Can one trek Uganda gorillas directly from Kigali, Rwanda?
Visitors entering Uganda through Kigali can also access the mountain gorillas passing through the southern ends of the country at Katuna boarder. Travelers can drive from Kigali to Bwindi impenetrable or Mgahinga National Park. It takes about 4 hours and 23 minutes for the 164.4 kilometers distance from Kigali to Bwindi impenetrable National Park.
Travelers therefore can decide whether to trek the sectors in the South of Bwindi that is to say Rushaga and Nkuringo or continue to the north to trek in Ruhija or Buhoma gorilla sectors. It is advisable for the trackers to travel the day before since the gorilla tracking activities begin in the wee hours of the morning.
Getting a Uganda visa from Rwanda.
Travelers in need of the Ugandan visa from Rwanda can register online through the Uganda embassy in Rwanda or walk in to their offices at Nyarutarama hill in Kigali 205 ST. The travelers should endeavour to carry with them a current passport, passport photograph, yellow fever vaccination certificate and for the East African tourist visa, one needs to provide proof of the travel itinerary and a return ticket.
Short travel distances from Kigali vis-à-vis Entebbe or Kampala.
The shortest travel distances from Kigali to Entebbe or Kampala could possibly take roughly 12 hours and 43 minutes along the Kigali – Katuna – Kikungiri route. The traveler then continues onwards to the Kabale – Mbarara – Kampala road that leads them all the way up to Entebbe.
Gorilla tracking packing list.
Visitors embarking on the gorilla tracking adventure are at all times advised to park appropriately for the activity and should endeavor to carry with them items including; Binoculars to help them observe the primates even at a longer distance, hiking boots to aid untroubled maneuvering through the thick tropical rainforest, gloves to keep their hands safe as they touch the tree stumps or the stems that could be rough, hiking sticks which provides support especially in slippery terrain.
A tourist day pack is equally important since it helps them carry personal items especially medicine and first aid Kits, drinking water and snacks to keep the tracker satisfied on the trek, insect repellents to keep the biting insects away, raincoats to guard the body against the rain water since its possible to rain with no warning in this region. Trackers should also be well dressed in long sleeved shirts and trousers to guard their bodies against piercing plants.
Gorilla tracking rules and regulations.
The gorilla tracking activity just like any other exciting adventure is guided by a set of rules and regulations to ensure that the adventurers do not go wrong in their expeditions. The rules encompass;
Travelers should at all times keep a maximum distance of at least 7 meters away from the gorillas. This helps to prevent the animal from contracting diseases that could be carried along by humans.
Travelers should also listen to the guide throughout the entire trip since they have more information about the gorilla tracking activity and the entire jungle.
The age requirements. The travelers going for the tracking activity are required to be of 15 years and above. This helps to keep order in the jungle and prevent the possibility of communicable diseases being transferred to the gentle giants which would risk extinction.
Guests with contagious diseases are required not to go for the trek and wait when their health gets better. This is because contagious diseases especially flu and COVID-19 could be passed on to the gorillas which would risk death.
About gorilla trekking in Uganda.
The gorilla trekking experiences in Uganda provide never to be forgotten memories in the dense rainforests in the southwest of the country. The activity entails maneuvering through various terrains in search for wild mountain gorillas. These usually inhabit fairly higher altitudes in the tropical rainforests. Gorilla tracking therefore includes hiking through the highlands, sloping down in the valleys and crossing various streams until the gorilla families are sighted.
Gorilla destinations in Uganda.
Uganda is endowed with more than half of the total mountain gorillas in the world that live in the southwestern part of the country. For the past two decades, the government of Uganda has gazetted two national parks to protect the endangered species from extinction especially due to human activities. The government gazetted Bwindi impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga which are now renowned habitats for the mountain gorillas.
Bwindi impenetrable National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable national park lies on an area of approximately 331 square kilometers in Kanungu district in the South west of Uganda. Bwindi is home to 4 gorilla sectors sheltering 21 fully habituated gorilla families. The National Park was established in 1991 by the government and was later designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994 due to the large biodiversity it protects. Gorilla tracking activities are done on a daily basis with a maximum of eight people accessing each family.
Mgahinga National Park.
Mgahinga National Park is located in Kisoro district in the southwestern perimeters of Uganda. It is seated on an area of roughly 33.9 square kilometers making it the smallest National Park in the country. The National Park is a home to the endangered mountain gorillas and also doubles as a host to the stunning Mount Muhabura, Sabyinyo and Gahinga of the Virunga ranges. It is on the lower slopes of these ranges that the mountain gorillas live – in the tropical rainforests. There’s only one gorilla family in this National Park called Nyakagezi and it’s up for tracking.
