Volcanoes National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
Volcanoes National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
Trekking to see the mountain gorillas is one of the most popular wildlife tours that travelers wish to undertake in Africa. This thrilling experience can be best experienced in two renowned parks: Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. Both parks offer unforgettable insights into these magnificent animals, but each park has unique characteristics that may influence your choice. Below, I’ll outline the key differences between gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Overview of the Parks
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
The Rwanda Volcanoes National Park is located in the northwestern region of Rwanda and is part of the Virunga Conservation Area, which spans Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The park covers an area of 160 square kilometers and is home to five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains: Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo. This park is famous for its mountain gorillas, the stunning relief features of the Mountains of Moher, and the exceptional wildlife that thrives in this volcanic region.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda
The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in the southwestern part of Uganda, is a testament to the country’s commitment to conservation. Spanning about 331 square kilometers, this park is a world heritage site and one of the thirty-two globally recognized hotspots of biological diversity. Bwindi is a recognized conservation area, home to almost half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. The challenging terrain, including the Longons, adds to the allure of gorilla trekking in this park.
Gorilla Trekking Experience
Trekking Terrain and Difficulty
Volcanoes National Park
As for the type of vegetation, Volcanoes National Park is prime of the properties of volcanic nature; it is covered by bamboo forests and filled with open meadows and thickets. Evidently, the treks may not be greatly taxing or maybe even simple strolls depending on where the specific gorilla groups are located. Generally, the altitude in the park is higher compared to other parks in Tanzania; this is because the park is located on the eastern rift of the Great East African Rift Valley with an altitude of 2400- 4507m/7874-14787ft which at time can make the trekking hard mainly for people with poor high altitude trekking endowment.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The terrain of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is quite challenging, with numerous drop-offs and steep slopes. Trekking in the park is difficult due to the dense rainforest and rugged terrain. Hiking often involves navigating through dense shrub cover, ascending and descending steep inclines, and balancing on steep trails. The park’s altitude ranges from 1,160 to 2,607 meters (3,806 to 8,553 feet), making it lower than Volcanoes National Park. However, it remains difficult due to thick vegetation and steep slopes. Gorilla Families and Trekking Duration
Gorilla Viewing Experience
Volcanoes National Park
The trekking experience of the gorillas in Volcanoes National Park is however said to be more exact compared to those in Bwindi impenetrable forest mainly because this park is relatively smaller and the gorillas occupy fairly open spaces most of the time. Finally when the gorillas are spotted, most visitors are allowed an on one hour to spend time watching the gorillas as well as taking shots. The gorillas in Volcanoes National Park are habituated, they do not avoid human beings thus one gets close to them and the photography is good.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
This of course due to the fact that the habitat of the park is comparatively thick and larger than that in Mgahinga and the gorilla groups are also relatively more in number. The undergrowth of this park means that coming face to face with the gorillas is much closer, and therefore less as predictable. People also spend one hour in the presence of gorillas, however due to the high vegetation cover and the worst over grown terrain it feels like you are really in the jungles.
Additional Activities
Volcanoes National Park
– Golden Monkey Trekking: A visitor can take a track to visit the endangered species; the golden monkeys in the Virunga Mountains.
– Hiking and Volcano Climbs: Some of the favorite trekking offers include Bisoke and Karisimbi trekking though the latter is steeper.
– Cultural Experiences: The cultural practices and beliefs that are exhibited in the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village are those of the Rwandese people.
– Visit to Dian Fossey’s Grave: An historical account of gorilla conservation can be made as seen by a visit to the Karisoke Research Center.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
– Bird Watching: Bwindi is packed with over 350 bird species most of which are endemics.
– Nature Walks and Hikes: Several trails include the hiker trail, the Audubon trail and the butterfly garden that provide an opportunity to see more of the park natural set up.
– Batwa Cultural Experience: As the Batwa pygmy community, they perform cultural tours that help in recall of the traditional life.
– Waterfalls and Scenic Views: Several beautiful waterfalls as well as viewpoints are found in the park.
Accessibility and Accommodation
Volcanoes National Park
Accessibility: Volcanoes National Park is within a 2—to 3-hour drive from Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, through good networked tarmac roads.
Accommodation: In the area surrounding the park, there are literally hundreds of establishments, from top-of-the-range lodges to the simplest guest houses. Some of the most recommended ones are Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge in the Rushaga region, Virunga Lodge in the Bwindi region, and Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, also in the Bwindi region.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
– Accessibility: From Kampala, Uganda’s capital, the journey takes about 8-10hrs drive, while from Kigali, the journey takes about 4-5hrs drive. There are also domestic flights to the neighboring airstrips.
Accommodation: For luxury, there are options like Bwindi Lodge and Mahogany Springs. For those who seek more affordable accommodation, there is Buhoma Community Rest Camp.
Permits and Costs
Volcanoes National Park
– Permit Cost: Gorilla trekking permits for Rwanda is USD 1,500 per person per trek.
– Booking: Due to high demands, permits are required to be booked in advance and during the busy season, permits wills attract a high price.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
– Permit Cost: Trekking the mountain gorillas in Uganda costs USD 700 for one trek for one person and it is cheaper as compared to Rwanda.
– Booking: Regarding Rwanda, permits must be booked in advance to be sure that one finds a permit for purchase.
Conclusion
Volcanoes National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park have similarities of being two of the few places on earth where one can track mountain gorillas in the wild, but both parks are very different. Easier sighting is experienced from the Volcanoes National Park area since it’s more predictable, more accessible, and a variety of other activities in another extra-ordinary volcanic region. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park provides steeper difficulty in hiking, more numbers of gorilla families, and diverse species in a tropical serene rainforest background.
Depending on the situation, you might prefer one park to the other due to” costs, physical ability or interests in other related activities. Regardless of the park you are going to visit, gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda or Bwindi Impenetrable Park Uganda will be very interesting and challenging, at the same time being one of the memorable wildlife experiences.
