Would you like to go on an African safari and meet the mountain gorillas in the wild? Uganda is the best destination to see the mountain gorillas in the wild. Its two gorilla parks are the most visited national parks in Uganda. They include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park both situated in south Western Uganda. Below are the ten reasons why Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park should be a must visit while on your gorilla safari in Uganda;
- Strategic Location – the two Uganda Gorilla parks are strategically located in easily reached destination for example, you can reach them from Kigali International Airport (3-4hrs drive) or From Entebbe International Airport (8-9hrs drive). By Air, you can fly from Entebbe Airport to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrips (1-2hrs).
- Presence of Mountain Gorillas – one of the rare gorilla species found in Uganda is none other than mountain gorillas. Its on record that Uganda has almost half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas situated in Bwindi impenetrable National park and Mgahinga National Park.
- Fair cost of Gorilla permit – Compared to Rwanda (neighbor), Uganda still charges lower cost of Gorilla trekking yet the experience is similar or better! At US$700, Rwanda charges US$1500 per person (Per Gorilla pass). Basing on that comparative advantage, Uganda must be considered first as far as mountain Gorilla trekking is concerned.
- Uganda is politically stable – by far, Uganda is stable compared to her neighbors. Leave a lone the catastrophic COVID-19 which has affected Gorilla tourism in 2021, Uganda has never halted Gorilla tourism for reasons of insecurity among others. For that case, if you consider Uganda for your Gorilla trekking holiday, be sure of scoring your goal.
- Five Gorilla tracking centres (choose the Gorilla trekking location of your choice) – Bwindi alone has four Gorilla trekking sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga. Each tracking centre hosts more over three Gorilla families. Oh! Thing about Rushaga with more than five Gorilla groups- all waits for your encounter. Today (19th October 2020), Uganda protects over seventeen gorilla families including Nyakagezi family (the only one in Mgahinga national Park). Remember, Each Gorilla family is visited by a maximum of eight people.
- Hospitality of Ugandans– Uganda welcome and willing to stay with tourists. This is evidence by the way guests are entertained in cultural centres, village tours and the professionalism practiced by the local guides in different locations. More so, Ugandans knows the benefits they obtained from the tourist in terms of revenue, social services and support given to the needy Ugandans thus being kind and helpful to the guests.
- Clear links/ roads – While in Uganda, you can easily link up to the Gorilla parks, a number of roads have been constructed to facilitate smooth running of Gorilla tourism.
- Other tourist attraction near gorilla parks – Once you put Gorilla trekking on your list of activities to do in Uganda, also expect to see a variety of other attraction near Gorilla parks and on the way to Gorilla parks. If you are from Kibale side, expect to see the slopes of Mountain Rwenzori, the crater lakes, many animals via Queen Elizabeth National Park – proceed through Ishasha sector to see the tree climbing lions, baboons among other.
- Other tourist activities in Gorilla parks –along side Gorilla trekking, you can do hiking, cultural walks, Village tours, birding and nature trips among others. In Mgahinga, you can trek Gorillas and supplement it with Golden Monkeys among others.
- Presence of Uganda Airline – Uganda Airlines returned to business on 28th August 2019 after 18 years of collapse. The reviving of Uganda Airlines gave hope to tourist to spend less on flights to Uganda. Though the Airlines started with regional flights, soon it will take off in the skies overseas. The Government promised to buy more jets for that case. This website will keep updating you.