Uganda hosts two national parks that protect the mountain gorillas. These are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Both parks are frequented by tourists looking for the popular and thrilling Uganda gorilla safaris, great trips that bring up close encounters with the mountain gorillas.
Where is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The popular Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is situated in South western Uganda. Its one of the biologically diverse rain forests in Uganda with ever green vegetation. The park is the most popular for gorilla trekking in the world. It hosts almost half of the world’s remnant population of the mountain gorillas. Of the estimated 1060 mountain gorillas, Bwindi hosts about 460 mountain gorillas that live within the forested park.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest covers 321 squire Kilometres and is popularly famous for hosting mountain gorillas and it is characterised with tropical trees, shrubs and wetlands.
On the other hand, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the smallest park in Uganda covering 33.7 squire Kilometers. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park sits high in the clouds, at an altitude of between 2,227m and 4,127m. As its name suggests, it was created to protect the rare mountain gorillas that inhabit its dense forests, and it is also an important habitat for the endangered golden monkey.
In comparison, I prefer Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and below are the reasons justifying my statement:
Many Mountain Gorillas – It’s believed that over 400 Mountain Gorillas are found in Bwindi Impenetrable. This is almost half of the world’s mountain gorillas. With 21 habituated habituation Mountain Gorilla Families, Bwindi impenetrable National park offers Uganda much foreign exchange revenue. On the other hand, Mgahinga National Park protects one Gorilla Family known as Nyakagezi.
Over 120 mammals are found in Bwindi Impenetrable national Park. Among the mammals include forest elephants, forest Antelopes, leopards and many primates like including monkeys, chimpanzees among others.
Gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable National Park are mobile but do not cross the boarders to the neighboring Rwanda or DRC therefore, meeting Gorillas in Bwindi Forest is guaranteed. Unlike in Mgahinga National Park, Nyakagezi Gorilla family is so mobile and sometimes cross boarders to Rwanda.
About 350 species of birds stay in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park including 23 Albertine rift valley endemics. Therefore, guests interested in birding safaris, Bwindi Impenetrable forest is a must visit.
Accessibility– In terms of accessibility, Bwindi impenetrable National Park is easily reached by road and air. You can fly from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Air strip to Kihihi or Kisoro Air strips. From there, you drive for few hours to Bwindi impenetrable National park. Alternatively, you can drive for 7-8hrs Entebbe Airport to Bwidi Impenetrable National Park.
Gorilla habituation is only done in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Rushaga sector). Gorilla habituation enables guests spend 4hrs with Gorillas. Normal tracking allows one hour with Gorillas. On the other hand, Mgahinga National Park offers no Gorilla habituation.
Differences in relief – Mgahinga national Park is mountainous and unfit guests can’t maneuver. Bwindi Impenetrable National park is a bit gentle and manageable. It should be noted that Gorilla trekking involves walking through different land terrain before meeting Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat.
Mgahinga National Park protects one habituated Mountain Gorillas known as Nyakagezi, Bwindi with more than 18 habituated gorilla families. For that note, guests are given chances to exercise their freedom of choice.
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