Advantages of Gorilla Tourism in Bwindi

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is home to half population of mountain gorillas, the other population can be found in the Virunga region in Congo, Rwanda and Uganda as well. The park is situated in the south western part of the country. Bwindi impenetrable forest national park was established in 1991 and the first habituated gorilla family Mubare was trekked by tourists in 1993. The boasts with 13 species of primates,120 species of mammals, 348 species of birds and about 400 species of plants.

Advantages of Gorilla Tourism in Bwindi

Gorilla Tourism Advantages

Gorilla tourism in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has led to employment opportunities, most people have been employed in the park as game rangers, wardens and guides. The lodges were tourists also sleep have created employment opportunities.

Gorilla tourism has also led to the conservation of the endangered mountain gorillas, gorilla doctors and researchers have been able to study and learn more about mountain gorillas through gorilla tourism. The regular presence of people trekking mountain gorillas also deters poachers.

Gorilla tourism in Bwindi has led to generation of revenue through the sale of gorilla permits which cost $600 per person; Uganda gets a lot of money annually from gorilla tourism making tourism a big foreign exchange earner in the country.

Gorilla tourism has also helped to market Uganda as a tourism destination because through gorilla tourism many tourists have been able to visit other national parks in the country like Kidepo valley and Queen Elizabeth with help of tour operators who market the country.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable has led to community development through construction of roads, schools and hospitals in the communities surrounding the park.

Mountain gorillas are not only of a great advantage to Bwindi but to the eco system through the disperse seeds of the fruits they eat all over the forest, when the seedlings grow they replenish the forest and help other animals including gorillas in the forest as well as humans living near gorilla habitats because the plants sustain the environment.

How to get to Bwindi

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park can be reached within 9-11 hours from Kampala the capital of Uganda, 5-6 hours drive from Kigali the capital of Rwanda and about 3-4 hours drive from Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park. Luxurious or non adventurer’s tourists can fly to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airfield.

Best time to visit Bwindi

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is an all year round destination but some months are better than the rest. The best time to visit is in the dry season of June to September and December to February.

Cost of gorilla permits

Gorilla trekking permits cost $600 per person and the gorilla habituation permits cost $1500 per person. Children under the age of 15 years will not be allowed to trek mountain gorillas, tourists are also advised to book their gorilla permits in advance of 3 months before arriving in the country because there always on high demand.

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