In Uganda, gorilla trekking is done in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. From Mgahinga National Park, you can visit several other national parks including Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, the Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda and the Virunga National Park of Congo. Many travelers combine gorilla safari expeditions into these four national parks.
BINP is famous for hosting more than 15 habituated gorilla families and MGNP with only one called Nyakagezi. You can also access the two parks from Kigali – Rwanda through Katuna or Kyanika boarder (3-4hra drive).
If you visit BINP or MGNP, expect to do any of the following activities:
- Mountain Gorilla Trekking
- Gorilla habituation
- Birding
- Forest walks or Nature walk
- Cultural tour.
- Golden monkey trekking MGNP
- Community tour
- Mountaineering in MGNP among others.
If you visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla national Park for Gorilla trekking, you can also think of visiting other nearby National Parks to do other activities. Other parks to visit include:
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Mountain Rwenzori National Park
- Semuliki National Park
- Kibale National Park
The popular Queen Elizabeth National Park is the second largest National Park in Uganda after Murchison Falls National Park. The Park was founded in 1952 as Kazinga National Park, and renamed two years later to commemorate a visit by Queen Elizabeth II. The Park is home to over 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species. While in QENP, you can do wildlife game viewing tour (game drive) to see elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, antelopes and brushbacks among others, Boat cruise on Kazinga channel to see water loving birds and mammals like hippos, crocodiles, monitor lizards and others on water banks while drinking water to quench their thirsty, Birding to see a variety of birds, Cultural encounters, chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge, cave exploration, nature walks among others.
Note: It’s 5hrs 22 min (272.3 km) via Kabale – Mbarara Rd
The Mountain Rwenzori National Park – the highest block mountain in Uganda with Margherita as the apex of the mountain at 16,762 feet (5,109 metres) – Uganda’s highest point. Mountain Rwenzori is endowered with a variety of attractions like rivers, valleys, aretes, pyramidal peaks, glacier, birds and unique mountain vegetation among others. High level of fitness is required to ascend and descend Mountain Rwenzori. Basing on your budget, interest and ability to hike will determine the circuit to follow.
Note: It takes approximately 6hrs 27m to get from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Mountain Rwenzori National Park.
Semuliki National park – Semuliki Forest Reserve was created in 1932 and upgraded to national park status in 1993. It is the only tract of true lowland tropical forest in East Africa, hosting 441 recorded bird species and 53 mammals.
While in Semuliki National Park, engage in game drive to see a variety of animals, birds, relief, vegetations, Nature walk to the offspring, cultural encounters, Chimpanzee trekking in Toro- Semuliki wildlife reserve among others.
Note: From Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to Semuliki national Park, its 7 hr 5 min (380.6 km) via Mbarara – Kasese Rd.
Kibale National Park is situated in western Uganda approximately 5-6hrs drive from Entebbe Airport or Kampala city. Kibale is famously known for Chimpanzee tracking. The Park is home to a total of 70 mammal species, most famously 13 species of primate including the chimpanzee, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus and so on. It also contains over 375 species of birds.
Major tourist attractions to do in Kibale National Park include: Chimpanzee trekking, birding, night walk or Nocturnal walk, cultural tours and community tour, chimpanzee habituation among others.
Note: It’s 6hrs 39 min (371.0 km) via Kabale – Mbarara Rd to get to KNP from BINP
Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda can best be supplemented by Game drives, Cultural tours, boat trips, birding, Natural walks, chimpanzee trekking or Chimpanzee habituation among others.