Uganda gorilla safaris are one the most popular Uganda safari activity that tourists do on their Uganda safari. Uganda gorilla trekking safaris are done in only two National Parks; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park Uganda.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a rich biodiverse, mountainous area situated in southwest Uganda. Covering an area of about 331 km², Bwindi forest National Park is home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Mgahinga National Park Uganda, located in Kisoro District of far south-western Uganda with an area of about 33.7 km². Though small, it is rich with Uganda’s star attraction; Mountain gorillas as well as the golden monkeys.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has over 36 gorilla families however only 12 gorilla families are habituated and open for gorilla safaris in Uganda. These groups are well distributed in its four gorilla trekking regions. These are Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringo and Rushaga. Mgahinga has one region Nyakagezi also open for gorilla safaris.
How to get there
By road.
Traveling to Bwindi Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park Uganda takes a duration of about 9-10 hours from Entebbe International airport which is the main entry point to Uganda. There is a distance of about 550km while using the Kampala-Mbarara-Kabale road. Therefore, if a visitor is to go for a gorilla trekking safari Uganda to any of the National Parks above, it will require him to spend a night in Kabale or Kisoro.
By air
Scheduled flights are organized to airstrips near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park by Aerolink from Entebbe international airport Uganda. Air strips near these parks are Kisoro airstrip and Kihihi airstrip. Flights to Kisoro only operate in the morning while flights to Kihihi operate in the morning both in the morning and afternoon.
The gorilla trekking activity itself.
Gorilla safaris Uganda strictly start at 8am with a briefing from the rangers at the starting point before the actual trekking. On arrival to the starting point, tourists are divided into groups of 8 where they are briefed.
Gorilla trekking safaris Uganda normally take 2-8 hours depending on the group you are trekking. As soon as gorillas are sighted, tourists strictly spend 1 hour with the gorillas as stated in the Uganda gorilla tracking safari rules.
Doing another activity on this day depends on the time spent while doing the gorilla trekking activity and the region as well. Gorilla trekking is tiresome so activities after tracking should not be hectic.
Activities that can be done after gorilla tracking include a Lake Bunyonyi boat cruise or going for a game drive in Ishasha to see the tree climbing Lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
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