UNIVERSAL FASCINATION WITH MOUNTAIN GORILLAS.
On this beautiful and wonderful earth, there are approximately 1065 mountain gorillas members remaining. About half the population of mountain gorillas lives in Bwindi Impenetrable forest in Western Uganda but one should remember mountain gorillas are a subspecies of eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei).
Mountain gorillas living in east-central Africa are just two isolated groups – one group is found in the Virunga Volcanoes (a region spanning 3 national parks in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the other group lives in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda, which connects to Sarambwe Nature Reserve, DRC.
They’re found in high altitude montane and bamboo forests, which are surrounded by agriculture and settlements and for a traveler to be able to get closer and enjoy a moment with these beautiful giant apes, he/she can book a Uganda gorilla safari with us(Ujambo Boots Safaris) because our team is the best in planning gorilla safaris for all different kind of travelers thus creating extraordinary wilderness experiences for the esteemed guests.
If you accept to travel with us, one should expect our professional tour guides to lead them through an 8~9hours drive to the gorilla’s world surrounded by wild forest and impressive birdlife hence explaining the gorillas behaviour along the way and in this way guests will discover, learn and see fascinating facts about mountain gorillas which will meet their interests.
On your gorilla tracking day which start near the edges of the gorilla home, early that morning our tour guide will transfer you from the lodge after your morning breakfast to the briefing point in the park for a short briefing on the do’s and don’ts within the park. We highly advise guests not to forget to carry their lunch boxes.
Then after start clambering up a steep embankment with armed ranger guides who are authorised by the state to protect mountain gorillas and the only ones allowed to guide travelers within the gorilla park, where we will emerge from the close, humid forest into a small clearing. Guests will get some resting time for a moment to breathe in the fresh, cool air, while enjoying the vista spilling before us – dense forest below, blue-grey mountains in the distance. But we can’t stop long; we have places to go, gorillas to see. Guests should keep it in their mind that this gorilla tracking activity could last between 3 ~ 6 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas.
Perhaps half an hour later, our range guide will certainly stop to point out interesting features. Guests will crowd in, excited. There, on the forest floor before us, you will see your first sign of mountain gorillas – a small, perfectly formed, exceedingly fresh dollop of poo.
As we get closer to a family of mountain gorillas, the armed range guide will request guests to keep a social distance of about 7 meters from the giant apes. We shall find the majority of the group members is either fast asleep or dozing lightly, some taking time to themselves, others sleeping with limbs entwined.
1 hour will be offered to travelers in order for them to photograph, interact & learn more about mountain gorillas and at this point in life of a guest, he/she will get a consequent eye contact with the mountain gorillas hence that moment becoming the most exciting and poignant wildlife encounter in the whole of Africa.
Tracking is a captivating and unforgettable experience which more than repays the effort needed to reach Bwindi and to trek through the forest. Gorilla tracking can be challenging but one needs to be reasonably fit before undertaking to venture into the activity.
Below are some of the few fun facts about mountain gorillas;
– First & foremost we human beings share around 98% of our DNA with gorillas. This means that exposure to human illnesses even a cold flu can have potentially detrimental impacts on gorillas as they are so genetically similar to us, but they haven’t developed the necessary immunities.
– Mountain gorillas are one of the strongest and biggest living primates on planet earth and on average male mountain gorilla can weigh 180kg and measure 170cm tall.
– Mountain gorillas have approximately 16 different types of calls. These include short barks when they’re mildly alarmed or curious. To intimidate rivals, male gorillas strut with stiff legs, beat their chests, and use vocalisations like roars or hoots.
– While still in the wild, these giant apes can live up to approximately 35~40years old and young gorillas are classified as infants till approximately 3~4 years old while adults from around 8 years. Males between 8-12 years are called ‘blackbacks’. Then from 12 years old, they develop a silver section of hair over their back and hips, earning them the name ‘silverback’.
For an ultimate and extraordinary gorilla experience in Uganda, send us an email; info@ubsafaris.com and we will be glad to serve you.
Author;
Munyirwa Osman