Bwindi Gorilla Trekking and Mount Kilimanjaro Hiking are Easily Plannable – African safaris are always more than a reserved package. The endless Savannah landscapes of Maasai Mara or Serengeti National Park, and the impenetrable forests housing the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, are all well known, but a trip to Africa still never fails to surprise you.
You might have had a trip to the Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon in Uganda, or perhaps to Queen Elizabeth National Park for the tree-climbing lions, or to Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park for the only canopy walk experience in East Africa. But now you want to simply “hit two birds with one stone”: hike up Mount Kilimanjaro and then go on gorilla safaris in Uganda. Such a safari is entirely possible, engaging in two of the best activities in East Africa.
Tourists to East Africa, ten to one, are on a hunt for lifetime encounters with the endangered apes in their natural habitats or breaking one of the world records: hiking to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, East Africa’s highest mountain. With the fast-growing tourism industry, especially on the African continent, the problems of limited accessibility are long gone. New and improved roads have been constructed, and air transport is no longer a hassle in Africa.
When it comes to gorilla trekking in Uganda and a Kilimanjaro safari, it is best when it starts from Tanzania and concludes in Uganda. Mount Kilimanjaro stands at a height of 5,895 meters, making it the highest peak in Africa and the world’s tallest freestanding mountain.
Unlike other tall mountains, hiking to the top of Kilimanjaro is not very challenging. The hike takes you through five different climate zones, from the rainforest to alpine desert and finally glacial arctic. After all the effort, the rugged trails, and the challenges, the view at the top is breathtakingly amazing.
Approximately 30,000 people climb Mount Kilimanjaro each year. Unfortunately, about 50% of climbers do not reach the summit, mostly due to altitude illnesses. Many climbers opt for the Marangu route, the shortest trek taking five days (round trip).
After trekking down the mountain and enjoying a relaxing stay at the lodge, tourists can board a direct flight from either Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha Airport to Kigali in Rwanda, then drive to Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park—renowned destinations for gorilla trekking in Uganda.
Bwindi is one of only four national parks in the world that house the endangered mountain gorillas. Over 600 mighty apes, about half of the total population of mountain gorillas, reside here, making the park the premier gorilla trekking destination in the world. It is predominantly made up of four gorilla sectors that are home to a total of 18 gorilla families: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo.
Another amazing gorilla destination in Uganda is the captivating Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. A quieter national park located close to Bwindi, it is one of the three national parks that make up the Virunga Conservation Area; the others include Virunga National Park in the D.R. Congo and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
Mgahinga boasts the Nyakagezi family, home to only 10 gorillas, although it is estimated that over 80 mountain gorillas inhabit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Trekking gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park takes trekkers through dense forests, navigating slippery trails with only the support of tree branches and a walking stick, avoiding thorny trees—all summing up to an amazing experience known as gorilla trekking.
Upon meeting the giants of the forest, tourists spend a magical hour observing them in their natural habitat, juveniles and blackbacks leaping from one tree branch to another, and silverbacks vigilantly watching over their troops. Trekkers in poor health are not allowed to trek gorillas, as these apes are highly susceptible to human contagious diseases like flu and cough.
The best additions to gorilla trekking in Uganda are the Batwa cultural encounter, and experiences at Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mutanda, and Lake Mulehe. If it’s an African safari, let it be one that combines a hiking tour to the top of the great African Hill, Kilimanjaro, and an encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda. This is entirely possible and can be done in a short time-frame.
