The Unwinding Scenic Roads into the Gorilla Highlands
The Gorilla Highlands in Western Uganda, East Africa are some of the extremely dusty and rugged roads braved by travelers from the whole world who visit the endangered mountain gorillas.
These dusty roads that turn muddy during the wet season offer the only getaway into the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park, two protected areas that offer home to almost half of the world's remaining population of mountain gorillas.
The roads lead you through the breathtaking beauty of the Kigezi Highlands, Bwindi tropical rain forests, and the Virunga Volcanoes of Central Africa. A journey through the highland roads offers thrilling experiences for the most part and at the end of your drive, you will conclude that Uganda is the Pearl of Africa.
One of the great spectacles during the trip is the beautiful gorges that offer delightful photographic opportunities.
For the most part of the road, you travel through impressive but extensively all-weather roads that are extremely dusty and rugged during the dry season and turn muddy and impassable during the wet season.
Traveling these roads requires powerful 4x4 vehicles such the Toyota Land Cruisers though the locals know how to maneuver parts of these roads using 2-wheel vehicles.
Kigezi Highlands
Kigezi is one of Uganda's most beautiful regions. The Kigezi highlands are located in a region that has been christened the "Switzerland of Africa". It lies at a high altitude that ranges between 2,270 – 2,570 meters above sea level. The area is endowed with rolling terraced hills and mountains, lakes, and extinct volcanoes.
The region is uniquely characterized by the western arm of the Albertine Rift. It is also home to Africa's great lakes including Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mutanda, Lake Edward, and Lake Kyahafi.
The spectacular lakes to visit within the Kigezi Highlands include Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mutanda, Lake Chahafi, etc.
The Kigezi region is also a chain of volcanic mountains that cover the Southwestern part of Uganda, northern Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
With its world-famous mountain gorillas, this impenetrable forest is a UNESCO World Heritage site in South Western Uganda.
The Bwindi Forest is often referred to as the place of darkness. It is one of the ancient rainforests that is believed to have survived the ice age. It is characterized by lots of undergrowth that make it impenetrable. The park is a safe haven for more than 480 mountain gorillas. It is also home to about 120 species of mammals of which 11 species are primates. Other large mammals include forest elephants, buffaloes, duikers, and more.
This park is frequently visited by tourists looking to gorilla trekking in Uganda, one of the world’s best-rated wildlife experiences.
Virunga Volcanoes
The roads offer an ultimate getaway into the Virunga Volcanoes that extend into Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Within the Virunga massif, there are three protected areas that protect the mountain gorillas; Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, Uganda's Mgahinga National Park and DR Congo's Virunga National Park, the oldest protected area in Africa. A drive through the Virunga Mountains is filled with picturesque sights in the remote backdrops of rural Africa.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
The small protected area was gazetted in 1991 to protect the mountain gorillas. The park is home to three Virunga Volcanoes; Mount Muhavura, Mount Gahinga and Mount Sabinyo. A rocky road leads to the park gate and a walk through the park will take you through the bamboo and broad-leaved montane forest, down the mountains.
Mgahinga is home to the endangered mountain gorillas; great apes that can only be seen in Africa. It is also home to the endangered golden monkey, an ancient world-order monkey that is endemic to Africa. Other animals in the area include leopards, giant forest hogs, bushbuck, buffaloes, etc.
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