Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
Bwindi impenetrable Forest National Park is often the first choice for most travelers coming to Uganda for gorilla trekking. The park has a dense tropical rainforest, steep slopes, deep valleys, and an enormous variety of vegetation. It is a beautiful setting for meeting mountain gorillas in the wild. It is also where we personally find the encounter with gorillas most beautiful.
Bwindi has four gorilla trekking sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. Each sector is a separate trekking area, and choosing the right one is more important than many travelers realise beforehand. You select your preferred sector when booking the permit. The specific gorilla family is usually assigned on the morning of the trek.
So, how do you choose a trekking sector? Permit availability is only one part of the decision. You also need to think about where you will be staying, how you will get there, and how much trekking you are comfortable with. These details can make a real difference to your trip.
With over 20 habituated gorilla families across the four sectors, Bwindi offers more trekking permits. And we have more flexibility to take into account the route, accommodations, and the physical condition of travelers. However, the trekking experience is not the same everywhere.
The terrain differs between sectors, and even within the same sector, the difficulty depends on where the gorillas are found that day.
At Choose Uganda Safaris, we pay attention to these details when planning your trip. For example, a lodge with a beautiful view may look like the perfect choice. But if it is far from your trekking starting point, you could spend a long time driving early in the morning before the trek begins. Sometimes, choosing accommodation closer to the starting point makes much more sense.
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park lies in the Virunga Mountains, close to the borders with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The landscape is very different from Bwindi. Instead of dense tropical rainforest, you find volcanic mountains, bamboo forests, and other mountain vegetation. The views across the surrounding mountains are beautiful. In some areas, the vegetation is also more open, giving you a very different setting for gorilla trekking.
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga focuses on the Nyakagezi gorilla family. It is the only habituated family available for tourism in the park. This means there are significantly fewer daily permits than in Bwindi.
The more open vegetation does not necessarily make trekking easier. Mgahinga has steep volcanic slopes, and the changes in elevation can make the walk quite demanding. So, don’t assume it is the easier option simply because the forest is less dense.
Mgahinga is also the only national park in Uganda where you can trek to see golden monkeys. If you want to see both mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, we often find it wonderful to do the gorilla trekking in Bwindi and then visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for the golden monkeys. This way, you get to explore two different national parks, each with its own landscape.
The southern sectors of Bwindi, Rushaga and Nkuringo, are about a 1.5-hour drive from Mgahinga, making this combination quite practical.
Our preference
We generally prefer Bwindi for gorilla trekking. Its tropical rainforest is really beautifull. And the wider choice of trekking sectors, accommodations and gorilla permits give us more flexibility when planning a trip. However, Mgahinga also has its own appeal, particularly if you want to combine gorilla trekking with golden monkey trekking or include the Virunga Mountains in your itinerary.
But which park is right for you? That depends on your travel route, permit availability, accommodation, and what you would like to get out of your trip. We look at all these details before making a recommendation, so you can choose the park that fits your safari best.
How to get to Bwindi and Mgahinga?
Bwindi and Mgahinga are both located in southwestern Uganda. You can reach either park by road or domestic flight. The best option depends on where you are coming from and which gorilla trekking sector you plan to visit. If you are travelling directly from Kampala or Entebbe, allow most of a day for the drive. Reaching the different sectors of Bwindi generally takes around 8–10 hours from Kampala. Mgahinga is slightly farther, with a journey of approximately 9–10 hours.
If you prefer to spend less time on the road, you can take a scheduled domestic flight from Entebbe to Kihihi or Kisoro. Kihihi is the most convenient airstrip for Buhoma and can also serve Ruhija. Kisoro is better for Rushaga and Nkuringo in southern Bwindi, as well as Mgahinga. From either airstrip, you continue to your lodge by road. The flight takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes. The flight is therefore an activity in itself.
You can also fly into Kigali, Rwanda, and continue to southwestern Uganda by road. This is particularly convenient if you are visiting Mgahinga or the southern sectors of Bwindi, Rushaga and Nkuringo. From Kigali, the drive to Mgahinga takes around 4-5 hours, including the border crossing. Reaching Rushaga or Nkuringo generally takes 4-6 hours. Buhoma and Ruhija are farther away.
Many travellers also visit Bwindi or Mgahinga as part of a longer road safari through Uganda. If you are coming from Queen Elizabeth National Park, you can continue south without driving back to Kampala. From the Mweya area, the journey to Buhoma through the Ishasha sector takes around 4–5 hours. The drive to Rushaga, Nkuringo or Mgahinga can take longer, depending on your route and where you are staying. If you spend a night in Ishasha, the journey to Buhoma is considerably shorter.
Another option is to travel from Lake Mburo National Park to Bwindi. The drive generally takes around 5–6 hours, depending on which of the four trekking sectors you are visiting.
If you would like to visit both parks, the southern sectors of Bwindi, particularly Rushaga and Nkuringo, are the most convenient to combine with Mgahinga. The drive between these areas takes around 1.5–2 hours. This makes it quite easy to trek gorillas in Bwindi and then visit Mgahinga for golden monkey trekking during the same safari.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bwindi or Mgahinga better for gorilla trekking?
Both parks offer the opportunity to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, but they provide different experiences. Bwindi is usually the better choice for travelers who want more flexibility when booking, as it has four trekking sectors and several habituated gorilla families.
Mgahinga is a good alternative for those who prefer the volcanic scenery of the Virunga Mountains or want to combine gorilla trekking with golden monkey trekking. Our preference is generally Bwindi because of its wider choice of trekking sectors. However, the best park depends on your travel route, permit availability and personal preferences.
Can you trek gorillas in both parks on the same trip?
Yes. You can visit both parks during the same Uganda safari. However, you need a separate gorilla trekking permit for each trek. Many travelers choose to trek gorillas in Bwindi and then visit Mgahinga for golden monkey trekking. The southern sectors of Bwindi, particularly Rushaga and Nkuringo, are conveniently located for combining the two parks. This is a good option if you want to experience both the tropical rainforest of Bwindi and the volcanic landscape of Mgahinga.
You may also like: How many nights do you plan around a gorilla trekking?
Are gorilla permits cheaper in Bwindi or Mgahinga?
No. Gorilla trekking permits cost the same in both parks. The Uganda Wildlife Authority sets the permit prices, so choosing Mgahinga instead of Bwindi does not mean paying less for your gorilla trek. For foreign non-residents, the standard permit rate currently listed is US$800 per person.
Is gorilla trekking more difficult in Bwindi or Mgahinga?
Neither park is automatically easier than the other. In Bwindi, the difficulty depends on the trekking sector and where the gorilla family is located on the day of your trek. The forest has steep slopes, deep valleys and dense vegetation, which can make some treks physically demanding. In Mgahinga, you trek on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes.
Some areas have more open vegetation, but the steep terrain and higher elevation can also make the walk challenging. Your fitness, the location of the gorillas and the conditions on the day all influence how difficult the trek will be. If you have concerns about the walking, let us know when planning your trip so we can help you choose a suitable trekking area.
How far apart are Bwindi and Mgahinga?
The distance depends on which part of Bwindi you are visiting. The southern sectors of Rushaga and Nkuringo are the closest to Mgahinga. The journey usually takes around 1.5 hours, depending on the lodge, road conditions and exact starting point. The northern sector of Buhoma is considerably farther away and can take several hours to reach. If you plan to visit both parks, we recommend choosing your accommodation and route carefully to avoid unnecessary driving.
