Mgahinga gorilla trekking and Bwindi gorilla trekking

Mgahinga gorilla trekking and Bwindi gorilla trekking  : Uganda’s only locations that are home to the critically endangered mountain gorillas are Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park. Both of these national parks are located in the southwest of Uganda, encompassing the districts of Kisoro, Rubanda, and Kanungu. While Bwindi national park is prevalent for its beautiful dense forests that are almost impenetrable, Mgahinga on the other hand is the smallest national park in the country but remains one of the most visited and preferred destinations for many visitors.

Nearly half of the mountain gorillas that remain in the world are protected in Bwindi National Park alone. It should be mentioned that Uganda is one of the fortunate three nations that is home to the endangered mountain gorilla species.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda are the other two nations that are home to the last remaining mountain gorillas.

Gorilla trekking safaris to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park are also very popular in Africa. As the largest home to the critically endangered mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has been successful in its efforts despite drawing a comparatively high number of visitors.

Gorilla trekking safari experiences have consequently made Bwindi Impenetrable National Park famous throughout the world. Visitors from all over the world, both domestic and foreign, travel to spend some of their valuable time with these species of primates that resemble humans. A safari to Bwindi National Park is unquestionably worthwhile, and it’s an experience of a lifetime that will change you forever. After being established as a national park in 1991, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was subsequently designated as a sanctuary for the last remaining mountain gorilla species.

Comparing Gorilla Trekking In both Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks.

Even though Bwindi National Park brings in a lot of money and has helped the nation’s tourism industry, the pygmies and early Batwa residents who first lived in harmony with the mountain gorillas in Bwindi’s wilderness are severely impacted by the development because a large portion of their homes and land was designated as a national park and is home to the endangered mountain gorilla species, which resembles humans. Because of its rich ecosystem and profusion of vegetation next to the large, impenetrable swamp in the southern region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Bwindi is home to numerous amazing bird species.

Conversely, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to only one habituated gorilla family, the “Nyakagezi family group.”

One of Uganda’s oldest national parks, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, is another reason for pride. Although the park is home to nearly 600 of the 1063 gorillas that remain, there are roughly four areas in Bwindi’s impenetrable forest that are suitable for gorilla trekking safari. These areas are Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo, and they are dispersed throughout the park.

The Buhoma gorilla sector is located in the north, Rushaga gorilla sector is in the southeast of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Ruhija is in the eastern portion, and Nkuringo is in the southern part. These are the four areas in Bwindi where tourists can go gorilla trekking and spend a meaningful hour with the critically endangered mountain gorillas.

The Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most visited and well-liked gorilla sector, and it also happens to be the location of the park’s headquarters. Situated in the southern region of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Buhoma is easily accessible, being just two hours’ drive from the Ishasha sector, which is home to lions that climb trees. It is also one of the most accessible gorilla sectors.

The Rushegura gorilla family, the Muyambi gorilla family, the Habinyanja gorilla family, the Katwe gorilla family, and the oldest of the five, the Mubare gorilla family, are the five habituated gorilla families in the Buhoma gorilla sector.

Twelve gorillas made up the Mubare Gorilla Family at first, led by the enormous Ruhondeza, a male silverback who served as the family’s protector and who passed away from advanced age and failing health. After Ruhondeza’s death, Kanyonyi took over, but she too eventually became weak and Malaya took control. He is the male silverback and current leader of the nine gorillas that are still alive.

Another family that broke away from Habinyanja is the Rushegura, which is currently led by Mwirima, a massive, fierce silverback who battled for the throne but lost, so he chose to split from the people who supported him. The Rushegura family currently consists of seven gorilla members.

Even though the Habinyanja gorilla family was once quite large roughly 25 gorillas total before splitting with Rushegura, there are currently only 12 gorillas remaining in the family.

Depending on where the tracked gorilla group is, gorilla trekking in Buhoma gorilla sector can take anywhere from one to seven hours.

All gorilla trekking excursions in both Mgahinga and Bwindi national parks start at 8:00 am after briefing and breakfast. Every trekker is divided into eight groups. Every group is tasked with tracking and locating a single gorilla family. Visitors can spend an entire hour in close proximity to these critically endangered mountain gorillas once the tracked group has been located.

The cost of gorilla trekking permits in Bwindi and Mgahinga is the same, and the experiences are identical except for minor variations such as the quantity of mountain gorillas.

In both national parks, gorilla trekking permits cost 800 USD for non-resident foreigners, 700 USD for residents of foreign countries, and UGX 300,000 per person.