Why you need to see African Silverback Gorilla in Uganda?

Why you need to see African Silverback Gorilla in Uganda – Mountain gorilla trekking safaris to Bwindi

Why you need to see African silverback gorilla in Uganda – Enjoy a walk in the tangled jungle, mist and be in meters with a  Silently sitting on the cold ground of  Ugandan tropical rainforest for 60 minutes might be one of life’s greatest privileges. There are fewer than 900 mountain Gorillas in existence, and Gorilla tracking provides a rare opportunity to observe the everyday interactions of these gentle and mysterious primates. In today’s article we give you all you need to know about trekking along with the African silverback in Bwindi forest.

Africa Silverback Gorillas only live in the dense vegetation of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and along the volcanic Virunga mountain range that stretches across Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

You will be where the World’s Mountain Gorillas Live

There are three Gorilla trekking countries in the World: Uganda Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Silverback Gorillas are the heads of the Gorilla families, they choose where the family should go feeding and don’t pay mind to political borders, only that the populations in Uganda are almost half of the total World’s population.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park (also called “The Place of Darkness” due to its dense treetops) is an ancient, montane and lowland forest spanning 128 square miles. The region was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its incredible biodiversity and the large number of endangered species that call it home.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park accounts for 13 square miles of the larger Virunga habitat, which stretches across 168 square miles into Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The national park includes three of the eight major Virunga peaks: Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura and Mount Sabyinyo.

Recommended Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda

Fight habitat destruction by supporting community enrichment

Habitat destruction is the main threat to the Silverback Gorillas. Communities around the parks are heavily populated, and residents have traditionally used land around national park boundaries for farming or logging.

Since tourism is now the most lucrative industry, and the majority of tourists come to see the mountain Gorillas, trekkers are encouraged to seek out ways to give back to the communities they visit. One popular option is to hire a porter, so that he earns from the tourists one of the ways to stop them from destroying the Silverback Gorilla territory. He/She is always a local resident and occasionally a reformed poacher. The landscape within the parks is unpredictable and difficult; porters help guide trekkers through Rivers and swamp crossings and up steep, muddy inclines.

Other options are to participate in community-led cultural initiatives. There are always trainings to disenfranchised young adults in hospitality through rigorous classes and work experience. Around Mgahinga, elders of the Batwa tribe lead visitors on a forest tour along the Batwa Trail, explaining how their self-sufficient, forest-dwelling tribe traditionally used medicinal plants.

Affordable trekking permits in Uganda

There are strict regulations in place to make sure the Gorillas stay healthy and wild starting with the Gorilla trekking permit process. Daily viewings of each Gorilla family are extremely limited, so visitors should apply well before their desired dates.

In Uganda, Gorilla permits cost is USD700 per person per trek. In contrast, Gorilla permits in Rwanda now cost USD1500 per person per trek making it one of the reasons why you need to see the African Silverback Gorilla in Uganda.

Most Gorilla treks in Uganda takes place in Bwindi forest, where there are multiple starting points and several habituated Gorilla families to track. Visits are led by park rangers and groups of eight are allowed to observe the Gorillas for one hour, in silence and at a safe distance.

You can take on challenging terrain

One look at south-western Uganda’s green terraced hills and rolling volcanic slopes and its clear this area of the country is not for the faint of heart. Add in the high altitude and the challenging terrain, and Gorilla trekking in Uganda promises to be the adventure of a lifetime.

It’s hard work to reach the Gorillas. It requires navigating uphill and downhill through thick tangles of vines, thorns, and roots. The appropriately named Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is only accessible by foot. There are no paths, no signs, no directions and more often than not, no clearings (which is why the park rangers carry machetes).

Other primates will inevitably cross 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 Gorillas, but the trek itself is not quite as challenging.

Further afield, Bwindi forest has L’hoest monkeys, Grey-cheeked mangabeys, and Blue monkeys. In Kibale Forest National Park Chimpanzees is still the show. Patas monkeys roam around Murchison Falls National Park. Queen Elizabeth National Park has Blue monkeys and Red-tailed monkeys (not to mention non-primates, like Lions and Elephants).

Contact Great Adventure Safaris for more information about Uganda-Rwanda safaris and we provide you with relevant details as you plan to visit Africa to see the Silverback Gorillas in their natural habitat.