Gorilla tracking is recommended as best Africa Vacation because of the personal charm you develop after meeting the gorillas. The feeling of standing just a few meters from the huge giant heavy bodied mountain gorillas is honestly unexplainable.
As you wake up to go and meet the mountain gorillas, you are fully equipped with ideas of how to behave while in the jungle. Gorillas tracking has special wear that you need to have so as to enjoy the jungle.
Wilderness special wardrobe like the tracking boots, long tour trousers, garden gloves, poncho, a hat, insect repellant to mention but a few. These are some of the must things to include on your gorilla tracking day wear and in the tracking bag that you carry along.
While with other trekkers at the ranger station, you will be divided into groups of 8 trekkers with a ranger guide to show you the way and protect you while you walk.
When moving, you need to keep abreast with the rest of the group as because of the vast jungle. Although the ranger follows the pace of the slowest trekker, you need to move so that you do not spend a lot of time in the wilderness. The time to find the gorillas is not known as they keep moving in search for food.
What other creatures May you except to see during gorilla tracking
The jungle being home to a variety of wildlife, you may run into several monkey species like the black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, golden monkeys, L’hoest, blue monkeys bush babies, olive baboons and so much more.
Birds that the forest hosts are uncountable including the rare albertine endemics. This is why Bwindi forest is referred to as the best birding destination in Africa. You may identify some of the birds, listen to them whistling and others keep busy constructing nests. A keen birder may easily identify over 100 bird species in one day.
The forest is home to variety of butterflies that find home and change to different stages while in the forest. Some reptiles are residents in the forest although rarely seen, chimpanzees, forest elephants to mention but a few reside in the forest.
The forest is punctuated with several waterfalls and variety of rivers crisscross forming a network. This forest is also the water catchment area for Bwindi area. Cross the bridges and carry on. The ground may often wet as rain falls regularly yet the forest has numerous trees with large leaves that allow little penetration of sun rays.
The topography of this area is volcanic creating an amazing green scenery of rolling hills. You may be required to hike the slopes to get find the gorillas.
What additional Africa Safari can you combine with gorilla tracking
Other than crossing one border to another for gorilla tracking you can visit the mountain gorillas and see a variety of wild animals in one country. Uganda is the only country in Africa with an ultimate variety of primates and wild game.
To fully enjoy your best time on an African holiday, you need a well-organized itinerary including gorilla tracking and game viewing. This also gives you the time to relax and avoid back tracking too as the routes to the national parks are best accessed by road trip.
Although flying Uganda safaris can easily be arranged, you miss-out on a number of enroute stopover points that area interesting like the equator point, Mpambire local drum village, Nakayima mythical tree to mention but a few.
You can arrange gorilla tracking and game safari in Uganda all year round. Although the country at times experiences peak seasons during June to Mid-October then December to January. Low season normally happen during February to May and November
How To get Ready For Gorilla tracking in Africa
You need some little fitness for you to enjoy gorilla tracking as the gorillas leave on the slopes of a volcanic topography. When you do some work-outs prior to travelling for gorilla tracking you do not feel the fatigue of the trek so much.
Have a packing list of the right items that a jungle African safari requires. Packing light but not forgetting the gorilla tracking gears gives you the best comfort during the trek. Gorilla tracking is the moment for you to fulfil the African safari dream and make memories too.
Booking a gorilla permit prior to arriving for gorilla tracking is an advantage as you do not have to struggle to get a permit on the last day. Limited gorilla permits are sold each day for people to see the gorillas as this is the only way to reduce on the chances of trampling on the food of the mountain gorillas.
Gorillas are entirely vegetarian and need a number of pounds of food to support there day’s meal.
Accommodation in the area closer to the point of briefing is another important item to consider. You need to spend a night in the vicinity where you are to track the mountain gorillas. Each day, only one group of trekkers of 8 tourists are allowed to see the mountain gorillas.
What are the does and donts of gorilla tracking?
Gorilla tracking is one of the enjoyable and sensitive holiday safaris in Africa you have to follow the rules.
No one with a communicable disease like flu, diarrhoe is allowed to visit the gorillas.
Donot surround the gorillas but remain in a tight group
Leave a distance of about 7 meters between you and the mountain gorillas.
Using the flash photography is restricted
Avoid eating or smoking while in the presence of the mountain gorillas.
All fical matter must be buried deep in the ground
All litter must be removed from the park for disposal.
Avoid spitting on the vegetation or the ground while you trek
Persons under 15 years of age are not allowed to track the mountain gorillas
Reduce on the noise when in front of the mountain gorillas
Only one hour is allowed in the presence of the mountain gorillas to give them time to search for there food.