Where Are Mountain Gorillas Found: Mountain gorillas may be found in four African national parks: Bwindi and Mgahinga national parks in Uganda, Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, and Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mountain gorillas in Bwindi differ from those in Volcanoes National Park for a variety of reasons, including;
Where are mountain gorillas found in Uganda?
Mountain gorillas may be found in two national parks in Uganda: Mgahinga and Bwindi, both of which are located in south-western Uganda. Bwindi National Park, located in Kanungu District, is Africa’s only place that is home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas may be found in four sectors of Bwindi National Park: Nkuringo in the park’s southern half, Buhoma in the park’s northern part, Rushaga in the park’s southern part, and Ruhija in the park’s eastern section.
Where are mountain gorillas found in Rwanda?
Mountain gorillas may be seen in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, which is located near Musanze town in the north-western section of the country. Because of the endangered mountain gorillas, Volcanoes National Park is one of Africa’s most visited national parks.
How to get to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
Volcanoes National Park is located in north-western Rwanda, and tourists may fly to Kigali International Airport and then take a car trip from Kigali to the park headquarters. The trip from the airport to the park headquarters takes around 2 hours, and Volcanoes National Park is the only gorilla location with the shortest distance from the airport to the park headquarters, where gorilla trekking activities begin. Because of its proximity to Kigali International Airport, Volcanoes National Park is also the only gorilla site where you can undertake gorilla trekking and yet return home.
How to get to Bwindi National Park in Uganda.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in south-western Uganda, and visitors can access the park in a variety of ways. For example, visitors can fly to Entebbe International Airport and then connect to the park by road, driving from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara, and Kabale to the park headquarters, which takes approximately 8 to 9 hours on a murrum road.
You can also reach Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via the Queen Elizabeth National Park route, which takes you from Kampala via Mubende, Fort Portal, Kasese, where you can spend the night before connecting to Bwindi National Park, and passes through Ishasha sector, where you can see the climbing lions before arriving at Bwindi National Park. This is the longest path, but it offers beautiful scenery along the way, including tea estates, banana plantations, and local people, among other things.
Uganda also has internal flights that travel from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro Airstrip or Kihihi Airstrip. Because domestic flights are planned, they need be booked in advance, which may be done with the assistance of a tour operator.
How to get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Kigali in Rwanda.
Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable national park can be accessed from Kigali city in Rwanda via the Uganda- Rwanda borders at Cyanika or Katuna. Driving from Kigali city in Rwanda to Bwindi national park takes about 3 hours till you get to Katuna border and about 4 hours to get to the Cyanika border. From both border points, it will take one approximately a 3 hours’ drive to Bwindi national park depending on which sector of the park one is doing gorilla trekking.
How to get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
To go to Mgahinga gorilla national park, take a 9- to 10-hour bus ride from Kampala to Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, and Kisoro. The national park may also be accessed by public transportation, albeit this is not recommended due to the possibility of being overcharged.
Visitors can also visit Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park on their own, driving from Entebbe or Kampala through Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, and Kisoro to the park headquarters in Ntebeko. The trek takes nearly a full day, with stops along the route at the equator and the Igongo Cultural Centre for lunch, among other things.
Traveling by road to Mgahinga gorilla national park is exhausting and takes an entire day, but it is rewarding in that you will have great views of the homesteads, local people, local markets, Kigezi hills, and farmlands, banana plantations, and other sights that will make your journey exciting and enjoyable.
The park is also accessible by plane from Entebbe or Kajjansi. Domestic airlines in Uganda, such as Aerolink, organise flights to Mgahinga gorilla national park. Aerolink Uganda Limited conducts regular and chartered flights to Kisoro airstrip from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield. Flights from Entebbe airport depart at 7:00 a.m. and arrive at Kisoro airstrip at 8:10 a.m., with return flights departing at 8:25 a.m. and arriving at Entebbe airport at 11:25 a.m.
Aerolink also organises connecting flights from other destinations such as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Semliki National Park, so you can combine gorilla trekking with other activities such as chimp trekking, boat cruise rides, game drives, and hot air balloon rides, among others.
How to get to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park from Kigali in Rwanda.
Mgahinga National Park may also be reached from Kigali City in Rwanda, which is the most convenient option because it avoids the long distance journey. When travelling from Rwanda, fly to Kigali International Airport and then connect by road across the Cyanika border to the Ntebeko park headquarters, which takes around 3-4 hours. Flying to Kigali is the ideal alternative because you will only be driving for a brief time and the safari days will be shorter, allowing you to save money on transportation and lodging.
