| A climax of any Uganda safari is undoubtedly | | | | Although gorillas are large and powerful, they are |
| tracking the largest living primate on the planet, | | | | gentle by nature. But this placidness has |
| the endangered Mountain gorilla, through some of | | | | unfortunately become a curse to the entire |
| the most impenetrable jungle in the world - the | | | | species as it has led to open season poaching for |
| last remaining habitat of these critically | | | | their meat. The world-wide logging trend has also |
| endangered species. | | | | added to the dilemma of these gentle giants, as |
| Dedicated African safari tour operators organise | | | | year by year their natural habitat becomes even |
| safari tours that specifically highlight both the plight | | | | tinier. |
| and prowess of these remarkable animals, with | | | | The Ugandan authorities have regulated access to |
| sojourns to the jungles of Uganda, Rwanda and | | | | these mega-men and currently only 32 permits |
| the Democratic Republic of the Congo. | | | | are issued per day, ensuring that each group of |
| Earth’s final families | | | | visitors has their own, private experience with the |
| Earth’s final families of these iconic beasts are | | | | last remaining gorillas of east Africa. |
| all gathered in a single location; a location that has | | | | Gorilla freebies |
| been plagued by all sorts of difficulties in recent | | | | - Troops have an average of 5 – 30 |
| times. Ferocious civil wars, gross genocides and | | | | members, which are led by large males (known |
| the outbreak of the dreaded Ebola Fever have all | | | | as silverbacks) that not only make all the |
| had a significant impact on the survival of these | | | | decisions for the group but mediate conflict |
| animals, effectively caught in the crosshairs of | | | | situations too. |
| man. | | | | - The genetic code or DNA of the gorilla is |
| Although both Rwanda and the DRC host gorilla | | | | virtually identical to that of man; between 98 - |
| expeditions, it is the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest | | | | 99% the same. |
| National Park in Uganda that is hearth and home | | | | - There are 3 classifications of these intelligent |
| to half of the estimated 650 mountain gorillas left | | | | primates – the mountain gorilla that generally |
| on earth today. | | | | ranges in elevations of between 2000 - 4000m |
| Close encounters of the friendly kind | | | | and the eastern and western lowland gorillas that |
| Guests on the consummate Uganda holiday are | | | | generally forage in the dense forests, lowland |
| taken into the depths of the jungle by friendly | | | | swamps and marshes at sea level. |
| locals who act as both trackers and protectors of | | | | - The name gorilla was coined A.D. by a |
| these rare primates. The local guides have | | | | Carthaginian navigator named Hanno the Navigator |
| generally been working with the gorillas for | | | | and is derived from the Greek word, Gorillai, |
| several years and are consequently totally | | | | which apparently referred to a tribe of hairy |
| accepted by the silverback and his harem, allowing | | | | women! |
| for close encounters of the friendly kind. | | | | |