Gorilla trekking is by the far the leading jungle adventure in Uganda. Anyone that makes up their mind to go gorilla trekking will have to choose between Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
It is only on rare cases that people prefer Mgahinga gorilla national park to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Below are the 5 top reasons people often opt for gorilla safari in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.
Diversity Of Trekking Sectors
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park mainly has four gorilla trekking sectors; Buhoma, Rushaga, Nkuringo and Ruhija. Each of these sectors have a relatively different topography also offering stunning view points for most of the places around the Bwindi area.
Anyone that desires a moderately tough gorilla trek might have to consider Ruhija sector because of its higher elevation compared to other sectors of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. However this is not the case when it comes to Mgahinga gorilla national park which is only gifted with one gorilla trekking sector at the moment.
Variety of Accommodation Options
Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has a variety of accommodation options ranging from ground camping for budget travelers, dormitories, glamping sites for luxurious camping, and eco safari lodges for the ultimate African Jungle safari experience.
With this kind of variety, visitors do not have to fight for space since there are a number of accommodation options in the different sectors. However, it is very important to note that accommodation can only be booked after confirming your Bwindi trekking sector.
Booking accommodation in sector outside your trekking sector might make it impossible for you to arrive on the gorilla trekking inception point in time. It might also cost you your precious morning sleep since you will have to start your journey as early as 4:00am at times!
Proximity to other National parks
Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is far strategically located than Mgahinga gorilla national park. It is very possible to do a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth national park and then transfer to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park on the same day which might not be the case for Mgahinga gorilla national park on most of the days.
Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park very popular far above all other Bwindi impenetrable forest national park sectors because of its proximity to Queen Elizabeth national park.
Variety Of Habituated Gorilla Families In Bwindi
Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has a total of 19 habituated gorilla families. Though this might imply more trekking permits than Mgahinga gorilla national park, there are also family distinctions that make each family distinct.
Whenever tourists share their specific gorilla trekking stories, Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has a mosaic view offered by the variety of families in the same park. It is also very important to note that your gorilla permit also grants you access to one gorilla family.
Therefore regardless of the variety of gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, your gorilla trekking permit can only get you access to one family. The only advantage with Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is you are spoilt for choice unlike Mgahinga gorilla national park that only has on official habituated gorilla family.
History of Gorilla trekking in Uganda
When you walk the streets of Kampala, you are likely to find a very big gorilla sculpture on the streets. You might think they are merely displaying mountain gorillas as part of the wildlife we have in Uganda, but a closer look on this sculpture will remind of a special mountain gorilla which was part of the first ever habituated mountain gorilla in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park in Buhoma sector.
This also makes it hard for Mgahinga gorilla national park to catch up since the history of gorilla trekking and habituation most rotates around Bwindi impenetrable forest national park which only saw Mgahinga gorilla national park join the league a short while after.
Still in view of history, Mgahinga gorilla national park has a bad record of visitors failing to spot the mountain gorillas during their treks. Though there are now more than 95% chances of spotting mountain gorillas in Mgahinga gorilla national, the bad past still haunts it up to date.
There is still misinformation regarding Mgahinga national park gorilla crossing to Rwanda and Democratic republic of Congo which has been unheard of on the Ugandan side. The recent migration was of a family that shifted from Rwanda to Uganda.
