After Gorilla Trekking In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park And Mgahinga National Park

From gorilla trekking return time varies as some tourists may 2 hour or more. Finding the mountain gorillas depends on factors prevailing including weather conditions of the day, pace of fellow tourists and others. The mountain gorillas are mobile primates whose movement is not stopped by anything as long as they set there mid to it. For the mountain gorillas to move, food scarcity may prompt them to move when it is insufficient.

Pack some snacks to munch on while searching to find the mountain gorillas as these reenergize you to carry on.

How Sure Can I Be To Find The Mountain Gorillas During Gorilla Trekking

There are about 99 % chances of finding the mountain gorillas during gorilla trekking. The mountain gorillas are bulky primates that cannot move very fast and for a long distance so catching up with them is expected.

Each day a team of trackers wake up earlier than others to trace where the gorillas families may have spent the night. The trackers even estimate where the gorillas family may be heading to and these clues are used by ranger guides to trace them when with clients.

Mountain gorillas leave behind some clues which the ranger guides use to trace them including freshly chewed foliage, foot prints, listen to the noise from these primates and others.

Before opening the gorilla family to the public they are first habituated a process that helps them get accustomed to humans presence without altering there nature. The process of gorilla habituation creates helps the mountain gorillas to accept the presence of humans and remain in harmony. When tourists find the mountain gorillas they donot get to run away.

Is Fitness Necessary During Gorilla Trekking Safari

Bearing some level of fitness is vital for those hoping to take the gorilla trekking adventure because of the nature of the topography of the Virunga area. The severe volcanic actions that led to the formation of ridges and plateaus in this area influence movement in search for the mountain gorillas. Sometimes the mountain gorillas spend time in the deep valley or on the slopes of the highlands which necessitates having some level of fitness.

Donot go through vigorous exercises as you prepare for gorilla trekking but start with simple walks that stretch your muscles more than usual. Ask your fitness instructor for advice about the exercises to do in preparation for gorilla trekking.

Sedan chair service is available for those with physical challenges but you can do gorilla trekking too. This requires advance booking so that all necessary preparations may be made.

Why Do Gorilla Trekking In Bwindi Impenetrable Or Mgahinga National Park

Gorilla trekking is a dream come true adventure where a few tourists get the chance to spend one hour with a gorilla family. The mountain gorillas in Uganda are some of the few left in the world and only living in three countries that is Rwanda, Uganda and D.R.Congo. These endangered primates are very vulnerable and so much susceptible to human infections that is why the visitors are restricted. 

When you purchase the gorilla trekking permit, you contribute to the mountain gorilla conservation fund that supports the conservation of these primates. A portion of the money paid for the gorilla permits is given to the community to support their projects this is part of community sensitizations campaign.

The combo of gorilla trekking with other Uganda safari destinations including game safari destinations is possible when you do this adventure in Uganda. Crossing from one park to another may not require an extra day.

Why Choose Arch Safaris And Tours For The gorilla trekking safari In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park

Arch Safaris And Tours is a professional and credible safari company with safari consultants who have experience and knowledge about different safari destinations in Africa. We prioritize our clients’ needs and wants with the aim of creating everlasting African safari experiences

Our over 8 years experience in organizing African safaris has fetched us more knowledge about how to handle our clients’ safari quest and offer advise bases on reality about the destinations where we operate. Trust us with planning your Africa Safaris and receive value for money. You will not regret working with us to turn your dream safari into reality.