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.

Facts about Chimpanzees of Uganda

Facts about Chimpanzees of Uganda

Chimpanzees are found in 21 countries in Africa. They used to be found in 25 countries and it is estimated that within 20 years 10 countries will have lost all their chimpanzees.
There are only 5000 chimpanzees left in Uganda. 94.4% of sub-counties in Uganda have more people than all the chimpanzees in the whole country.
Chimpanzees and other primates can be seen in Uganda more easily than anywhere else in the world. They already attract many tourists and researchers that are visiting Uganda and generate revenue.

Chimpanzees share 98% of human genes making our closest living relative.
Chimpanzees give birth every 3-7years and look after their infants for 10 – 12 years before they are old enough to survive on their own.
Chimpanzees live in communities that split up and join again later unlike gorillas who stay together.Chimpanzees are major gist of Uganda safaris and tours.

Chimpanzees have cultural differences –communities have different life styles.
Chimpanzees can use tools, they use rocks to crack nuts, sticks to fish for termites, and make sponges from leaves to soak up water for drinking from hollows in trees.

Chimpanzees are an endangered species because they are rare and declining rapidly across Africa. International laws protect chimpanzees because they are threatened by extinction. Their main cause of decline is due to the activities of people for example: growing crops and grazing for domestic livestock Furthermore, forest concessions are sold to timber companies from the developed world, some of which practice clear cutting, turning forest habitats into desert.

Our Lost cousins primates of Uganda

Primates like chimpanzees, baboons monkeys are our cousins by all looks . As a ugandan have you visited any of national parks where your cousins stay. Remember if a vaccine is to be introduced to our human bodies , they are the ones who face the all the wrath of the medicine and its effects until if cannot affect them, then to humans. Is it not enough to give them a courtesy call! Visit#Kibale national park, #kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth park, #Budodongforest park and enjoy your stay with them.

Primates have over 90% genes of human kind. So these animals are close to us that other creatures on earth. However animal MAN  is finishing their habitats where they have stayed for all their life. We as humans beings should take note that once these primates are finished on earth then what has swallowed them wont fail to take us too. Assuming it is plague  where shall the medicine vaccine be tested to know that it will not affect human beings.

 To have short visit at KibaleForest National Park is a habitant to 13 species of primates including Chimpanzee, a crobatic Red Colobus monkey, black and white and L’Hoest’s are the Park’s major tourist attraction. There is also an opportunity to track habituated Chimpanzees, closely related to humans than to any other living creature. Birders are in for a treat with 375 species including the Prirogrine’s Ground-thrush, low spotted nectors yellow rumpled tinker bird, little green bill, green breasted pitta, the African pitta.The Bigodi is a paradise for bird watchers and Uganda safaris . Actually skilled birders can spot up to fifty new species on a bird list. Today, 200 species of bird have been recognized within the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. Among the major bird species within the sanctuary is the grand Blue Turaco the crowned eagle and the black bee-eater, dozen of antelope and many more species

The Bigodi Wetland is, located in Magombe swamp and the name was derived from a local Rutooro word`Kugodya`which means to walk tiredly .It was recognized for a extensive array of the biodiversity where several primates species like the red colobus monkey, baboon, black and white colobus monkey, blue monkey grey cheeked, mangabey, vervet monkey, red tailed monkey and the L’Hoest monkey. Also, Mammals such as chimpanzees, Sitatunga, mongooses, bush pigs, otters and bush bucks do visit this swamp coming from Kibale Forest National Park. The swamp is a habitant to 200 species of birds .The Bigodi Wet Land swamp is a paradise for bird watchers. Skilled birders can spot up to fifty new species on a bird list. Among the major bird species within the sanctuary together with the grand Blue Turaco which can be sighted a long guided walks trail.

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.