| Uganda a land endowed with misty forests, | | | | took a long walk at 8:30 am local time early in the |
| snow-capped mountain ranges, lake and Rivers, | | | | morning through the forest in search of gorillas. |
| hills, wildlife and beautiful landscapes. The country | | | | Accompanied by a guide and porters, we were |
| has beautiful sceneries and dense tropical | | | | fitted out in jungle boots and rain jackets because |
| rainforests-some of the few in Africa, which are | | | | the park is often wet. The terrain can be difficult, |
| a home to roughly half of the world's mountain | | | | with steep slopes covered in dense vegetation |
| gorillas. I had an experience that proves that | | | | that gives the park its name. The time taken to |
| Uganda is truly " Gifted by nature". | | | | track the gorillas varies from as little as half an |
| Arrival in Uganda | | | | hour to as much as 8 hours, and it may |
| We arrived in Uganda and had a short stay in | | | | occasionally last the whole day! The Tracking was |
| Kampala, Uganda's capital city. It was so beautiful | | | | quite rigorous, and rain gears, sunscreens, insect |
| hanging out, relaxing and enjoying the experience | | | | repellants and a hat given the fact that the |
| in Africa with warmly welcoming people, beautiful | | | | weather is un-predictable was part of the |
| people and service. | | | | experience. |
| Journey to the heart of South-West | | | | The walk through the dense forest with our |
| After our night in Kampala, we set out early | | | | guides took us to the spot where the Gorillas |
| morning to southwestern Uganda with Churchill | | | | were last seen, and we started following their trail |
| safari guides, anxious for experience in "the pearl | | | | through the dense forests of Bwindi. Finally we |
| of Africa." The journey took us 6 hours drive, | | | | had the most exiting experience when we had |
| passing charming attractions en route like the | | | | anencounter with the Gorillas. Looking at the |
| royal drum makers, the Equator, and we stopped | | | | gentle giants is surely the most exciting encounter |
| at the roadside market to enjoy Lunch, fruit and | | | | Uganda has to offer. We were limited to one hour |
| vegetables en route. The journey from Kabale to | | | | with the gorillas with rules of course. We were |
| Buhoma took us 3-4 hours with a 4WD, since the | | | | also allowed to take a few pictures of the Gorillas, |
| terrain is hilly and roads are bumpy. | | | | an opportunity no one could miss. Parting from |
| The driving time was approximately 9 hours and | | | | the Gorillas is not easy. Leaving the spectacular |
| we arrived late afternoon and spent the night at | | | | view was such a difficult task. |
| Bwindi Tented Camp. | | | | The day ended with a walk back after a long day, |
| Gorilla tracking safari at Bwindi Impenetrable | | | | with scenes of other attractions like mammals |
| National Park | | | | including diurnal primates like the black and white |
| Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is magnificent | | | | colobus monkeys, buffalo and elephants, bird |
| Rain Forest, lying across the steep ridges of the | | | | species endemic to the Albertine Rift and |
| Albertine Rift Valley. The forest is a home to 326 | | | | butterflies. The forest has a dense under storey |
| gorillas, roughly half of the World's Mountain | | | | of fern, shrubs, vines, and About different tree |
| Gorillas. The altitude of the forest is above 5200 | | | | species have been recorded here, 10 of which |
| feet which means trackers need to be physically | | | | occur no where else in Uganda. The day was full |
| fit for tracking. Since the demand of Gorilla | | | | of experience and adventure. |
| tracking is systematically growing, we had to | | | | Gorilla tracking remains the most popular activity |
| book for gorilla permits in advance as well as | | | | in Uganda safaris, though its dependant on the |
| organise our trip with the help of Churchill safaris | | | | seasonal movements of the habituated gorilla |
| and Travel. | | | | groups. The experience was worth every drop of |
| Gorilla tracking experience started early morning | | | | sweat and money paid, very enjoyable and |
| with the guides waking us up, and preparing us for | | | | exciting. An experience hard to forget. |
| the all day adventure into the mountains. We then | | | | |