Uganda Gorilla Trekking from Kigali
Uganda Gorilla Trekking from Kigali is one of its kind in the world whereby the gorilla trekking experience in Uganda will change your life. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is carried out in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park, which are located in southwestern Uganda. From Kigali international airport, you can reach Bwindi impenetrable national park with ease. Unlike, from Kampala or Entebbe international airport, the gorilla trekking safari might be tiresome because of the long distance. Therefore, never miss out on Uganda gorilla trekking from Kigali when in Rwanda.
Uganda Gorilla trekking from Kigali is one of the most demanded tourism packages and is it the main reason as why Uganda tourism is known and stands out in Africa. Seeing the enigmatic mountain gorillas in their untemper with natural habitat is one of the best experiences you can ever have in life. The trails for the trekkers in Bwindi impenetrable national park are led by highly trained guides with a lot of knowledge about the mountain gorilla behaviors.
Along the gorilla trekking trail during the Uganda Gorilla Trekking from Kigali tour, you are assured of meeting the mountain gorilla family you booked for; the mountain gorilla families mostly comprise of the female mountain gorillas, the babies, and the juvenile gorillas, plus the dominant male, also known as the silverback. The Ugandan gorilla trekking experience is a very different experience, distinctive from all the common game drive you have ever done in different African national parks. Uganda gorilla trekking gets you into physical and closer intimacy with the mountain gorillas with in their natural wild habitats.
Brief about the mountain gorillas
The mountain gorillas are s different from the large apes you have ever seen in the movies, zoos and, perhaps, circuses. The mountain gorillas are a subspecies of the major family of large apes, largest, called the eastern gorilla, the other species which belongs to this family are the lowland gorillas; these are the commonest gorillas, unlike the endangered mountain gorillas which stay in the highlands of Africa and other parts of the world.
The mountain gorillas are indeed the largest primates currently present in the whole world. The mountain gorillas are declared as endangered by the international union for conservation of nature. The reasons for the ugly status “endangered” of the mountain gorillas in the world is ttributed mainly to human interference with nature. Poaching of the mountain gorillas and destruction of the natural habitats in Africa has put the mountain gorillas at the line of extinction.
The biggest population of the mountain gorillas is found in Uganda, which is Bwindi impenetrable national park and mgahinga national park. Uganda holds about half of the total population of the mountain gorillas in the world. The other gorillas can be found in volcanoes national park in Rwanda and a few in the Virunga national park of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Congo has more lowland gorillas compared to the unique mountain gorilla species.
Different from the small primate species such as the monkeys which are so playful and love to swing from one tree branch to another, the mountain gorillas are mainly grounders and love to stay in an open under the light tree canopies which can easily penetrate by light. The mountain gorillas are adaptable to the highland tropical rain forest of east and central Africa. The mountain gorillas are true herbivores and love to feed on fruits, tree leaves, bamboo shoots, and flowers.
The mountain gorillas are also bipedal, meaning, they can walk on knuckles and legs; the mountain gorillas can stand on their two legs, but they mainly walk using all the two pairs of limbs, hands, and legs. Perhaps it is the weight of the mountain gorillas that makes them walk on the four limbs. The mountain gorillas stay in small groups with an average number of about 5 members. The female mountain gorilla only chooses to copulate with the male if he is able to protect the family; therefore, the female mountain gorilla’s breeding partners are chosen to base on the ability of a male to protect the female.
Being the biggest primates, the mountain gorillas are huge mammals compared to a grown man. A grown male mountain gorilla measures about six feet tall and weighs over 200kg. However, the female mountain gorillas are shorter, about 5 feet and weigh halfway the weight of a male, about 100kg. The mountain gorillas are graceful creatures and meek when not tampered with. The male mountain gorilla can charge up and when provoked can even kill. This is the reason why you don’t have to imitate them.
Rules and code of conduct for Uganda Gorilla Trekking from Kigali
Mountain gorilla trekking is done within a wild natural setting, therefore, caution has to be taken for the safety of the animals and the visitors as well. You are expected to obey the guides that lead your gorilla trekking trails with in Bwindi impenetrable national park. The guide are well trained and learned about the behavior of the mountain gorillas, so obedience to their instructions is the only to survival in the thick forests of Bwindi impenetrable forests.
You have to keep in mind that the mountain gorillas are wild animals so keep a safe distance, at least about seven meters away. When the male mountain gorilla sees you and charge, it is important that you don’t make eye contact, and also stay where you are and gently low down.
It is good if you do not make unnecessary noise and sudden movements when you see the mountain gorillas. And when the group includes the baby gorillas, never touch them or else you are sending wrong information to the dominant male.
The flashlights and drinks plus other foodstuffs are not allowed when trekking. The mountain gorillas do not like the many flashes from the camera. Eating while trekking the mountain gorillas, might cause you to liter which is bad for the ecology of the place. Eating is allowed in about 200m from the family of gorillas being visited.
To keep the population of the mountain gorillas, always check and be in good health. The mountain gorillas are susceptible to human respiratory diseases like flu and cough. Only one group of mountain gorillas are supposed to be visited by a group of 8 people in a day, one gorilla family once a day. The children below the age of 15years are not allowed to carry out mountain gorilla trekking.
The Uganda mountain gorilla trekking safaris are recommendable to fit and healthy people. The terrain of Bwindi impenetrable national park is mountainous and rugged, therefore, your health fitness is required if at all one is going to book for gorilla trekking in Uganda.
What to wear
Bwindi impenetrable national park and mgahinga national park are mountainous areas; this means the temperatures are always low, so you can where some long sleeves, long light jumper and a shoal to help your warm up. The rubber boots will help you to move fast on the slippery rocks with in bwindi impenetrable. Remember to wear neutral colored clothes, like kachi and green while trekking the mountain gorillas.
Other equipment to carry
A hat is important, camera for photography, lip balm, sunscreen lotion, flashlight, binoculars, sunglasses, and insect repellants among others.
