5 Reasons You Need to See Gorillas in Uganda
5 Reasons You Need to See Gorillas in Uganda : Standing a few meters from a silverback in complete silence on the cold ground of the misty forest for 1 hour is one of the life’s greatest privileges. With not more than 1,064 mountain gorillas in existence, gorilla trekking adventures provide a rare opportunity to observe the everyday interactions of these mysterious gentle primates.
The endangered mountain gorillas only live in the dense vegetation of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and in the dormant volcanic Virunga mountain range stretching across Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Virunga National Park in DR.Congo.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is an extraordinary wildlife experience that allows you to come face to face with these gentle giants in their natural habitat.
Here are 5 reasons you need to see gorillas in Uganda
- You will be where half the world’s mountain gorillas live
In Uganda there are two gorilla trekking spots; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Mountain gorillas don’t pay mind to political borders, so the populations across the Virungas re relatively fluid.
Uganda has an edge, however, since Bwindi Forest alone is home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas.
Also called “The Place of Darkness” due to its dense treetops, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is an ancient, montane and lowland forest spanning 128 square miles. The park was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its incredible biodiversity and the large number of endangered species that call it home.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the second gorilla destination in Uganda covers an area of 13 square miles of the larger Virunga habitat, which stretches across 168 square miles into Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mgahinga consists of three of the eight major Virunga peaks; Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura and Mount Sabyinyo.
- You take part in fighting habitat destruction by supporting community enrichment
The main threat to mountain gorillas is habitat destruction, communities around the parks are heavily populated and residents have traditionally used land around the national park boundaries for farming or logging.
Since tourism is now the most lucrative industry in Uganda, and the majority of tourists come to see the mountain gorillas, trekkers are encouraged to seek out ways to give back to the communities they visit. Hiring a porter is one of the popular options, who is always a local resident and occasionally a reformed poacher. The landscape within the park is unpredictable and difficult; porters help guide trekkers through river crossings and up steep, muddy inclines.
Other options is to participate in community-led cultural initiatives. In Bwindi village, the Bwindi Bar trains disenfranchised young adults in hospitality through rigorous classes and work experience. Around Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, elders of the Batwa tribe lead visitors on a forest tour along the Batwa Trail, explaining how their self-sufficient, forest-dwelling tribe traditionally used medicinal plants.
- You will find more affordable trekking permits
For the gorillas to stay healthy and wild, there are strict regulations in place starting with the gorilla trekking permit process. Daily viewings of each gorilla group are extremely limited, so visitors should apply well before their desired rates.
In Uganda, gorilla permits costs vary depending on the category of the tourists. For international visitors, a gorilla permit currently costs US$ 800.
Most gorilla trekking in Uganda takes place in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where there are multiple starting points and several gorilla families to track. Visits are led by park rangers and groups of eight are allowed to observe the gorillas for one hour, in silence and at a safe distance.
- You can take on challenging terrain
The southwestern Uganda’s landscape is made up of green terraced hills and rolling volcanic slopes and it is clear this area of the country is not for the faint of heart. Adding in the high altitude and the challenging terrain, and gorilla trekking in Uganda promises to be the adventure of a lifetime.
To reach the gorillas is hard work and requires navigating uphill and downhill through thick tangles of vines, thorns, and roots. The appropriately named Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is only accessible by foot, there are no paths, no signs, no directions and more often than not, no clearings which is why the park rangers carry machetes.
The good news? The reward seems that much better after all the hard work.
- Other fascinating primates will cross your path
Uganda is a primate haven for primate lovers. In addition to mountain gorillas, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to another endangered species; the golden monkeys. These furry comical monkeys live high up in bamboo forests. Tracking golden monkeys is very similar to tracking mountain gorillas, but the trek itself is not quite as challenging.
Further afield, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park hosts L’hoest monkeys, gray-cheeked mangabeys, and blue monkeys. In Kibale Forest National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park has blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and olive baboons among others.
