Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda is the world’s largest habitat of critically engendered Mountain Gorillas. Bwindi National Park hosts over 800 Gorilla species comprising wild Gorillas, habituated Gorillas, and those in the habituation process. Bwindi forest is impenetrable with lots of undergrowth and is often referred to as a ‘place of darkness’. Because of the lush green vegetation that covers all through, trackers will clear the way for Gorilla trekking all year round, never having an impact on the thickness of Bwindi. Lying in southwestern Uganda at the edge of the Eastern Albertine rift valley which neighbours Rwanda and Congo at the base of Virunga mountains, the misty forest of the ancient days dates way back as 2500 years. Bwindi’s impenetrable forest is indeed a true African wilderness, providing shelter to a further 120 mammals, including several primate species such as baboons and chimpanzees, as well as elephants and antelopes. There are around 350 species of birds hosted in this thick forest, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics.
Rushaga Gorilla Trekking safaris in Bwindi
About Bwindi Forest
The name “Bwindi” was derived from the Runyakitara language meaning “impenetrable”. This was because of thick vegetation, and the extensive stands of bamboo interspersed amongst the larger forest hardwoods. The bamboo and thick ground cover of ferns, vines, and other plant growth severely hinder direct access on foot. It’s in this thick lush vegetation that we have 120 species of mammals, 348 species of birds, 220 species of butterflies, and 27 species of frogs, and chameleons.
Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Forest
Mountain gorillas are the main tourist attraction, with half the population out of 880 remaining in the whole world in the Bwindi forest. They are classified as world critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Mountain gorillas were first discovered in 1902 in the Virunga Mountains, and news of the discovery attracted hunters who were curious and understood less about them. In 1925, a royal decree by Belgium’s King Albert created a gorilla sanctuary, Albert National Park, which eventually became Virunga National Park. In 1959, the American zoologist George Schaller undertook the first basic study of the mountain gorillas there.
Mountain gorillas live in forests in the mountains, where temperatures are often below freezing. They have thick fur to help them survive these conditions, but as humans have encroached upon their territory, they have been forced further up the mountains where they endure more dangerous conditions. They are herbivores, with a diet consisting of more than 100 species of plant. When fully grown, they can measure more than 5ft when standing and weigh 440 lbs. Mountain gorillas are social creatures that develop long-term bonds. They live in troops that include a male, the silverback, females, and their offspring, the silverback as the head of the troop determines their movement and time to feed, this male dominant goes ahead to defend its family from external threats.
Mountain gorillas are found in East Africa mainly in Uganda and Rwanda and in Central Africa in Congo, but we find a big number of 400 mountain gorillas out of 880 in the world in Uganda in particular. Bwindi and Mgahinga receive more tourists for gorilla tracking throughout the year compared to the other three national parks volcanoes in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in Congo. Each country is unique in its way based on the cost of permits, distance, and terrain of the park. Tourists who have had a chance to visit all four national parks find each park with its uniqueness above all same satisfaction with the mountain gorillas, Below we highlight the detailed comparison of the four national parks in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo.
Gorilla Trekking affordable in Uganda
Price of gorilla permits.
In Uganda, gorilla permits are at $800, in Congo $450 while in Rwanda the gorilla permit is at $1500. Budget tourists are advised to track gorillas in Bwindi, Mgahinga, and Virunga, however on the $1500 in Rwanda, a tourist enjoys other benefits like a cup of tea and traditional dances before tracking at the park centre unlike in Uganda where you pay for them. There is also of a kind Gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi at $1500 where you are allowed to spend 4 hours with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat with the researchers who habituate the mountain gorillas.
Accessibility
Bwindi and Mgahinga lie southwest of Uganda which is 520 km from the city centre about an 8-10 hrs. drive by road while volcanoes are located right in the heart of the city, Rwanda is a small country compared to Uganda, it takes you 3 hours drive from the airport to volcanoes national park then with Congo has various means to get there from road, water, and air transport but the preferred means would be flying to Rwanda the take 4-hour drive to Gisenyi at the boarder the later take 1hr drive to Virunga national park.
Accommodation
All four national parks have well-developed accommodations ranging from budget to midrange and luxury for example gorilla forest camp, mahogany springs, Buhoma Lodge, Bwindi Volcano Lodge, and many others which all offer luxury services. A tourist here can easily choose and go to the accommodation facility of his/her choice. Rwandas too have many accommodations from the da-Vinci Hotel, and Sabyinyo silver back Hotel but tourists prefer Virunga Lodge. Congo too has a wide range of accommodations like Mikemo Lodge, Nyiragongo Summit Shelter, and Bukima tented camp.
Neighbouring community
Bwindi impenetrable national parks Mgahinga is surrounded by the Batwa pygmies as well as the Bakiga. These have unique cultures which act as tourist attractions themselves, especially the Batwa community. A tourist visiting them can engage in activities like the Batwa trail, community walks, and forest walks, and get entertained by traditional dances and performances. Rwanda has the I’byanchu community as well as good at cultural performances, these were ex-poachers who later ventured into entertaining visitors, Congo also has the neighbouring community Rumangabo with quite interesting activities like visiting the kindergarten.
Tracking experience
Trekking Bwindi and Mgahinga may be a little hectic because of the hilly topography and high altitudes of 1,190 meters to 2,607 which makes it hard to hike coupled with the slippery ground during rain season with thick vegetation that hinders taking clear pictures of the mountain gorillas. Rwanda has a high chance of seeing the mountain gorillas as well as easily taking photographs because the Volcanoes National Park is at a higher elevation of 2500 meters and above compared to Bwindi and Mgahinga. The vegetation cover in volcanoes is also not thick enough to hinder photography as well applied to Congo, Virunga National Park. In conclusion, Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo offer the best safari tours because of the different features and attractions apart from gorilla tracking but the choice depends on one’s cost budget and how long you want to spend on safari, although you can also choose to visit all the four national parks.
