Mountain Gorilla Safaris in Uganda
Mountain Gorilla Safaris in Uganda : Mountain gorillas are some of the most sought after wildlife attractions in Uganda. Uganda is home to over 400 mountain gorillas living in their natural habitats in south western Uganda. These two mountain gorilla parks Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park are home to a combined total number of mountain that make up half the world’s population of mountain gorillas.
It’s for that reason that tourists are always visiting Uganda for mountain gorilla safaris. Mountain gorilla safaris, happen all year round in Uganda in Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park.
The mountain gorillas safaris in Uganda are done by persons who are relatively physically fit are to climb up a mountain and descend. These persons are always required to healthy free from any communicable disease so that they don’t spend any disease to the mountain gorillas. Humans share almost 95% of their DNA with mountain gorillas, so it’s very easy for humans to spread diseases to the mountain gorillas and gorillas to the humans. Hence the need to be health, and in this covid-19 era more precautions are needed so if you’re have any signs and symptoms of sickness or covid-19 you will not be allowed to trek to the mountain gorillas. Another thing to note is that persons wishing to trek mountain gorillas in Uganda should be 15 years and above.
Mountain gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda will cost each trekker USD 700 for a trekking permit and the cost of the other things, transport, food and accommodation vary basing on presence and season of the trekking experience.
Trekking usually starts in the early morning with a briefing at the park headquarters and then after the briefing the trekkers in groups of 8 enter the forest to begin the trek. The trekking experience is guided by a ranger you leads the group of 8 to where the mountain gorillas are. When you get to the mountain gorillas you spend one hour with them and then after descend back to the park. The trekking time is usually not definite but can range between 6 to 9 hours depending on where you are trekking.
Several rules govern mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda and the rules include but not limited to not doing anything to violate the mountain gorillas – mountain gorilla conservation is priority in all situations, keep a 7m distance while in the presence of the gorillas, don’t use flashes while taking the gorillas photos, don’t feed the gorillas among others. Your tour operator will communicate most of these things to you before the safari.
As stated mountain gorilla trekking is done in Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Mountain gorilla trekking experiences at each of these parks is unique and exciting and each park offers its trekkers spectacular experiences.
Bwindi National Park has four sectors Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga. All these sectors are trekked throughout the year. Buhoma is the most trekked sector because of its easy trekking trails and high number of mountain gorillas – the sector has the highest number of mountain gorilla families.
Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga have a considerable number of mountain gorilla families but these sectors also have other amazing features that a trekker can enjoy on their trek. These sectors have other animals like the bush elephant, monkeys and many more, some have rivers and lakes among other things. These sectors also have the some of the roughest walking trails, it’s quite tiring to trek them yet also adventurous.
All these sectors in Bwindi National Park receive a ton of visitors every day of the year.
Mgahinga National Park has one mountain gorilla family so it receives few visitors a year compared to those of Bwindi National Park, but the beauty with Mgahinga is that is part of the virunga conservation area so visitors to this park get more activities than just mountain gorilla trekking. On top mountain gorilla trekking visitors to the park an go on mountain climbing sprees, visit the Batwa people, visit lake Bunyonyi which is close proxy of the park among other things.
