Considered to be one of the most rewarding life time adventures and Uganda’s foremost tourist attraction, tracking the rare mountain gorillas in the natural fabrics of the remote forests of south western Uganda is indeed the world’s most remarkable wildlife encounter.
These gentle giants are magnificent animals exclusively over half of the number found in the verdant swathe of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Virunga Parks of less than 1000 mountain gorillas. Though its known for its outstanding gorilla tracking experience, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park boosts as Africa’s richest and an extremely old refugee that survives the ice ages, its slopes rise to 1447 m above sea level onto an eco-system enabling habitats from lowland forest to afromantane vegetation.
On this area of 321 square kilometers, you find an impressive collection of wildlife species including 350 birds, many of which are Albertine rift endemics, 310 butteflies, 51 reptiles, 88 moths and 120 mammals including several primates. Among them Chimpanzees, black and white colobus, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, L’Hoest’s monkey, and mountain gorillas as the prime attraction. Bwindi is comprised of rugged landscape as it extends over the escarpment to the western ridge of the Great East African rift valley. Inside, the forest trees are arranged in different canopies.
Four visitor centers offer visitor reception. Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the east, Nkuringo and Rushaga in the south. Rushaga and Nkuringo grant access to 10 habituated mountain gorilla groups; eight permits are available for each group to a daily maximum of 80 permits in this region. Community-guided walking safaris with Instinct Safaris outside the forest are available to provide an insight into cultural values of the Bakiiga and the Batwa (pygmy) living in close relation to this forest.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the smallest of Uganda’s 10 world class national parks, covering just 38 square kilometers. However, a series of distinct vegetation zones cover this forest. Starting with mountainous woodland to the bamboo zone, mountainous forest and the ericaceous zone containing giant tree heathers form the undisturbed vegetation of Mgahinga forest. Finally, the spectacular alpine zone that only occurs on East Africa’s mountains rising up 3000 meters and beyond, can be reached. This includes bizarre giant forms of lobelia and groundsel thus two rare primates; mountain gorillas and golden monkeys can be tracked in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
The forested region in south western Uganda was once hit by drought that rendered mountain gorillas very mobile in a wide home range searching for food. As vegetarians and their diet mostly depends on the second growth, they crossed to Rwanda and came back. Ever since, the gorillas have been monitored by rangers and guides from Uganda Wildlife Authority and are doing well. There is only one gorilla family – Nyakagezi group – habituated for tourism among more families in the Virunga volcanoes (Rwandese portion). Besides gorillas, one can see golden monkeys in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. They are a local sub-species of the blue monkeys, which are endemic to high altitude forests. They are playful and inquisitive and often spend their time leaping from the bamboo branches or frolicking on the forest floor.
One can climb the dormant volcanoes to simultaneously stand on the border of Uganda, Rwanda and D.R.Congo e.g. Mt. Sabinyo at 3660 m, Mt.Gahinga at 3474 m and Mt.Muhavura at 4127 m. Mgahinga contains 39 mammal species including elephants, a small number of leopards, buffaloes, and bush pigs that are rarely seen. Furthermore, 79 birds endemic to both Albertine rift and high altitude areas like Rwenzori turaco and crowned hornbill can be found in the vicinity.
Last but definitely not least interesteg is the unique Batwa forest experience. Our local guides await you for hikes including cave discovery, leading you to the traditional home of the Batwa king and cultural dances in the traditional caves.
