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The Magnificent Mountain Gorillas: Uganda’s treasure for Gorilla Trekking Safaris

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest: Uganda’s treasure for Gorilla Safaris

Uganda is a beautiful country with an impressive number of destinations to visit for your vacation in Africa and with lots of tourist attractions. Though on books, this landlocked country may not be so popular, those that have tried a number of countries in Africa can stand with me that it is a no waste of time to visit Uganda.

Travelers to Uganda are drawn by its stunning landscape – green rolling hills, snowcapped mountains, rainforests, majestic rivers and massive lakes as well as the game. There are also a number of outstanding national parks for your safari encounter with the wildlife for which Africa is renowned.

When it comes to primates, Uganda has the largest concentration of these species than anywhere else in the world. There are three National parks specifically for primates only and these include Kibale Forest, Mgahinga National Park and the majesty Bwindi Forest.

The 331 sq. km Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is undoubtedly the most popular destination in Uganda to the world as it offers a gorilla safari experience that is better lived than narrated. The best place to see mountain gorillas not only in Uganda, but also in the world. It is termed Impenetrable Forest with a good reason. The trees are thick and the forest thicker with dense undergrowth, creepers, bamboos and parasitic plants such as mistletoe and orchids. This environment is the habitat for mountain gorilla’s, chimpanzee, and 8 other species of primate.

Gorilla trekking

Not less than half the world’s population of an estimated 1050 mountain gorillas have sanctuary here. Gorilla tracking is limited to small groups of 8 people per gorilla family and the licenses are issued to ensure minimum disruption to the routine of the animals. Tracking the gorillas is an arduous task and you should be prepared for up to 3 – 8 hours of hiking.

A gorilla permit costs $700 per person and if you need to spend more time with these humble giants, there is a window for Gorilla habituation experience that costs $1500 per person. Tracking Gorillas in Bwindi is done in four different sectors in the park; Ruhija, Buhoma, Rushaga and Nkuringo. Good physical condition is a must. You are advised to make arrangements 4-12 months prior to the date of your visit. Bwindi is essentially a rain forest and it is necessary to bring along a raincoat, walking boots and gloves.

About Mountain Gorillas

Gorillas like human are curious, they can be bored, bold, annoyed, have pleasure, excited, afraid, can worry, show affection, be thoughtful and they can be hostile. Gorillas like to study people to see if they are friendly. They are classified in the Mountain Gorillas and the Lowland Gorillas that are further classified into the western and Eastern lowland.

Mountain gorillas are threatened primate species in the world with the remaining living in Africa in only 4 National parks of the 3 countries of Uganda (Bwindi Forest and Mgahinga), Rwanda (Volcanoes) and Democratic Republic of Congo (Virunga). There are no Mountain Gorillas living outside of their native mountain forest home

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