Uganda is a well known destination for mountain gorilla trekking in Africa. This country located astride the Equator is home to nearly half of the remaining 900 mountain gorillas left in the whole world. Mountain gorillas turn out to be major tourist attraction though the country is also a fascinating destination with many other touristic adventures/ activities including white water rafting along the Nile, chimpanzee tracking, game viewing in small groups, mountain trekking and more.
The country has two gorilla national parks and the endangered mountain gorillas can be trekked from Uganda’s hilly and forested national parks basically from Bwindi Impenetrable Natural Forest ( a home to almost half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas) and Mgahinga National park in the Gahinga ranges in the South West of Uganda.
Mountain Gorillas
Nearly half of the world’s surviving mountain gorillas can be found in Uganda’s jungles of Bwindi Natural forest and Mgahinga ranges. Tracking mountain gorillas from Uganda, is an exciting an thrilling encounter/ experience one can ever have. Mountain gorillas too are a close relative of human race, sharing so much character in common like caring for the young ones, eating, and playing among others.
In Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable Natural Forest hosts the highest number of these endangered species and with 14 habituated gorilla family groups (Mubare Group, Habinyanja Group:, Rushegura Group, Bitukura Group among others) for visitors. In their family groups, a Silverback-a male adult gorilla is usually the head and therefore responsible for the protection of its family members from any sorts of attacks if any.
Visiting the mountain gorillas is such a wonderful experience, however it’s done only in groups of 8 members where 8 visitors are allowed to visit a gorilla family group per day and limited to only an hour’s stay with the animals . During this one hour stay, tourists are permitted to take photos, make videos and even watch them as they play, eat and even tease each other.
Important Things to Know About Gorilla Trekking
This activity not only includes nature walks with in the forest but also sits and observes these rare gorillas as they carry out their day to day activities. This is a tiring activity since it includes walking into deep moist and muddy rain forests of Bwindi, but when you meet eye to eye with these primates, the challenging activity becomes an adventurous item to remember.
Gorilla trekking needs good behaviours as well as the respect for the environment since it helps with the conservation of the forest. Along any Uganda safari, there is no wildlife adventure that competes with these unique primates who share 95% of their DNA with the humans.
This is an adventurous activity to any guests who comes for a safari to Uganda. Tracking these primates gives them a chance of surviving since they get to be conserved through the incomes that are collected from the gorilla permits sold. There are about 800 individuals that are remaining in the whole world and Bwindi impenetrable National parks 340 members. Dian Fossey did most of the conservation of these gorillas in Volcanoes National park in Rwanda. The Dian Fossey Foundation has also done great work of conserving these species as well as encouraging the participation of the local people in the conservation of wildlife in the game reserves.
Though these mountain gorillas are related to humans, they have remained the greatest threat to these primates; these have been hunted for heads and hands and are sold off as lamp shades and souvenirs. Many of these have been killed in preventing poachers from stealing their young babies that are illegally sold to the zoos were they have got low chances of surviving.
Gorilla tracking safaris are so interesting and offer you the great opportunity to come close with these serene gorillas in their natural habitat. Gorilla trekking is carried out in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC, and this depends on the area conditions and the ease to access the gorilla’s permits. Many of the tourists come to see them which confirm to be so vital towards their general survival. The permit cost is utilised in financing and establishing patrols which are so vital in the protection of mountain gorillas from the poachers.
Where to Stay
For accommodation, its best to book those around and near the established sectors since this gorilla tracking activity starts early mornings. And are various accommodation facilities in both Bwindi and Mgahinga gorilla parks such as lodges, camps and cottages with standard bed services and cuisines. Upon making your booking for a gorilla safari you need to get to know the location of the gorilla group prebooked so that you can get possible lodges where you will stay.
Getting There
The journey from Kampala to Bwindi Forest takes between 7 and 9 hours to drive from Kampala to the two mountain gorilla homesteads in Uganda. During this drive, you can be able to enjoy en route views of the real Uganda’s scenic views as well as enjoying game drives in Queen Elizabeth or Lake Mburo national parks.
Alternatively, you can use charter planes from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips that are near Bwindi and Mgahinga gorilla national parks.