The Gentle Giants of Bwindi : Mountain Gorillas Apes of Bwindi

Gorillas, Chimpanzees, orangutans and humans all belong to the order of primates .Human share98.4%of their genetic material with gorillas and 98.8% with chimpanzees. Gorillas ,the largest of the great apes are divided into three sub species that include the western lowland gorillas and the Eastern low land gorillas. The Eastern and the Western low land gorillas were identified for science in 1847 and 1877 respectively. The subspecies- the mountain gorilla was identified for scientific purposes in the year 1903 and has gone on to be the Uganda's star attraction. Mountain gorillas are distinct from low land gorillas. They are larger ,have more hair ,a short truck,a broad chest and shoulders and also have a longer and slightly different noise shape. Mountain gorillas are born small, covered with black hair and usually weigh about 2.3 kilograms. Gorillas develop as twice as human babies with the mature female mother also under going a gestation period of nine months. They are unique species ,as a gorilla with an infant may not have another baby not until four years. Male and female gorillas between the ages of three and six years are classified as Juvenile. They increase in size and weight at similar rates for the first six years. On reaching six years most mountain gorillas weigh 68kg and usually four feet tall. The female mountain gorillas stop growing taller at around six years where as the males continue growing both in size and in weight till they reach the age of ten to eleven. Between the ages of six – ten the male ones have black hair and are referred to as the black backs. On reaching maturity which is usually between 10- 12 years, they develop silvery grey hair on their backs therefore referring to them as silver backs. The silver backs usually leave their parental group at the age of 11and then moves alone or in the company of the other males for a few years before managing to attract females from other groups to him hence forming his own family .Gorillas communicate through vocalizations. Twenty- five vocalization have been so far recognized with each one having its own particular meaning. As an element of their socialization ,they communicate through howls ,grunts ,barks and hoots .screams and roars signal alarm or warning and are often produced by silverbacks . They also communicate by beating on their chests or on the ground .This is done to show stature ,prevent fights or even scare opponents . However, even the infants beat their chests as a kind of displacement activity during play perhaps just to copy their elders. Mountain gorilla life is peace full and quite .It is from this that they have come to be Africa's gentle giants which has promoted gorilla safaris and tourism in general These gentle giants are found in the in the areas of Bwindi Impenetrable Ntional park and Mgahinga Gorilla National park in Uganda while in Rwanda they are confined in Parc des volcans and in Virunga Republic of Congo.

Silver back is a dominant male in a group about 12 or more gorillas that usually include females ,juveniles and other infants. On a good day ,you find them chewing leaves ,laughing and farting not only continuously but with a lot of contentment .They are diumal and nomadic ,sleeping each night in fresh nest built from leaves and branches. Mountin gorillas are primarily vegetarian with their menu composing bamboo, nettles and gallium being some of their favourites. They occasionally eat safari ants which are scooped in huge handfuls to stuff into the mouth until the safari ant bites over power them. Gorillas spend most of their time in travelling and foraging in search for food since plants and trees change with seasons .

What is Mountain Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla trekking is or call it gorilla tracking is a captivating and unforgettable experience which more than repays the effort needed to reach Bwindi and to trek through the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest  famous for the habitat for Mountain gorillas.Mountain gorilla trekking in #Bwindi is fascinating and will give you memories to linger in your minds for life time. Bwindi mountain gorillas are habituated  for human interaction without any infliction in this case tourists . Mountain gorillas live in families . And  about 8 gorilla families have been habituated  for safaris  and they include; Mubare, Habiyanja, Rushegura, #Nkuringo, Rushaga, #Nkuringo etc,

Thus the  thrill of trekking for mountain gorillas in the astonishingly beautiful misty highlands of East Africa in Uganda and  is not difficult to explain. Quietly observing these gentle giants as they go about their day is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a privileged few, and to be treasured beyond compare. If you are lucky enough to exchange glances with one of the troop, you will become aware of that narrow genetic gap between our two great ape species. The exchange of recognition, of awareness, is obvious. “This is not the heart-thumping primordial fear one experiences when a twitchy lion gives you the stare, or that adrenaline rush when that cantankerous old buffalo bull rises from the bush thicket and fixes you with his myopic angry glare. No, this is different. This is gentle to-and-fro communication at a spiritual level.

#Gorilla tracking can be challenging and you need to be reasonably fit. You will need a gorilla trekking permit. Today gorilla permit in Uganda cost US $600 . You can buy gorilla safari permit through tour operators lie Travel Hemispheres  safari  Uganda safari company .  Visitors will   report at different park offices within Bwindi nearest to the gorilla tracking family at around 8.00am. After briefing as to how will conduct yourself while in the forest and that time when you meet face to face with gentle giants the mountain gorillas. So will be briefed on dos and donts rules when with gorillas. Below are #mountain gorilla rules to be followed and adhere to while trekking mountain gorillas.
1. No one with a communicable disease such us flu or diarrhoea is allowed to visit gorillas.
2. do not surround the gorillas but remain in tight group.
3. Leave at least a distance of 5m between you an the gorillas.
4. Flash photography is strictly forbidden.
5. Do not eat or smoke within 200m of the gorillas.
6.  If you need to sneeze or cough , turn away from the gorillas and cover you nose and mouth.
7. Bury all human faeces in hole dug at least 30 cm/ 1 foot deep and ensure that it is properly filled in afterwards. 
8. All litter must be removed from the park for disposal.
9. Do not spit on vegetation or soil 
10 No person under 15 years will be allowed to trek mountain gorillas.

A recent survey produced the excellent news that the mountain gorilla population is now  increasing and it is estimated at 1,000+  individuals, up from fewer than 900 individuals in 2010. This increase is due largely to the co-operation from communities that live near mountain gorillas, NGOs that operate on the ground, and tourists, who pay in hard currency for the privilege of trekking to see mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas are found in two populations in Africa and form a big gist of Uganda safaris.
 An estimated 600 individuals in the Virunga Massif – which includes #Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda), Virunga National Park (DR Congo) and Mgahinga National Park (Uganda);
 An estimated 500 individuals in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Uganda). So #Bwindi holds more than half of  worlds mountain gorillas.

Bwindi impenetrable forest flora and fauna

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park has varied altitude that  supports different types of habitat ranging from wet tropical forest (ever green most forest) on the Kigezi highland plateau, swampy low lands  with ever permanent rivers flowing. Bwindi forest topography altitude ranges from 1447 to 2600m above sea level.  This forest date back 25000 years ago. It is believed  that Bwindi forest survived the last ice age when many forests and vegetation disappeared on earth due an favourable arid conditions then.   Bwindi being one of the highest tourist attraction for Uganda safaris  and one of the world’s remarkable wildlife to encounter mountain gorillas.  Bwindi national park has over 400 mountain gorillas as per last census of 2016.

Bwindi has an impressive list of 350 bird species. Bwindi is a prime destination for birders. Its 350 bird species include seven which are IUCN red data listed and 90% of all Albertine  rift endemics species which are difficult or impossible to see in other part of East Africa. An experienced bird watcher can easily identify up to 100 species in single day. 

Bwindi supports lots of species of trees , over 200 trees of species of rain forest are found in this forest. 51 reptiles are found here, 88months, 120 mammals including several primates of baboons and monkeys of different species – black and white Colobus monkeys, blue monkeys,  . this park also has chimpanzees but are rarely seen and are not habituated for viewing.

The star attraction being mountain gorillas has been habituated for human interaction . over 10 mountain gorilla families have been habituated  and they include: mubare group being the 1^st group to be habituated in 1993. Others include Habiyanja, Rushegura, Bitukura, Oruzogo, Nkuringo, Mishaya, Kahunge, Bweza, Busigye, Nyakagezi, and the research group of Kyaguriro. These gorilla families form  a major gorilla safaris gist of Uganda safaris.  Today in over 80 people track mountain gorillas daily inside Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.

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.