Uganda’s mountain gorillas have lived in the country’s dense tropical forests for thousands of years, primarily in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the Ugandan section of the Virunga Massif, which includes Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
During the 20th century, these gorillas faced serious threats from deforestation, poaching, human settlement, and disease, causing their numbers to decline. In 1991, Uganda established Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and upgraded the protection of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to national park status, strengthening conservation efforts and safeguarding the gorillas’ habitat.
In 1993, Uganda introduced regulated gorilla trekking tourism, allowing visitors to observe habituated gorilla families under strict guidelines. Revenue from tourism has helped fund conservation programs and provided economic benefits to nearby communities.
Today, Uganda is home to more than half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Ongoing conservation efforts by the government, local communities, conservation organizations, and researchers have helped the population recover, making Uganda one of the world’s leading destinations for mountain gorilla conservation and ecotourism.
WHERE TO SEE GORILLAS IN UGANDA
Bwindi impenetrable national park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of Uganda’s most famous national parks and is located in the southwestern part of the country. It is renowned for having the largest population of mountain gorillas in the world, with more than half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas living within the park.
Covering approximately 331 square kilometers of ancient tropical rainforest, Bwindi is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its exceptional biodiversity. In addition to mountain gorillas, the park is home to hundreds of bird species, butterflies, mammals, and a wide variety of plant life.
Bwindi has several habituated mountain gorilla families that are open to visitors for gorilla trekking. These families are found in four main trekking sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. Some of the well-known gorilla families include Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura, Katwe, Busingye, Mishaya, Nshongi, Bweza, Kahungye, Christmas, Mucunguzi, Bitukura, Oruzogo, Kyaguriro, and Nkuringo.
Today, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of Africa’s leading ecotourism destinations, attracting thousands of visitors each year. Tourism plays a vital role in supporting gorilla conservation, protecting the park’s unique ecosystem, and improving the livelihoods of surrounding communities.
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Mgahinga National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda’s smallest national park, covering approximately 33.7 square kilometers. It is located in the southwestern corner of Uganda in Kisoro District, where Uganda borders Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The park was established in 1991 to protect the endangered mountain gorillas and the unique Afro-montane ecosystem of the Virunga Mountains. It forms part of the larger Virunga Conservation Area, which includes protected parks in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Mgahinga is home to three extinct volcanic mountains: Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Sabyinyo. These volcanoes provide important habitat for mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and many other species of wildlife.
Before the park was gazetted, local communities depended on the forest for grazing livestock, collecting firewood, hunting, and farming. When the park was created, these activities were restricted to protect its wildlife and natural resources. Since then, conservation programs and tourism have helped create employment opportunities and encouraged local communities to participate in protecting the park.
Today, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is famous for gorilla trekking and golden monkey tracking. It is home to the habituated Nyakagezi Gorilla Family, which is well known for its stable group and frequent sightings. Visitors also enjoy volcano hiking, birdwatching, and learning about the culture of the indigenous Batwa people, who were the original inhabitants of the forest before it became a national park.
Although it is Uganda’s smallest national park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park plays a vital role in conserving endangered mountain gorillas and preserving the biodiversity of the Virunga Mountains.
