Uganda and Rwanda have become known as the home of the mountain gorillas in Africa. With only just over 1,000 left in the wild, thousands of enthusiasts travel from around the world to get a glimpse of these magnificent creatures. A face to face encounter with mountain gorillas is a surreal experience that will leave you pinching yourself wondering whether you just saw what you saw. Visiting the mountain gorillas is a must do for any traveler planning to take an adventure on the continent of Africa.
There is slightly over 1,000 gorillas in the wild. Over half of them are located in the Bwindi impenetrable forest in Uganda and the rest live in the Virunga mountains located on the shared border of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Daily treks to see these creatures are currently available at both Bwindi (in Uganda) and volcanoes national park (Rwanda).
The trekking can be arduous. This is mainly due to the mobility of the gorillas The terrain can also be steep and slippery with high ridges.. You will need to be physically fit and be able to last a full day of trekking as there is little time to stop for rests along the way. The minimum walking time is 1 hour and can be as long as 8 hours.
Bwindi is a world famous tropical forest located on the rolling mountains of southwestern Uganda. Its fame stems from being the home of half of the world’s surviving mountain gorilla population. There are just over 1,000 mountain gorillas left and over 600 are found in Bwindi. Over 20 years ago Bwindi was opened up to the world, and now every month hundreds of tourists flock to this Jungle to see these magnificent creatures.
What makes a trip to this jungle worthwhile is not just its famous residents. It’s the adventure of hiking through an impenetrable forest, navigating through its tangled vegetation dangled over a deeply split landscape of steep slippery valleys and high cold ridges while being entertained by the percussion of singing birds, chattering monkeys and the sight of thousands of butterflies. Its ever-chilly weather and challenging terrain offer unequalled ambience and serenity for the visitors seeking to meet and interact with their closest species, the mountain gorillas.
How many habituated families are in the park? 17 gorilla families
How do I get there?
By road : 8hrs from Kampala- Uganda | 5hrs from Kigali-Rwanda
By Air: 1hr flight from Entebbe International Airport in Uganda.
Volcanoes national park comprises of 5 of the 8 volcanoes of the Virunga mountains. The park borders Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The park was made famous by Diane Fossey’s autobiography and film Gorilla in the Mist, who used the park as her base during her research and conservation efforts into the gorillas.
In addition to the mountain gorillas, the park also harbors the rare golden monkeys, hundreds of bird species and a number of other wildlife endemic to the Virunga mountains. While most of its visitors come to trek the gorillas, the park’s staggering landscape also offers thrilling hiking adventures.
How many habituated families are in the park? 10 gorilla families
How do I get there?
By road : 2hrs from Rwanda’s capital Kigali to the volcanoes national park. The park is situated close to the town of Musanze which makes for a great overnight stay before or after your gorilla trekking experience.
