After seeing Mountain Gorillas in Uganda, What is else? – What can I do after Gorilla trekking in Uganda?
After seeing mountain Gorillas in Uganda, What else? – Mountain Gorilla tracking often comes first on travel bucket lists to an African safari in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks. Getting to the Mountain Gorillas takes more effort, more time, and more expense than a traditional safari. But you know what they say: you get what you pay for.
Mountain Gorilla habitat
There are only two populations of Mountain Gorillas left in the world. The first lives in the Virunga Volcanic Mountains of Central Africa, with groups scattered between Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The second population lives deep in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. According to results released in May 2018, the mountain gorilla population living in the Virunga Mountains has grown from 480 in 2010 to 604 as of June 2016.
Combined with a separate Mountain Gorilla population living in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda, this brings the number of Mountain Gorillas to more than 1,200 individuals. The rise in numbers follows the introduction of park rangers, veterinary care, community support projects, and regulated tourism.
Other primates you will see across your path.
Uganda is a primate lover’s dream. In addition to Mountain Gorillas, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to another endangered species: the Golden monkey. These furry, comical monkeys live high up in bamboo forests. Tracking Golden monkeys is very similar to tracking Mountain Gorillas, but the trek itself is not quite as challenging.
While in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, you may also come across the L’hoest monkeys, Grey-cheeked mangabeys, and Blue monkeys. In Kibale Forest National Park, Chimpanzees steal the show. Patas monkeys roam around Murchison Falls National Park and the Blue monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys in Queen Elizabeth National Park have blue monkeys and red-tailed monkeys.
Mountain Gorillas live way up in the cloud forests, ranging from an altitude of 2200 meters to 4300 meters. The vegetation on the lower slopes will be dense, often a mix of bamboo, ferns, and gallium vines. As you climb, the undergrowth should thin out a bit. The zone where the Mountain Gorillas live is misty damp depending on the time of year can be a bit cold. Mountain Gorillas move around depending on the season, spending time in the subalpine regions to feed on scenario trees during certain times of the year.
