| A remote pocket of rainforest in Bwindi | | | | Rwanda rebel attacks in the Bwindi Park, even |
| Impenetrable National Park in the southwest of | | | | more gorilla lives were put at risk. |
| Uganda is home to half the world’s population | | | | Poaching of the Uganda gorillas was also on the |
| of endangered mountain gorillas. The Bwindi Park | | | | rise and with no strict conservation rules in place, |
| is now the most popular region for gorilla safaris in | | | | many gorillas were killed and the species |
| Uganda and has been proclaimed a World Heritage | | | | diminished radically. Over time, tighter policies have |
| Site. This park is made up of about 200 square | | | | been implemented to protect and prevent further |
| miles of dense rainforest and thick jungle | | | | incidents that could potentially harm or inhibit the |
| vegetation – an ideal habitat for the mountain | | | | preservation if this species. Since these protocols |
| gorillas. | | | | have been set in place and thanks to the efforts |
| The other park that offers great opportunities for | | | | of various conservation organisations, the Uganda |
| Uganda gorilla safaris is the Mgahinga Gorilla | | | | gorilla numbers have increased. |
| National Park. This part is situated on the extreme | | | | Uganda Gorilla Safari Guidelines |
| southwest corner of Uganda on the slopes of the | | | | On your Uganda gorilla safari, you will always be |
| Virunga Mountains that also border Rwanda and | | | | accompanied by a park ranger and trackers. |
| the Democratic Republic of Congo. | | | | These professionals will gladly impart their |
| Regardless of which park you visit, gorilla trekking | | | | knowledge of the area and the Uganda gorillas, as |
| in Uganda affords you a once in a lifetime | | | | they have invested much time conducting the |
| experience. The thrill of trekking through the | | | | tours and spending time in the company of this |
| dense foliage as you track the Uganda gorillas is | | | | incredible species. |
| one not soon to be forgotten. On your forest | | | | Half of the fun of gorilla trekking in Uganda is |
| trails; you may also come across some of the | | | | trying to follow the families of habituated gorilla |
| other natural inhabitants of the area, including | | | | through the dense foliage of the equatorial |
| diverse bird species, chimpanzees, golden | | | | forests. The gorillas are constantly on the move in |
| monkeys, bush buck, duiker and maybe even | | | | search of food which means that you will have to |
| leopard. | | | | be prepared for quite a tiring but adventuresome |
| The Rewards of Uganda Gorilla Safaris | | | | trip! |
| The search through the dense rainforest could | | | | There are roughly about 700 mountain gorillas left |
| take anything from 1 hour to 4 hours, depending | | | | in the world, which is why seeing them in the wild |
| on where the Uganda gorillas choose to move to | | | | really is an incredibly special opportunity. |
| on that particular day. Although they do have daily | | | | Interesting Uganda Gorilla Facts: |
| habits, they are constantly on the move in search | | | | - Mountain gorillas are diurnal – they are |
| of food, so do not stay long in one particular | | | | generally active during the hours between 6am |
| place, unless it is to rest for the night. | | | | – 6pm, which is why gorilla trekking in Uganda |
| Visits to the family groups of Uganda gorillas are | | | | is conducted within these hours. |
| usually limited to 8 people per group and the visit | | | | - As male gorillas age, they develop a saddle of |
| typically lasts an hour. The trek is quite challenging, | | | | grey or silver coloured hair on their backs, for this |
| but once you come into close proximity with | | | | reason, male Uganda gorillas are referred to as |
| these gentle distant relatives of ours, the labours | | | | “silverbacks”. |
| of the journey are soon forgotten. Sitting in quiet | | | | - Every evening, the mountain gorillas build a new |
| observation of the Uganda gorillas as they go | | | | nest to sleep in for the night using surrounding |
| about their daily life, playing, eating and caring and | | | | vegetation. |
| raising their young, is a truly magical experience. | | | | - Uganda gorillas can be identified by their nose |
| Conservation History of the Uganda Gorillas | | | | prints, which are unique to each individual. |
| Until 1994, Uganda gorilla safaris were a major | | | | - The adult male Uganda gorillas have more |
| tourist attraction. However, when the civil war | | | | pronounced bony crests on their skulls, giving |
| broke out in neighbouring Rwanda, political unrest | | | | them a more conical shape in comparison to the |
| and bloodshed was rife, leaving thousands of | | | | females. |
| people dead and millions displaced from their | | | | - Uganda gorillas that live in the Virunga Mountains |
| homes. Many of the victims of the war spilled | | | | have longer and darker hair than other gorilla |
| over into Uganda seeking refuge, which | | | | species. This hair allows them to adapt to their |
| unfortunately contaminated the natural habitat of | | | | living environment in a range of temperatures, |
| the mountain gorillas. Following the turmoil that | | | | including very cold climates. |
| erupted in 1999 when Uganda was victim to | | | | |