Visit gorillas to experience their way of life and observe their behavior as you explore their natural habitat.Gorillas in the world can be seen in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park in Uganda, Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and also in Virunga national park in Congo as tourists explore their natural habitat.
The type of gorillas which can be seen in Bwindi national park and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda are the mountain gorillas. Virunga national park in Congo is home to the lowland gorillas.
There are many differences between the mountain gorillas and the lowland gorillas and some of these differences include:
Mountain gorillas are darker in color with thick far while the lowland gorillas have lighter fur.
The kind of habitat where lowland gorillas live in is also different from that of the mountain gorillas which are known to live in high elevations such as in the forests on mountains.
Cost of visiting gorillas
There are certain charges which are associated with visiting gorillas in Bwindi national park, Volcanoes national park and also Virunga national park. A document referred to as a gorilla permit is issued for individuals to engage in gorilla trekking in these different destinations.
A gorilla permit in Bwindi national park in Uganda costs 700 USD for foreign nonresidents, 600 USD for foreign residents and 250,000 Uganda shillings for East Africans. Another activity which can be done in Bwindi national park is gorilla habituation which costs 1500 USD for foreign nonresidents, 1000 USD for foreign residents and 750,000 Uganda shillings for East Africans. The gorilla permits in Uganda are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
When visiting Rwanda, a gorilla permit costs 1500 USD in Volcanoes national park. The gorilla permits in Rwanda are issued by Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Briefing for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park is done at Kinigi headquarters.
Gorilla permits for Virunga national park in Congo cost 400 USD and it is the country with the most affordable price for gorilla permits. Congolese residents are charged 150 USD for gorilla permits.
When to see gorillas or best time to visit gorillas
Gorillas in Bwindi national park, volcanoes national park and Virunga national park can be seen at any time of the year. However, certain months have more favorable conditions for gorilla trekking.
When visiting Bwindi national park in Uganda, the best time to see the gorillas is during the dry season from June to October and also the months of January and February as well as December. This time of the year is also good for seeing gorillas in Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in Congo.
The rainy season takes place around November and also around March, April and May when a lot of rain is experiences during the gorilla trekking activity in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, Volcanoes national park and Virunga national park.
Booking gorilla permits in advance is highly recommended during tours to Bwindi national park, Volcanoes national park and Virunga national park especially in the dry season which is also a high or peak season of tourists visiting the different destinations to see gorillas and other attractions and also engage in the various activities.
Often times the different gorilla trekking destinations are compared in terms of which destination offers the best gorilla trekking experience. However each destination is unique and offers a worthwhile experience to the visitors during their gorilla trekking activity.
Bwindi national park is said to have half the worlds population of gorillas and the remaining percentage is shared by Virunga national park and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda.
When it comes to accessibility, Volcanoes national park is the closest from the international airport making it easy for tourists to engage in gorilla trekking without having to go through the long drive to visit gorillas.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park is among the top things to do when visiting the south western part of Uganda where the national park is located.
Bwindi national park has 4 sectors where tourists can visit gorillas and these include the Rushaga sector, Buhoma sector, Nkuringo sector and the Ruhija sector. The national park also has over 21 habituated gorilla families. Gorillas in Uganda can also be seen in Mgahinga national park.
Another activity which involves visiting gorillas in Bwindi national park is the gorilla habituation experience. Bwindi national park is also a destination for bird watching, batwa cultural tours, guided nature walks as well as hikes.
Bwindi national park is also a UNESCO world heritage site which is also known for being an impenetrable forest. the drive from Kampala or Entebbe to Bwindi national park takes about 8 to 9 hours. An alternative way of getting to Bwindi national park is by flights to Kihihi airstrip and Kisoro airstrip.
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park is done throughout the year during tours in Rwanda. This national park is located in the north western part of Rwanda which is also referred to as the land of a thousand hills. Volcanoes national park is also known as parc des Volcans.
Volcanoes national park is characterized by rainforest as well as 5 of the Virunga mountains which include Mount Bisoke, Mount Sabinyo, Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura and Mount Karisimbi.
The drive from Kigali to Volcanoes national park takes about 2 hours and the national park is located near Musanze. Other activities to do around Volcanoes national park include golden monkey trekking, Mount Bisoke hiking, Mount Karisimbi hiking, Dian Fossey experience, cultural tours and also visiting Musanze caves among other activities.
Gorilla trekking in Virunga national park
Gorilla trekking in Virunga national park is led by rangers and this activity takes place in the eastern part of the Democratic republic of Congo.
Virunga national park can be accessed from Goma and also from the Rwanda side. Other activities to do around the national park include hiking Mount Nyiragongo, guided nature walks and also bird watching.
Visit Uganda, Rwanda and Congo and enjoy seeing gorillas in Bwindi national park, Volcanoes national park and Virunga national park.