Which Countries Offer the Best Chance to See Mountain Gorillas?
Which Countries Offer the Best Chance to See Mountain Gorillas? Which countries offer the best chances to see mountain gorillas? The best countries to see mountain gorillas in the world stretch across three countries; Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Rwanda
In Rwanda mountain gorillas can be found in Volcanoes National Park located in the northwestern corner of the country in the small town of Musanze. It is home to one of the highest populations of these unique primates around 550 individuals and is made up of 10 habituated gorillas groups one gorilla group varies in size from 11 to 33 family members.
Best time to see gorillas in Rwanda
Gorilla trekking can be done all year round though it is easier to trek in dry seasons starting from June to September and Mid-December to February. During the dry season, you don’t suffer muddy and slippery trails but you have to carry waterproof gear like a jacket, warm hat, jacket, and hiking rubber shoes to make trekking comfortable. You can still visit the park in the wet season to find great views of the Volcanoes and accommodation rates can be low in the wet season.
How much does it cost to see gorillas in Rwanda?
Rwanda gorilla permits can be issued by the government body ‘’RDB’’ Rwanda Development Board which issues 80 gorilla permits daily for USD1,500 per person per trek with a maximum of 8 people allowed per group.
Each gorilla group is assigned a gorilla’s family accompanied by the ranger on that particular day of their trek. You have to assign to a gorilla family according to group size and fitness levels.
Gorilla permits grant you a one-hour experience with a gorilla group and once a park ranger locates them you will be able to learn about their behaviors, feed, hunt, and lifestyle as well as take memorable photography
Uganda
Uganda is truly a gift destination that hosts half the remaining gorilla population in the world which is in the habitat of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which offers a unique experience for gorilla trekking. More so, Uganda is a paradise of rainforest and lush vegetation, balanced by vast stretches of lakes, grassland, and rivers. Additionally, Uganda boasts good dozens of other primate species including groups of chimpanzees and golden monkeys which can also be a trek. Uganda is renowned as the kingdom of primates meaning it hosts the highest population of a chimpanzee with over 5,000 chimpanzees and the best place for chimpanzee tracking in Uganda visit Kibale Forest National Park home to over 1,500 individuals at costs USD200 for foreign nonresidents and USD150 for foreign residents among others.
Where to see mountain gorillas in Uganda
Uganda is blessed with two options for gorilla destinations. Tourists can opt to visit gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which is known as Uganda’s smallest national park and is home to two habituated gorilla families the Nyakagezi group and the Hirwa family. The Nyakagezi gorilla group attracts tourists who visit the park.
Another popular gorilla trekking place in Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park home to half of the world’s remaining population and has guided habituated gorilla family with over 22 gorilla families which are divided into four gorilla sectors with fully habituated gorillas are; Rushaga, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Buhoma gorilla group.
Best time to see gorillas in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is best done in two dry seasons January to February and June to September.
How much does it cost to see gorillas in Uganda?
A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs USD700 per person per trek for foreign nonresidents and the habituated gorilla permits in Bwindi costs USD1,500 per person per trek. In all three countries where mountain gorillas can trek, Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest it’s the only place where gorilla habituation experience is done and is done in a maximum of four people per group, Which Countries Offer the Best Chance to See Mountain Gorillas?
Both Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks are located in the southwestern region of Uganda, approximately 8 to 9 hours. Alternatively, you can use a domestic daily flight from Entebbe International Airport ‘’Aerolink or Bar Aviation’’ to fly you to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest –Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip ‘’1:30 hours’’.
Congo –Mountain Gorillas
Congo destination offers an ultimate heart experience for gorilla trekking and the country is gifted with outstanding gorilla destinations that as; Virunga National Park and Kahuzi Beiga National Park. The Virunga national park is home to unique mountain gorillas the most sought larger primates on the planet and Kahuzi Beiga National Park is home to rare Eastern low land gorillas and other rare animal species.
The gorilla trekking permit in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the cheapest out of all the three countries, it costs USD400 per person per day.
Best time to see gorillas in Congo;
The best time to go gorilla trekking in Congo is during the country’s two dry seasons; January and February and from June to September are the best months to see the gorilla in their natural environments.
