Bwindi and South western Uganda
Down in the remote south western corner on the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo lies mountain Gorilla hub, which is Uganda’s foremost tourist destination. This park is set in a regional landscape of extraordinary drama and variety of life which have attracted many tourists to come for gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda. But while zoologists and botanists marvel at the lengthy species counts, most visitors are drawn by just one animal, the Mountain gorilla. This endangered primate has a total population of less than 800 and lives only in the forests of the Virunga volcanoes and Bwindi, making Uganda’s Bwindi a prime location to search for these magnificent animals.
Mountain gorilla trekking is one of the world's most exclusive and remarkable wildlife encounters. To minimize disturbance to these endangered great apes, only eight people may track each of the habituated gorilla family per day, while viewing time is strictly limited to one hour. As wildlife viewing goes, it is difficult to convince how or where on earth 60 minutes could be more rewardingly spent. Gorilla trekking offers the privilege of encountering one of the world’s rarest animals in its natural habitat and, by doing so, helping to fund its continued survival. Although gorillas are undeniably intelligent and impressive creatures to watch – a silver can weigh over 200kg, the greatest rewards are less tangible. The mountain gorilla is one of our closest relatives and few observers emerge from the magic hour without feeling an unfathomable and often profoundly moving connection.
Bwindi impenetrable National Park has a unique wildlife experience. Biologically, the bwindi impenetrable is one of Africa’s richest forests, owing to its great age and an altitudinal range spanning 1400 meters. There is an impressive list of species, with 200 different trees, 350 birds, 310 butterflies, 88 moths, 51 reptiles and 120 mammals including several primates, among them chimpanzees, black and white colobus, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, L’Hoest’s monkey and the star attraction, the mountain gorilla. Bwindi has 10 habituated gorilla groups, which are tracked from four trailheads. Eight permits are available for each group, giving a daily maximum of 80 permits. Tracking the mountain gorilla takes two to eight hours depending on the location of the group.
This adventure also requires a reasonable level of fitness, as the impenetrable forest is well named. The gorilla’s homeland comprises dense, tangled vegetation on a mountainous landscape of deep valleys and steep ridges.
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