Best Places to go Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and Uganda: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Volcanoes National Park, and Virunga National Park are home to the world’s entire mountain gorilla population.

The world’s population of mountain gorillas reached 1,063 in December 2019 (the most recent official count), the highest in three decades. According to records, Uganda has somewhat more mountain gorillas than both Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Unfortunately, due to insecurity in the DRC, tourism is presently closed.

Which is the best place to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda?

The best places for gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda include Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in south-western Uganda.

Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.

Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda’s sole gorilla trekking destination, is home to 12 habituated gorilla families and is only a two-hour drive on decent roads from Kigali International Airport.

Volcanoes National Park covers approximately 160 square kilometers; with aggressive intentions to expand. The park is located in northwestern Rwanda, bordering the Virunga National Park in the eastern province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Southwestern Uganda. The Greater Virunga Conservation Area, which includes these three parks, is the world’s biggest gorilla habitat.

The national park is reached via gently sloping farmland that leads to a variety of ecosystems, including bamboo forest, open bush, and darker, moss-covered trees with rocky trails. The bamboo forest becomes denser as you ascend.

The terrain is softer and the jungle is less thick here, making gorilla trekking simpler than in Uganda. The park’s ease of use makes it a popular alternative for individuals with limited time. Viewing mountain gorillas here, however, is far more expensive than in Uganda, and the tourism business caters to higher-end and more opulent experiences.

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Uganda’s principal gorilla trekking destination, is home to about half of the world’s mountain gorilla population: 22 habituated groups living in 331 square kilometers of thick ‘impenetrable’ forest.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Africa’s richest rainforests. Bwindi is almost 25,000 years old and ranges in elevation from 1,160 to 2,607 metres above sea level.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, as the name implies, is a dense forest of trees, bushes, and creepers. The landscape is rugged, with steep dirt roads providing access. The woodland is cut by rivers and waterfalls. A thick canopy is formed by trees, some of which reach heights of 50 metres. The forest can be difficult to navigate, and your ranger guides may have to chop a passage using machetes.

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

There is only one habituated gorilla family in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, situated in the southwestern province of Uganda. In compared to Bwindi, Mgahinga is Uganda’s smallest national park, covering just 33.7 square kilometers. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park’s bamboo forest are less dense than those of Bwindi, although the trip to see the gorillas may be quite steep in places.

Mgahinga Gorilla national park in south-western Uganda is part of the greater Virunga Conservation Area, which spans 434 square kilometers of volcanic highlands connecting Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The bamboo-forested hills and calderas, as well as the vistas of Lake Mutanda below, are incentive enough to explore this beautiful, attractive border region. The national park contains just one habituated gorilla family, but it is the only spot in Uganda where you may track golden monkeys. It’s also an excellent starting point for trekking a volcano (or three).

What you can expect during gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda?

Gorilla trekking is a whole day experience that begins at 7:00 a.m. with registration and a briefing at the relevant national park office. Following the briefing, you will trek or drive to the starting site and depart approximately 8:30 a.m., depending on the area and gorilla family you are visiting.

Each gorilla family’s overall location and distance from headquarters are known to park officials who keep monitoring the group’s movements. The gorilla family you are assigned to see and the duration of your walk will be determined by your trekking preferences and personal fitness.

You must express your hiking choices at the morning briefing. If you have any reservations about your abilities, please express them here, and you will be assigned to track a more accessible gorilla family. Remember that porters are ready to assist you on your journey.

You’ll normally have to walk for at least an hour before reaching your designated gorilla family. It may take three or more hours to locate your group in some circumstances. The view will be breathtaking, and the walk will be an integral part of the experience. Keep your own speed and drink lots of water because it’s easy to become dehydrated.

As you get closer to your gorilla family, the rangers will ask you to leave your baggage so you can have a better look at them. You’ll spend an hour with the gorillas after you make contact. They might be eating bamboo, swinging from branches, grooming each other, suckling their young, playing, napping, farting, or mating.

If the gorillas move, you’ll be able to go with them while maintaining the needed minimum distance of ten metres at all times. They could be interested and approach your group. This is typical and not cause for alarm. If they approach you, the rangers will instruct you to stay calm and take a gradual step back.

The hiking guides are well skilled and will look after you in the wild. I strongly advise you to take advantage of their vast knowledge of gorillas, the jungle, and other animals. They are well familiar with each gorilla family and can give you the names and characteristics of each member. Porters are also important members of the team: for a modest price (and a tip), a porter will carry your day pack and assist you in getting up and down the slopes.

The gorillas may be found in a variety of situations, depending on where you are: in an open clearing with good views and plenty of sunshine, or in a deeper portion of the forest beneath a heavy canopy.

It is important to note that you are only given an hour to spend with the gorillas once you have located your gorilla family. Every visit is unique, and you may spend the full hour with the gorillas while on the move.

In summary; Your time with the gorillas is strictly restricted to 60 minutes, which will pass quickly. However, the rest of your vacation will take you to parts of the world that few people get to see. You’ll see breathtaking landscape, a variety of species, and locals going about their daily lives in this spectacular location. The gorillas are the diamond in the crown, but don’t forget about the rest of the treasure trove on your quest to see them.