Uganda Gorillas
The mountain gorilla is one of the two most endangered apes in the world. Ugandaƒ?Ts star attraction is the endangered mountain gorilla, the bulkiest of living primates, and among the most peaceable. The mountain gorillas live in stable family groups with a dominant silverback male, his harem of females, and their offspring. The silverback male is usually the father of the offspring, although the younger males will take an opportunity to mate with a female if the silverback is not looking. They are not ferocious creatures but are, on the contrary, very peaceful. They only become aggressive if one of their groups is perceived to be threatened.
They only exist in two small, protected afromontane forest patches in northwest Rwanda, southwest Uganda and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda in East Africa. The park is part of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and is situated along the Democratic Republic of Congo boarder next to the Virunga National Park and on the edge of the western Rift Valley.
It comprises 331 square kilometers of jungle forests and contains both montane and lowland forest and is accessible only on foot. The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO-designated World heritage Site.
Nestled among the steep, cultivated hillsides of southwest Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park supports half of the worldƒ?Ts population of 600 endangered mountain gorillas in a remote pocket of lush rainforest. Bwindi is now the most popular park for gorilla tourism.
There are four gorilla groups that are currently available to be visited on daily basis. Gorilla safaris are carried out at Mubare group (10 gorillas; 1 silverback) which was opened for tourism in 1993, while Habinyanja group (18 gorillas, 1silver backs) was ready
in July 1998, Rushegura group (10gorillas and 1 silver back) was opened for tourism in July 2002 while Nkuringo group (19gorillas, 2silver backs) was opened for tourism in April 2004 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Mgahinga National Park is an outpost of the endangered mountain Gorillas and it provides an appropriate dramatic natural setting for what is perhaps the most poignant and thrilling wildlife experience to be had in Africa. At just about 33.7 square km, Mgahinga is Ugandaƒ?Ts smallest National Park. The park consists of the Ugandan slopes of three inactive volcanoes: Muhavura, Gahinga and Sabinyo.
Nothing can prepare the visitor for the impact of encountering a troop of Gorillas munching in their natural habitat. There is no earth trembling, no roars, no snapping of twigs and no undergrowth disturbed- all is just as it should be. Insects chirp in the treetops, birds call to each other through high-pitched squawks and myriads of black soldier ants trail across the path.
The sheer physical presence of an adult male (silver back), three times as bulky as the average man, yet remarkably peaceable and tolerant to human visitors, defies verbal description. Nor are there words to convey the thrill of recognition attached to staring deep into the liquid brown eyes of these gentle giants.
Staring into the pensive brown eyes of these gentle giants, who share 97% of their genes with humans, is as humbling as it is thrilling; no less so when one realizes that fewer than 700 individuals survive. Within Uganda, five habituated gorilla troops ƒ?” four in Bwindi and one in Mgahinga can be visited by a total of 30 tourists daily.
Six permits per day are sold for each of these groups at UWA Headquarters in Kampala. Gorilla tracking can be rigorous, therefore ensure physical fitness. Carry jungle boots and rain jackets because the park is often wet. Donƒ?Tt forget rain gears, sunscreens, insect repellants, a hat given the fact that the weather is unpredictable
For Conservation reasons, visits to the gorillas are tightly controlled.
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