Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four habituated gorilla centers which are Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga. Bwindi has over 400 gorillas in ss Each of these areas has gorillas families that have been habituated and opened for tourism purposes. Uganda currently has about 19 gorilla families open for tourism, of which 18 are in Bwindi Forest and another at Mgahinga National Park . Some of these gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include the Rushegura family, Mubare family, Oruzogo gorilla family, Bweza gorillas family, Nkuringo family, Bitukura family, and others. Bwindi is open for gorilla trekking all year long, and is the major activity forming uganda safaris but the best times to go are from June to August and December to February. At these times, the forest trails are drier and therefore less slippery. Also, your chance of a dry gorilla viewing experience is higher during these months. This might result in a better experience and photography will be easier. Mgahinga National Park has one habituated gorilla group that can be tracked by tourists. Gorilla tracking is the most thrilling tourist activity in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The habituated gorilla group in this park is called the Nyakagezi, which consists of 9 members, 2 silverbacks, 3 adult females, 2 juveniles, and 2 infants. Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is open to visitors throughout the year. But it is best done in June, July, August, and September then December, January, and February. During this period, gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is easier because it is a dry season and the habitat remains relatively drier thus making it simpler for visitors to hike through the dense jungles and steep slopes to search for mountain gorillas. However, March, April, May, and October, November are equally good for one to embark on gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park but these months are characterized by heavy rainfall, muddy and slippery steep slopes which make it challenging for one to hike while in search for these apes. Gorilla tracking is an intensive experience at Bwindi national park that can take the whole day. The guide leads you through the gorilla’s world, explaining aspects of their ecology and behavior along the way. We must stress that, while you have a very good chance of seeing gorillas, success is NOT guaranteed! However, from the past sightings, there are high chances of meeting the mountain gorillas. When tracking, travelers should know that the mountain gorillas are wild creatures with no fixed routine, and finding them requires the skill and experience of your trackers and guides, as well as luck.

3 Days Murchison Fals Safari itinerary

3 DAYS MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK FOR ANITA BELLKOM X 2 PAX 1 TWIN Day 1. Kampala - Murchison Falls National Park. Your driver/guide will pick you from Kampala at 7:- 8.30am from where you will start the drive to Murchison Falls National Park with lunch en route in Masindi town. Murchison falls National Park covers 3,840-sq km and has recorded 76 mammal species and 450 bird species. The altitude is 619m at the delta and 1,292 at Rabongo Hill. The mean temperature is 29 ºC-high and 21 ºC-low. Overnight at Red Chili camp budget facility bandas.

Day 2. Murchison Falls National Park. Morning after an early breakfast, cross with ferry and drive in the northern bank of River Nile start the day with an early morning game drive. You will most likely be able to view those animals that are unique to the African Savannah like giraffe, antelope, lion, elephant, hyena, buffalo and the Uganda Kob.. After lunch you will take on a launch cruise on the Nile River. The cruise takes you to the Bottom of the thundering falls where you will see huge crocodiles, schools of hippos, buffaloes, elephants and a variety of water birds like herons, cormorants, ducks, bee-eaters, kingfishers, skimmers, fish eagles and sometimes the rare shoebill. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. Day 3. Murchison Falls National Park - Kampala. After an early breakfast, visist top of the fall if you do not do it on day 1 and later Continue to Kampala with lunch stop on the way and be dropped at your home stay in Kampala. END OF SAFARI:

Uganda receives 1st Airbus to boost Uganda Airlines flights to Big cities of the world

Uganda receives 1st Airbus to boost Uganda Airlines flights to Big cities of the world connecting to Dubai   and China Cities. Many Ugandans fly to these cities for trade links . Uganda  has  already mapped  out long routes that include Guangzhou and Beijing in China, London, and Dubai as the first routes.The A330neo is powered by Rolls-Royce's latest-generation Trent 7000 engines and features a new wing with an increased span. The cabin provides the comfort of the new airspace amenities including state-of-the-art passenger in-flight entertainment and Wi-Fi connectivity systems, amongst others.

 

Uganda tourism is likely to be boosted by direct flights from these big cities. If Chinese can get direct flights to Uganda then many  exponential tourists from china are likely to buy Ugandan safari packages to destination Uganda. London is another busy hub that will allow many tourist to connect to Entebbe airport without any difficult.Thus in such cases tourism will be boosted. Uganda has got one major airport Entebbe Airport and receives many flights arriving from flights of Emirates, Ethiopian airlines, Kenya airways. Sn Bruseels, KLM Royal dutch, Egypt air  and many more connect to Entebbe airport on daily basis

Travel Hemispheres brings you special flying tour packages to the Pearl of Africa Uganda. That will help you experience the hospitality of Ugandans both by air and road traveling. Booking and planning tour with us in time will save you the hassle and time to secure a life time experience of Uganda’s beautiful attractions. Among these include gorilla tours, wildlife safaris gorilla safaris, bird watching and primate safaris plus lots of game viewing and bird watching. As Covid 19 continue eating up  tourism industry  dew to social distance issues, when you do flying safari in Uganda will be easily done.

Where is Bwindi Impenetrabel Forest

Bwindi  Forest  popularly  is known as the Bwindi  Impenetrable forest national park .  This forest had existed from time immemorial and is among the rich African Tropical forests still intact and hence called impenetrable forest  “ Place of darkness” . This forest was gazetted in  1942, and was upgraded to Bwindi Impenetrable forest national Park in 1992.   And was recognized as a World’s Heritage Site in 1994. Because of the nature of this forest even natives took time to penetrate this forest and this why even the outside world took long to know much about Mountain Gorillas.  As per last census Bwindi national park has over 400 gorillas more than half of world’s mountain gorillas existing on earth.

Bwindi National park is part of the Virunga Massif that supports the Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Mgahinga national park in Uganda and Parc national des Virunga  in Congo. These are only national parks in the world where Mountain gorillas are found. Bwindi has the largest concentrations of mountain gorillas.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is 327Sq Km of tangled vegetation draped over a deeply fissured landscape terrain  of deep slippery  valleys , high hills, draughty ridges  and punctuated with natural streams of rivers flowing all directions. Thus trekking mountain gorillas means the efforts you spend negotiating the terrain which may not be easy but is worth paying your efforts when you encounter the mountain gorillas in  their natural habitat being that mountain gorillas are among the premier wildlife encounters sought in the world people are seeking to have in their lifetime. 

Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park

mountain gorilla sliverback

Bwindi Temperatures  and climate

Bwindi can be cold especially in the  morning and at night going as far as 7 degrees centigrade .  The coolest months are usually June and July.  Thus warm clothing is usually preferred whiletrekking mountain gorillas safari. And you may not avoid rain falling on you because it usually rains almost every day  - This is a  true rain forest of Africa  if you have heard  of rain forests , Bwindi is a typical rain forest of Africa.  Thus a trekking  through this Africa’s ancient rainforest  is where will encounter mountain gorillas. Usually warm clothing’s are a must while trekking mountain gorilla and wet proof clothes are preferred  while trekking.

Bwindi receives a lot of rain 2000- 2500 mm of rain per year. The area has 2 rainy seasons in the months of March – May and in September – November  where Bwindi has a lot of rain concentrations. Thus other  months receive moderate rain and are good for mountain trekking  periods.

Bwindi Flora and Fauna

Bwindi having one of the richest eco systems, Bwindi national park supports a lot of plants and animals and insects  in Africa. It has 120 species of mammals, 350 species of birds, 202 species of butterflies,, 163 species of trees, , 27 species of frogs, 50 species of reptiles, 100 species of ferns, , chameleons, geckos,  and many more. Birders find Bwindi a haven for birders. Birders cannot fail to view over 100 species  of birds in a  single day. Most birds are  Albertine rift endemics which are difficult to be seen in other parts  of East Africa.   Chimpanzees do exist here but are not easily seen, many monkey species – L’Hosests, red tailed and blue monkeys , black and white Colobus, baboons and the famous mountain gorillas all are fount here.  The forest also has forest elephants which are not easily seen  but they  do exist in Bwindi. Thus trekking mountain  gorillas will not only yield gentle giants but viewing other primates as well.

Accessing Bwindi impenetrable Forest.

Bwindi is approximately away from Entebbe 500km.  Road is all paved save for 80 km from Rukungiri to Buhoma. I understand this section will also be done in the 2 years and get completed. This will reduce the time spent on the road from 9 hours to 6 hours. Today Bwindi has like 4 points where to start gorilla trekking , save for Buhoma the original one , Ruhija is the also near around 460 km , Then can also go through Kisoro to trek mountain gorillas of Nkuringo and Rushaga. 

Air transport to Bwindi

Today we have daily  scheduled flights from Entebbe to all placed mentioned in the above paragraph. Flight leave daily from Entebbe Airport and flight takes like 1,5 hours. Travel hemispheres arranges this and  can bookgorilla trekking flying safari with us.   Even in the afternoons there are some days when you can book flight. Gorilla safaris continue to go on in all other parts of Bwindi where mountain gorillas have been habituated . as we talk and read Bwindi has the highest habituated mountain gorillas that can be trekked by visitors.

What is A Mountain Gorilla Sliver Back ?

Mountain gorillas differ from lowland gorillas (Western Gorillas). At first scientists thought there was no difference between these gorillas.  The sliver back  gorilla is  the  Mature male mountain gorillas of about 12 years that have grown a sliver grey hair on its back. A saddle of grey hair grows on its back after attaining sexually maturity age. Gorillas are very social animals and each group call it a family may have 5 up 30 or 40 members headed by 1 sliver back mountain gorilla.  A such group will have a sliver back or two of them heading the family. Other members of the group may contain females who are wives to the sliver back thus sliver back gorillas are polygamous in nature. Others are Juveniles and infants. The dominant sliver back gorilla commands the family and gives protection and other young sliver backs take orders from the head. Orders may include the directions to take while searching for food and if threatened who should fight first . A silver back enjoys the center of attraction at any time in the group or family.Bwindi National park is the home of mountain gorillas situated  western Uganda

Juvenile mountain Gorilla

Mountain Gorilla Sliver Back

BwindiNational Park isthe home of Mountain Gorillas. It is estimated to half of the world’s surviving population of mountain gorillas –400 live within these boundaries shared by Uganda, Rwanda and Congo part of the Virunga Massif. Mountain gorillas live in family groups like  Ruhija , Nkuringo, Buhoma  groups  

Mountain Gorilla sliverback  presence and guidance/care/dominance is important to his babies & adolescent gorilla children’s well being- because in absence of a dominant male silverback father figure - females will fight and baby/children gorillas can be bullied, injured or even emotionally damaged by others in the family group running lawlessly and without rules or order— since the dominant male silverback is the one who leads the family and maintains order and peace within the gorilla troupe.

Gorilla treking in Bwindi National Park Uganda

Gorilla trekking is and Incredible experience that one may not underestimate as many may think that it is just a walk. But gorilla trekking is carried out in an impenetrable forest of Bwindi forest that has existed for thousand years and is among the African tropical forests that are still intact and exist in south west Uganda as country. You will be trekking hills up and down as the topography  of the area is hilly and and with wide valleys . The day begins with briefing from Rangers post or park headquarters. The assembling will composed of rangers to guide you how gorilla trekking will be carried out into the forest., trackers and guides. Also strong Bakiga men who work as porters whom individual trackers will hire there services to  help them carry their back packs and even can support you to give you push if will get tired before getting out of the forest.   Will also need god walking shoes  and jacket call it rain coat as rain may not be ruled out on every day while still deep in the forest. At times in this real African rain forest because you may not miss rain almost on daily basis

mountain gorilla sliverback

Bwindi Forest

Mountain Gorilla

The time taken for trekking mountain gorillas vary .  Time may range from half and hour to 8 hours if not  the whole day. All depends on the movement of these gentle giants in the forest habitat . Rangers will lead you where the family of gorillas slept. Then from here will start walking into their foot steps until you encounter them. It is this process that trackers will be taking you through where will climb hills/mountains and come down into the valleys and repeat the same activity for different hills and valleys. Then your efforts will pay when you hear low grunting  sound followed by another grunt and your guide turns his head and tells you that keep quite and move forward slowly.

Remember you and are under  thick canopy of vegetation putting on a curtain and visibility is almost limited. Actually at one point when interacting with our clients of Travel Hemispheres she paused this question . Since it  is always dark, are  we going to carry torches to help us provide light? Well I laughed but told the client that during the day you do not have to carry a torch but the canopy above , allows limited sun light will mange to get through and seeing mountain gorillas will be fine.  So here will come time when see the family of gorillas you have been trekking. Will sit back and watch juveniles  - play rolling and shoving each other across the forest while the other members of the family chewing what they have eaten. Each family has head called Sliverback  mountain gorilla. This is can be seen easily because it the dominant  one with grey hair on its back . Usually the sliverback is usually reserved and will keep on watching you at distance. He may demonstrate  his ability and authority by pushing himself through the family moving forward and backwards his sheer size and stature casting a shadow of respect. He may pose momentarily , flick at one of the juveniles absently or crash to the forest floor but it realizes no body is questing his authority  yourself will feel a tingle going down your spine.

 Having watched for an hour viewing your forest hosts then your guide will  tap your shoulders signaling that time is over to start trekking back slowly back to your location of  stay. As you  move and walk back, you  will be exalted the life of these mountain gorillas in such cold environments and have existed here from time immemorial .

Mountain gorillas are trekked throughout the year and booking gorillas expedition will require you to purchase and secure gorilla permit in time before  visitation date. Travel hemispheres has been leading in gorilla safaris and securing mountain gorillas on behalf the clients since 2004  . We offer full packages of gorilla tours combining them with other wildlife  Uganda gorilla safaris. We scale out down budget gorilla safaris that will fit your pockets.

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