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 .

4 Days Uganda Gorilla safari Bwindi National Parks

4 Days Gorilla Uganda  Safari of  Bwindi National Park

 While it’s impossible not to be impressed by the size of the gorillas – A mature mountain gorilla safaris sliver back weighs more than 400 pounds – Today gorillas have been habituated and seem to be impressed by their human visitors when doing Uganda safaris. They spend their days eating bamboo and other plants and the occasional mound of termites. A gorilla silverback can eat up to 60 pounds a day. He needs the energy: Silverback may have over ten adult females in his family, and tries to mate with each of them every day to keep them from wandering off. The silver back will seem unconcerned by the group’s arrival, but he usually wants to make sure the humans knew who’s boss. Twice, when he thought the team get too close, he may charged right way .

Day 1 of 4 days Gorilla safari Bwindi : Airport Transfer to Kampala

A representative from Travel Hemispheres will meet you on your arrival at the airport he will drive you to Entebbe town and overnight at Boma Guest House or to Kampala hotels for dinner and overnight at your Hotel.

Day 2 of 4 days Uganda  Gorilla safari Bwindi  Kampala – Bwindi.National   Park

In the Morning, you will be picked from Kampala at around 7.00 am and proceed to the south western part of the country. Stop at The equator for land mark photo taking and continue to Mbarara. Break for lunch on the way then precede to Bwindi National Park the home of Mountain Gorillas. It is estimated to half of the world’s surviving population of mountain gorillas –300 live within these boundaries shared by Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. The drive is long but enjoyable. Proceed south to Buhoma viewing the terraced hills of Kigezi Highlands once known as Switzerland of Africa.

Arrival at Buhoma will be in the evening. You will then settle in at your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Budget: Buhoma Community Bandas: Bwindi View Bandas: Nkuringo campsite tents: Virunga Hotel: Nkuringo safari centre

Middle: Nkuringo camp site: Wagtail Eco Lodge: similar/Gorilla Mist Camp: Gorilla Resort

Up market: Lake Kitandara Lodge Engagi lodge: Mahogany Springs Lodge: Gorilla Resort Camp: Traveler’s Rest Camp: Silver Back Lodge: Gorilla Safari lodge

Luxury: Gorilla Forest Camp: Buhoma Lodge: Clouds Lodge: Gahinga: Volcanoes Bwindi Safari Lodge

Day 3 of 4 days Uganda Gorilla safari Bwindi  Gorilla Tracking

Morning after breakfast with packed lunch, you will be escorted to the starting point for briefing by our guide. You will be allocated guides to track gorillas with, and then will be off to begin your adventure. A briefing from your local guides and then it’s off! The time taken and the terrain vary (1- 8 hours) this depends on the movement of these gentle giants. The thrill of meeting face to face takes away the pain of some times long and arduous trek.  Each encounter is different and has its own rewards, but you are likely to enjoy the close view of adults feeding, grooming and resting as the youngsters frolic and swing from vines in delightfully playful manner.
After tracking will walk back to your lodge for overnight stay FB. You will need to carry long pants like light type, sturdy shoes to help you hiking steep and slippery slopes, long sleeved shirts and blouses to protect your bodies from thorns and itching plants. You may not rule out raining on you and at least a rain coat is needed to protect your bodies and any equipment carried along with like cameras. Also carry insect repellants and sun cream

Day 4  of 4 days Uganda Gorilla safari Bwindi Bwindi –   Kampala

After break   you will depart for Kampala   passing   via plantation of tea and banana   .Arrival will be in the afternoon for your   way back . END OF SAFARI

Please Note the safari cost will include:

1. Meals and accommodation at full board for the agreed dates
2. Gorilla permits 1 permit per person
3. safari driver /guide and 4×4 vehicle
4. Park fees
5. Applicable government taxes
6. Drinking bottled water while driving on safari

Excluded are:

• Beverages and bar bills, phone alls, personal insurance and any other services of personal nature like souvenirs, tips, laundry etc

Gorilla Famillies of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Gorilla Families of Bwindi  Impenetrable National Park

Uganda currently hosts eleven habituated gorilla families and one group that is only available for research. These include Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura,Bitukura, Oruzogo, Nkuringo, Nshongi, Mishaya, Kahungye, Bweza, Busingye,Nyakagezi and the research group  of Kyaguriro.

Before embarking on your Gorilla Safari we invite you to learn more about these incredible creatures and read interesting facts about the various gorilla families of Bwindi National Park . However, keep in mind that the mountain gorillas are wild animals and details such as the group size, location in the forest and leading silverback might change without notice.

Buhoma Area of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

•     Mubare Group:  This Mubare group (also called the M-Group) – was the very first group to actually be habituated for tracking by tourists. the habituation started in 1991 and this group received its very  first tracking visitors in 1993 for uganda safaris .  Mubare group is actually named after the stunning Mubare Hills in which this group was discovered.

•      Habinyanja Group: This Habinyanja Group was in 1997 habituated for tracking and received tourists in the year 1999. In the start it was a huge group, however a family was split from it named the Rushegura Group.  These two groups crisscross each other now and again and co-exist peacefully.

•     Rushegura Group:  This Rushegura Group was in 2000 habituated for tracking and received tourists in the year 2002.  It is a huge group within the Buhoma area of Bwindi Forest.

As it is in human life , gorillas also have members who also have names and you can know each family by its member names. It may give  you  puzzle to someone to ask how do you easily identify from each other. Mountain Gorillas like humans also have distinct feature on their bodies which you can use to identify them. . At one time a white girl could not easily indentify a boy friend from other black group of friends. This may happen because you  are not fully used to the group but once you get used to a group you can easily indefy all them by their names. Below are some of the names of individuals in their respective families.

Habinyanja Family
Rugyendo, Makara, Rwansigazi, Maraya, Kisho, Nyabukye, Binyonko, Nyamuhango, Elsa, Hamusini, Hakato, Gacyaro and Bagenyi.

Kyaguriro Family
Rukina, Marembo, Kafuzi, Byiza, Binyindo, Siatu, Mugwere, Tindamanyere, Twigukye, Matu, Mukiza, Kabandize, Happy, Thursday and Ponoka.

Mubare Family
Kanyonyi, Malaika, Muyambi, Kashundwe and Kashundwe Baby. This the family of the late Ruhondeza and his son Kanyonyi has since taken over as the alpha male.

Nshongi Family
Tindatine, Ninsiima, Fortunate, Rutaro, Busasi, Nshongi, Mishaya, Kakono, Bweza, Matama, Bwire, Bunwa, Kutu, Tifayo, Bakunzi, Mwiza, Munini, Shidah, Bukozo, Nyampundu, Nkuhene, Mize, Mahoro, Mureba, Ruheruka, Muchunguzi, Kazani, Mukiza, Mpororo and Katono.
This is the family of the recently deceased Bwiruka.

Nkuringo Family
Kiiza, Muhozi, Katungi, Tabu, Safari, Kirungi, Rafiki, Bahati, X-Mas, Posho, Karibu, Samehe, Kwetonda, Kasotora, Mama Xmas, Ramutwe, Magara, Kwesima, Kuhirwa and Fulaha

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.

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.