A Walk With Giants – Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda is extremely superb and unlike any other experience in Africa. The atmosphere of the trek through the jungle is completely different than any other experience. Every step builds the excitement and is the reward for seeing the last remaining mountain gorillas in the world is spectacular. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the most mystical in all of Africa.
Where are they found?
Mountain Gorillas can only be found in the Virunga
mountains, Rwanda, and Uganda and also in the Bwindi Impenetrable National
Park. This place holds 60% of the total mountain gorillas left in the world
with about 400 of them residing in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi is
the most popular place to trek the gorillas in Uganda. The park is most visited
tourist place in Africa.
Bwindi is divided into four regions: Buhoma region, Ruhija
region, Rushaga region, and Nkuringo region. Book your accommodation where
trekking is permitted.
How will it be?
A typical day of trekking starts at a designated meeting
point which generally is Buhoma park headquarters. The Ugandan Wildlife
Authority. Shows a small video and brief about a gorilla.The tour starts at
around 7.30. Groups consist of no more than eight people. A family of 17
gorillas it is the largest habituated gorilla family in Bwindi National Park.
Some groups start their trek from the park headquarters,
while others will have to drive to a starting point into the forest. You
typically will not know until the day of if you will need to drive or start
your trek from the headquarters.
Spotting the gorillas can take anywhere from one to five
hours or sometimes even longer. These are wild animals and the trackers have to
locate where the gorillas have gone each day. I would say that if you are in at
least decent shape and health a gorilla trek in Uganda will prove enjoyable. If
you’re worried about the then hire some of the local porters. They can be a
great help and they are pretty cheap too.There is no drinking or eating the
gorillas and flash photography is prohibited.
Gorillas share about 98% DNA with us and they are highly
suspectable to human diseases so humans should not walk closer than seven
meters from the gorillas unless they approach you. When the gorillas look into
your eyes it is humbling. These guerrilla groups are familiar with humans. You
will never once feel like we were in danger with these animals.
Best time to trek
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a year-round activity and
permits are issued every day. However, most people prefer to stay dry and
travel during Uganda’s dry season which is May-September and January and
February. Bright and sunny days are more prominent during these months and
visitors are much.
In rainy season tickets may get cheaper as tourist generally
prefer summer, so the tourist is less.
Some quick tips for trekking with gorilla
1. Come prepared for muddy and wet conditions
2. Lightweight and waterproof safari clothes
3. Good pair of hiking shoes
4. Walking Stick
5. Insect repellent
6. Binoculars
7. Gardening gloves
If you like the outdoors, don't mind sweating and getting a
bit dirty, and have an interest in seeing one of the most magnificent animals
on the planet. Seeing the gorillas in the wild is a once-in-a-lifetime
experience! I hope I have covered the major points of Gorilla trekking in
Uganda.