Comparing gorilla trekking in Mgahinga and Bwindi national parks

Comparing gorilla trekking in Mgahinga and Bwindi national parks: Mountain gorillas are found in only three countries in the world; Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. A Uganda gorilla safari can be done in two national parks; Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. So how does gorilla trekking in Mgahinga compare to Bwindi?

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is renowned national park on the planet for hosting half of the world’s largest population of the mountain gorilla, with an estimate of 400 individuals residing in Bwindi alone out of over 1,000 remaining gorillas in the world. due to its being UNESCO world heritage site, gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is a more popular than in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Visitors have a wide range of habituated gorilla groups to choose from over 12 of the 25 estimated gorilla groups. Mgahinga only has three gorilla family that are open for tourists for viewing including the Nyakagezi, Hirwa and Nshongi families. surprisingly Nyakagezi group is one of the fine gorilla groups for gorilla tracking in Uganda. This group known for hosting the largest number of silverbacks than any of the three destinations hosting the mountain gorilla including Rwanda, Uganda   and the democratic republic of Congo.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is comprised of four captivating sectors where visitors can do gorilla trekking including Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga and Ruhija. More amazing, Bwindi impenetrable forest national park offers visitors with the opportunity to have a double gorilla trekking unlike in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Visitors can track gorillas in one section and then another section the next day. Watching gorillas twice makes it possible to compare experiences tracking different gorilla families and in different sections of Bwindi.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is the only park in the east Africa where tourists can spot both chimpanzees and mountain gorillas. Whereas Mgahinga gorilla national park is the only in park in Uganda where visitors can track both mountain gorillas and habituated golden monkeys.

The likelihood of seeing the gorillas in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is high, as both parks are home to habituated gorilla families that are used to human presence. However, it is important to note that gorilla trekking permits can vary.  It is recommended to book permits well in adventure to secure a spot for gorilla trekking in either park

Amazing Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is located nearer to some of Uganda’s most exhilarating parks like Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kibale Forest Park. Visitors can conveniently combine gorilla tracking with a safari to spot the big five.

The cost of gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is similar for both Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. A Gorilla permit costs $800 per person for foreign non- resident, $700 per person for foreign resident and UGX300,000 for East African citizens. However, for habituation permit cost costs $1,500 per person for foreign non- resident, $1000 per person for foreign resident and UGX750,000 for East African citizens. more so Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has got more stunning accommodation options than Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Other activities during gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Golden monkey tracking

Golden monkey tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of the main activities conducted in the park by many tourists. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the only national park in Uganda that offers golden monkey tracking tours; encountering these wonderful golden monkeys involves hiking along the baboon forest of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in order to access these wonderful and rare habituated golden monkeys. During this adventurous hike to the bamboo forest, you will get a great opportunity to spot some of the astonishing attractions that contribute to the park’s beauty, such as bird species like the beautiful Rwenzori turaco, handsome francolin, Rwenzori batis, Kivu ground-thrush, blue-headed weaver, black-collared apalis, dusky crimsonwing, red-throated alethe, and the Regal sunbird.

The Batwa trail experince

The Batwa trail experience offers you an astonishing opportunity to see the people who originally lived in the forest. The Batwa used to hunt and gather food from the forest while living in the Garama caves for thousands of years. The Batwa were evicted from the forest and resettled outside the park to reserve the park for tourism and other wildlife conservation activities. They have been forced to abandon their original way of life and adjust to life outside the forest. The Batwa Trail is led by a Batwa guide who takes visitors through the traditional way of life in the forest for the Batwa. During the trek through the Batwa trail, you will have the opportunity to witness and observe these fascinating pygmies while demonstrating in their daily activities such as hunting, fruit gathering, singing, dancing, making fire and collecting honey among others

Volcano hiking

 Hiking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is another remarkable activity to do during safaris in the park. The hiking is done on three of the volcanic mountains at the destination. Mgahinga hiking tours are done on Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura, and Mount Sabyinyo. Different trials are used to hike to the peak of the mountains, which offers amazing opportunities to sight-spot a variety of incredible features such as birds, primates, animals, lakes, wild vegetation, bamboo forests, and astonishing views of the scenery in the surrounding areas.

Bird watching

Mahinga Gorilla Park is one of the top birding spots in Uganda. Birding in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park gives you an opportunity to spot about 100 bird species in the montane forests, bamboo forests, swamps and gorges found in the volcanoes Sabyinyo and Gahinga.  During  your bird watching tour in the park, you will be marvelled with different colorful bird species such as Dusky Crimsonwing, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Dusky Turtle Dove, Equatorial Akalat, Fire finch, Grauer’s Warbler, Grey capped warbler, Handsome Francolin, Kivu Ground Thrush, Lagden’s Bush Shrike, Mackinnon’s Fiscal, Montane Oriole, Mountain Masked Apalis, Olive pigeon, Olive Thrush, Olive woodpecker, Paradise Flycatcher, Pin-tailed whydah, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Banded Prinia, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Black kite, Blue-headed Coucal, Blue-headed Sunbird, Bronze, Cape Robin-chat, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Collared Apalis, Doherty’s Bush-shrike, Double-collared sunbird, Dusky Crimsonwing, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Dusky Turtle Dove, Equatorial Akalat among others.

Nature walks

The nature walks in Mgahinga National Park are arranged to allow visitors to get up-close with nature. The walks are arranged to see the bamboo forests, birds, swamps like Rugezi, surrounding villages, and lakes like Mutanda. During these walks, expect to encounter forest creatures, wild vegetation, and the local communities living at the edge of the forest. The scenery in Mgahinga can be breathtaking, especially a few weeks after the main rains have stopped.

Accommodation during gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Travellers on a Uganda wildlife safari in Mgahinga gorilla national park shouldn’t worry about where to stay , the has a variety of accommodation both  with in and outside the park scattered in all the sectors  which cater for luxuries, mid-range and budget tourists such as  Mount Gahinga Safari lodge, Amajambere Iwacu camp, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Traveler’s Nest Hotel, Nkuringo Safari Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Mount Gahinga Rest Camp, Mount Gahinga Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Mucha Hotel, Volcanoes Mount Gahinga Lodge, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Lake Chahafi Resort, Mgahinga Rest Camp, Ntebeko River camp, Golden Monkey Guesthouse, Mutanda Eco-Community Centre among others.