Differences between Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park.

The two mountain gorilla parks in Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, are different from one another. Visitors that come to Uganda to see mountain gorillas will be able to witness these primates in their natural environment. Most people believe that because mountain gorillas are found in each of these parks, they must be identical or at least comparable in every way.

Naturally, both share characteristics that enable mountain gorillas to live, but they are also distinct and special in their own right. For this reason, we discuss some of the distinctions between Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in this post. Although the list is not all-inclusive, it provides some insight into the distinctions you should be aware of when you have the opportunity to visit the parks.

Where

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is situated in Kisoro District in southwestern Uganda, whereas Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is situated in Kanungu District.

Dimensions

The combined size of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is 33.7 km² (13 sq mi) and 321 km² (124 sq mi).

Elevation

The elevation of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is 2,227-4,127 meters (7,306-13,540 feet), while that of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is 1,160-2,607 meters (3,806-8,553 feet).

Climate Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is colder with more fog throughout the year and average rainfall amounts, while Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is cooler with less sun and more rainfall throughout the year.

Vegetation Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is an afro-montane park with bamboo and alpine forests, while Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a dense, impenetrable forest.

Families of mountain gorillas

There are up to twelve habituated mountain gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, while there is just one habituated mountain gorilla group (Nyakagezi) in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Trekking with mountain gorillas

While mountain gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is easier because to the relatively straight and shorter terrain, it is more difficult in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park due to the rocky and longer terrain.

Other Wildlife There are over 350 bird species and 120 mammal species in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, in addition to the gorillas. There are 180 bird species and 70 mammal species in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Climbing mountains

Although there are a few steep paths in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, mountain climbing is not available there. Visitors can walk to the summits of Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Sabyinyo in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Local Travel

Because of how far this forest extends to the nearby settlements, you can visit a number of them while you’re in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. However, you can only visit one or two Batwa settlements and the residents of Punishment Island in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Accessibility

The road from Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park travels via Kabele District to Kanungu. About nine to ten hours are needed for this road journey. Bwindi is also accessible by road from Kigali and via Queen Elizabeth National Park. Road access to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is also available from Kigali or Kampala via Kisoro district. It takes roughly nine to ten hours to go to the park from Kampala, and four to five hours to get there from Kigali.