Reasons to trek mountain gorillas In Uganda
Reasons to trek mountain gorillas In Uganda : Uganda is the pioneer of conservation of mountain gorillas and is the best destination in the world to do mountain gorilla trekking, Uganda is also home to more than half of the remaining population of mountain gorillas in the world with over 600 individuals.
Seeing the Great Apes in their natural habitat is such as great experience worth experiencing once in a life time.
Mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda is one of the most – sought for wildlife experience, this experience is like no other as it offers you a close encounter with the gentle giants in forested slopes of Bwindi Impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park.
Bwindi impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are found in the South Western Uganda and they are found in close proximity, these two national parks protect more than half of the world’s last endangered mountain gorillas which makes Uganda a prime primate safari destination.
Uganda is visited by millions of visitors just to have an encounter with the gentle giants in their natural habitat, watch them munch on the leaves and fruits and groom each other.
Trekking mountain gorillas in Uganda is on top of the bucket list of many visitors and here are the top 6 reasons to why you should trek gorillas in Uganda.
- You will be trekking with half of the world’s mountain gorillas
There are slightly over 1,000 mountain gorillas in the world found and protected in two populations: that is Bwindi impenetrable national park found in the southwestern mountain region of Uganda and The Virunga Volcano Mountain Region straddling the Uganda, Rwanda and DR. Congo borders.
Uganda has two gorilla destinations: Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla national park hosting more than half of the gorilla’s population left in the world. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is part of the Great Virunga Conservation Area together with Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR. Congo.
With a huge population of mountain gorillas, there are high chances of seeing mountain gorillas in Uganda than anywhere else in the world thus being a top reason to do gorilla trekking in Uganda.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage and one of the “Last Edens” on the African continent, at a size of 124 square miles the park is dominated by some of the oldest rainforests in the world. The forest is home to several primate and 120 mammal species.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is part of the Great Virunga Conservation Area with other two gorilla destinations, Volcanoes national park and Virunga national park. At a size of 13.1 square miles, the park comprises of 3 virunga mountains that is Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga and Mount Sabyinyo.
Uganda has a total 20 habituated mountain gorilla families available in the four tourism sectors of Bwindi that is Ruhija, Nkuringo, Rushaga and Buhoma and 1 gorilla family in Mgahinga Gorilla national park.
- Gorilla trekking in Uganda contributes to Gorilla Conservation and Support the local communities
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is not only an incredible experience but also a sustainable ecotourism travel experience that heavily contributes to the conservation of gorillas as well as the local communities,
The sustainability concern is one of the great reasons to do gorilla trekking in Uganda.
A gorilla permit in Uganda costs USD 700 per person, though the price may seem expensive especially for backpackers, know that the money is put to exceptional use that is financing the protection of the forest habitat, monitoring gorilla health and creating a safe haven for gorillas against poachers.
Through conservation efforts financed by funds from gorilla tickets has resulted into an increase into the rise in population of mountain gorillas for the last decade to over 1000 mountain gorillas.
Gorilla tourism in Uganda is noticed to be one of the most successful sustainable conservation stories worldwide.
- Trekking gorillas in Uganda is much more affordable
Gorilla tourism in Uganda was started in 1994 as the way to finance the protection of these endangered giants, as the year went by there was need to regulation the number of tourists visiting the gorillas at a sustainable level to avoid disrupting the gorilla’s way of life with their natural habitat.
Now to visit the mountain gorillas, you have to acquire a gorilla trekking permit. In Uganda a gorilla permit costs US $ 700 which is more affordable compared to Rwanda’s US$ 1,500.
- An Authentic Raw Adventure To The Gorillas
Driving through the emerald rugged cultivated slopes of Southwestern Uganda and hiking through the impenetrable jungle of Bwindi Impenetrable national park as well as Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to meet the endangered mountain gorillas living at the elevations of 8,000 to 13,000 feet
Trekking through the steep slopes to find the endangered mountain gorillas you will provide with an authentic jungle adventure which is a great reason to why you should trek mountain gorillas in Uganda.
If you love nature and some sort of a challenging adventure, then Uganda will provide with the best experience. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is not called impenetrable for nothing, it can only be traversed on foot and you will be trekking through uneven terrain, a misty jungle with no used footpaths and the way is created by a local tracker with a machete.
- Expect to see more primates along your adventure
Uganda is the best destination in the world for primate adventure as it boasts four great apes including chimpanzees, mountain gorillas and other primate species which you are bound to encounter while gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Other primate species in Uganda include golden monkeys found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, black and white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, De Brazza monkeys, Red-tailed Monkey, Blue Monkey, Potto, Demidoff’s Galago, Spectacled Galago and Baboons in the jungle of Bwindi impenetrable national park.
If you want to experience chimpanzees, visit Kibale National Park home to over 1,500 chimpanzees in Southwest. The park is one of the best places in Africa to observe chimpanzees – our closest relatives and you can combine it with your gorilla safari to Bwindi impenetrable national park.
- Uganda offers excellent wildlife viewing game safaris
Uganda is not only an excellent destination for primates that is mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, the country is a great destination for big – game safaris which is another great reason to trek mountain gorillas in Uganda.
Uganda is home to Queen Elizabeth National Park – the country’s most famous wildlife park situated right next to Bwindi impenetrable national park. The park offers the most memorable wildlife viewing adventures to add on to your gorilla trekking experience in both Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Watching lions, leopards, elephants and buffaloes among other animals while on a game drive and exploring the Kazinga Channel on a boat ride offers thrilling safari experience.
Other great wildlife destinations in Uganda include Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Semuliki National Park among others. These parks are home to various wildlife species including zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, wild dogs, greater and lesser kudus, mountain reedbuck, Guenther’s dik-dik among other.
