Mountain gorillas can only survive in the wild and so tracking them in their native forests is the only chance for you to see them. Gorilla trekking affords you the rare opportunity to view the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat as they go about their daily activities. Siting in silence on the cold forest floor for 60 minutes to observe these gentle giants feed and groom their playful infants is actually one of the world’s most remarkable wildlife encounters. There exists only four places to track mountain gorillas and these are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda; Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda; Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda; and Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo. You may seem spoilt for choice but here is why you need to choose Uganda as your gorilla trekking destination. Of course there are many reasons but let’s focus on the 5 top most.
1. You will be where half of the world’s mountain gorillas live
Not more than 1300 mountain gorillas exists on this planet but Uganda hosts half of this population. The only two places in Uganda where to track these gentle giants are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. It is Bwindi forest that actually hosts half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Bwindi takes its name from a local word “Bwindi” that literally means “place of darkness” due to its thick canopy. This ancient montane forest spanning 128 square miles has a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE status thanks to its high biodiversity and a large number of endangered species that call it home. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park on the other hand accounts for 13 square miles of the Virunga and includes 3 of the 8 major peaks: Mt. Muhabura, Mt. Gahinga and Mt. Sabinyo. The Virunga is also one of the world’s most biologically diverse areas.
2. Promote sustainable tourism by supporting local community livelihoods
Protected areas around the world are faced with the challenge of encroachment by surrounding communities and Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks are no exception. The surrounding communities are custodians of these precious gorilla habitats and therefore need to be supported to prevent them engaging in forest destruction activities. Ways in which you can support local community livelihood is by engaging in community visits before or after your gorilla trekking adventure; and by hiring a porter to help you during the quite strenuous gorilla trekking experience.
3. More affordable gorilla permits
Restrictions are in place to protect the rare mountain gorillas and so the number of trekkers of each gorilla family is limited to eight, led by trained park rangers. This is why it is advisable that you book your gorilla permit in advance. A gorilla permit in Uganda goes for 800USD and this is lower compared to that of Rwanda that goes for 1500USD.
4. Challenge yourself to the rough terrain
Of course viewing the rare mountain gorillas doesn't come easy. Just a look at the green terraced hills and rolling volcanic slopes is a clear indication that this part of Uganda is not for the faint-hearted. It takes hard work to navigate uphill and downhill through thick tangles of vines, thorns and roots. The forest is only accessible on foot and there are no signposts, no directions and cleared paths. For this reason the ranger has to carry a machete to clear the way for you before reaching the gorillas. The path may not be easy but the reward is well worth it!
5. Cross paths with other primates
Uganda is a primate lover's paradise. Expect to see a variety
of other primate species during your gorilla trekking adventure. Common among
these include L'Hoest monkey, grey checked monkeys, and blue monkeys. In Mgahinga
National Park is home to another endangered primate—the golden monkey. The furry comical monkeys live high up in
the bamboo forests. Tracking them is similar to tracking mountain gorilla but
not as challenging.