Why The World Only Ancient Gorilla Trekking Empire Is In Uganda

Gorilla trekking in Africa is selling like a hot cake but because of the limited number of opportunities to secure a gorilla permit one must book a gorilla safari in a place with high chances.

Why Bwindi Forest in Uganda Is Best destination For Gorilla Trekking

Bwindi Forest National Park in Uganda offers you the widest area and chance to secure a gorilla trekking perfect family to trek. Since mountain gorillas are entirely vegetarian, they conquer feeding grounds that provide chance to variety of food. Bwindi forest shields a variety of ancient edible tree and plant species with enough space to provide a good meal for a variety of mountain gorilla families.

 Because of this vast area, the Uganda wildlife Authority subdivided Bwindi into the Northern and southern sector for effective administrative reasons.  For a personalized moment with the mountain gorillas, each of the sectors was has gorilla trekking areas. Each area has gorilla tracking families visited by only 8 tourists per day per trek.

It is very advisable to know the area where your gorilla permit has been booked to avoid very early morning panic in case you overnight in another area. The wide area of Bwindi forest coverage surrounded by seasonal roads that become impassable sometimes make it a tricky expedition.

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Almost half the number of the world conserved mountain gorillas live in Uganda. Although three countries in Africa protect this African golden primate that is Uganda, Rwanda and Rwanda Uganda is the biggest host.   Each day gorilla trekkers get up early in the morning with there gorilla trekking gears to have briefing.

Each tourist wearing a mask as a must, is grouped with only other 7 members to start search for the gorillas. Being vegetarian, the gorillas roam the feeding area to find the best delicious meal for the day.

Its quite interesting to see a family similar to that of humans in the wild. Each member of the gorilla family respects its hierarchy.  The silverback is the overseer of all family activities and has all the powers to discipline insolent members.

The silver back has a duty to defend the sovereignty of the gorilla family, look for new feeding grounds and expand the gorilla family by snatching members from other families. He works so hard to build a big family

The gorilla family also has a head female who ensures that discipline is instilled amongst infants and juveniles. Caregiving to infants is everyone’s duty

Other Primates In Bwindi Forest

The forest is a combination of many other enchanting monkeys like blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus to mention but a few. If you are very observant, you may enjoy the extra entertainment from acrobatics forest team as monkeys skip from one tree branch to another.

Birding In Bwindi Forest

Bwindi forest in Uganda protects the largest number of birds in Africa as recognized by Africa Bird Club and close to 350 bird species are included on IUCN red list data. Mubwindi Swamp in Ruhija gorilla trekking area of Bwindi forest is the biggest host of birds and in case you are a birding enthusiast it’s the idea area to trek.

Other Close Game Parks To Visit With Gorilla Trekking In Uganda

Gorilla trekking may be the gist of your tour to Africa but exploring the amazing game parks adds more glaze to your holiday memories. In case you have extra time on your holiday, explore other beauties that Uganda hosts like

Queen Elizabeth National park

From Bwindi forest, the drive is about 5 hours but as you enter the park, you may have the chase to see animals like elephants, buffaloes, topis, Uganda Kobs, warthogs, giant forest hogs, leopards to mention but a few.

Birding safari in Africa cannot be felt complete without visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park. Some birds include African skimmers, chapin’s flycatcher, lesser and greater flamingo, rare shoebill stork and so much more.

The topography of Queen Elizabeth National Park is breathtaking with Rwenzori ranges forming a back drop. The floor of the rift valley is decorated with hundreds of crater lakes both wet and dry. The most outstanding is the blue lake, salty Katwe lake, Lake Nyamunuka to mention but a few.

Kibale Forest National Park

Primate lovers also have chance to extend their holiday experience with a chimpanzee trekking experience. Although Bwindi Forest habors some chimpanzees, they are wild and not habituated for tourist viewing.

The drive from Bwindi Forest to Kibale forest National Park is about 6 interesting hours from the surrounding you pass-by.

This tropical forest also has interesting natural tree species, monkeys, birds, butterflies to mention but a few.

Chimpanzee trekking is the main activity in Kibale Forest starting with early morning briefing at Kanyanchu station. Each day, chimpanzees are trekked in the morning and Afternoon in a group of 6 trekkers. A ranger guide leads you through the rails to locate the chimpanzees that fed on foliage mainly. They live in communities under the leadership of an alpha male.

Chimpanzees live a life close to that of humans with democracy as one of there priority. All potential candidates must prove there worth to the community especially by building confidence from the females. A potential Alpha male must be ready to defend the community, solve conflicts, search new feeding grounds and so much more.

Requirements For booking Gorilla Trekking And Game Safari In Uganda

Securing a gorilla trekking permit is the confirmatory step to the reality of Gorilla tracking in Uganda.

You must have dates when you wish to see the mountain gorillas because the permits are sold according to dates.

You need atleast 3 days spared for gorilla trekking that is to say the arrival day, gorilla trekking day and the departure date. Its hard to depart on the day of gorilla trekking because of the unknown time of returning from the forest after trekking the gorillas.

If you have extra holiday time in Uganda, adding a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park would be a great idea. Enjoy a game drive into the park and watch how nature enjoys its freedom

The next day, an early morning game drive on the North Kazinga will bring more animals into view as they depart from overnight hangouts. Animals like lions, herds of elephants, buffaloes, Uganda Kobs, water bucks, bush bucks, thousands of birds, scenic rift valley ground work, and so much more.