How do I Get to Uganda’s Mountain Gorillas by Air
How do I Get to Uganda’s Mountain Gorillas by Air: With over half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas living in their native habitat, Uganda stands out as one of Africa’s top gorilla trekking destinations. Mountain gorillas are restricted to two gorilla parks in Uganda: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
This page will provide you with information on the nearest airport in the nation where you can visit these critically endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The closest airport for tourists hoping to see these critically endangered gorillas in the national parks is Entebbe International Airport.
For foreign tourists entering and leaving the nation, Entebbe serves as the entry point. The majority of visitors to Uganda who want to view gorillas take advantage of Entebbe, where they can fly there. Typically, safari trucks or private vehicles pick up visitors from Entebbe and drive them to the airport.
When travelling from Entebbe to Bwindi or Mgahinga Gorillas National Park to see the gorillas, it is always a good idea to utilize a travel agency. The trip from Entebbe International Airport takes roughly nine hours, during which time you will be able to take in the ever-improving safari rides while travelling along beautiful roads with fascinating scenery.
Apparently, majority of tourists choose to take a domestic aircraft to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park since they find it difficult to drive the considerable distances from Entebbe International Airport to Bwindi or Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks. Kihihi Airstrip, which is near Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, is served by domestic flights from Entebbe International Airport.
Shorter-distance travellers can fly domestically from Entebbe to Kihihi Airstrip, which is only an hour and thirty minutes distant. The domestic flight from Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi Airstrip, which is close to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, takes only two hours.
How do I Get to Uganda’s Mountain Gorillas by Air: Moreover, tourists can take a plane to Kisoro Airstrip, which is between two national parks: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Visitors who fly from Entebbe International Airport to see the gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can use both Kihihi and Kisoro airstrips.
Kigali International Airport is another international airport that offers the most affordable flights to see Uganda’s gorillas. Surprisingly, the closest airport to Bwindi International Airport is Kigali International Airport, which serves as Rwanda’s primary international airport for tourists. This is because visitors who fly to Kigali International Airport only need to drive four hours to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda to see the gorillas, whereas those who drive from Entebbe International Airport to Bwindi or Mgahinga Gorillas National Park must travel more than seven hours.
It’s decisive to remember that travellers can fly to Bwindi or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park from Kigali International Airport to see the gorillas. This demonstrates unequivocally that the nearest airport to visit and observe the chimpanzees in Uganda is Kigali International Airport.
Where to see gorillas in Uganda?
The Mgahinga Gorillas National Park and the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park are the two locations in Uganda where mountain gorillas can be viewed. These two parks are located near Uganda’s borders with Rwanda at Cyaniika and Bunagana, and they are all in southwest Uganda.
These parks’ strategic location makes it fascinating and delightful for tourists to drive, fly to Kigali International Airport, cross the border, and walk among Uganda’s gorillas.
Uganda hosts the highest number of mountain gorillas and the most habituated gorilla families among the countries where gorilla trekking is permitted. In Uganda, gorilla trekking is only assured if you have obtained a permit.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority and reputable tour and tourism businesses licenced by the Uganda Tourism Board are the places to obtain and reserve a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda. Due to the tremendous demand for gorilla trekking permits in Uganda, it is imperative that clients reserve these permits in advance to avoid losing out on this wonderful adventure.
For $800 per person for foreign visitors, $700 for locals, and UGX300,000 for East African nationals (Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, and South Sudan), you can spend an hour interacting with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
How do I Get to Uganda’s Mountain Gorillas by Air: In Uganda, where there are 23 habituated gorilla family groups, 22 in Bwindi and 1 in Mgahinga, 184 gorilla permits are available every day for gorilla trekking. Another alternative for gorilla trekking in Uganda that lets you spend longer time with the mountain gorillas is gorilla habituation, which is only possible in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Permits for gorilla habituation are pricey. A gorilla habituation experience, which is limited to Bwindi Forest and costs $1500 per person, is another option available to those who undertake gorilla trekking in Uganda.
With this option, you can interact with semi-habituated mountain gorillas for four hours instead of just one, all while being watched over by researchers and trackers. The Uganda Wildlife Authority is the direct source for gorilla permit reservations.
In Uganda, gorilla trekking takes place all year round, but the drier months of January, February, June, and early September are the best times to go gorilla trekking in Uganda since they make it easier to get to the park and get a clear glimpse of the gorillas because the plant cover is not too high, roads and trekking trails are always dry.
