Gorilla trekking in Uganda : Gorilla trekking is the top most done and sought after well-known bustle in Uganda. This captivating action brings you face to face with unbelievable mountain gorillas. Uganda has half of the world’s populace of mountain gorillas henceforth manufacture it a sightseer hot spot for gorilla tours and the best residence to track these tender giants. While on a Uganda gorilla safari, you can select to partake in gorilla tracking from any of the two terminuses that anchorage the mountain gorillas, that is to say Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Gorilla tracking comprises walking through the forest in examination of the mountain gorillas. The action starts with a briefing at the park headquarters on the rules and protocols to follow.
This is followed by the distribution of groups (8 people per group) and each group is an owed a gorilla family/group to track in the firm of an armed game ranger. Gorilla tracking can take about 2 hours to 8 hours conditional on the setting of the mountain gorillas. The warden guide dispensed to you keeps in touch with the watching team on ground in order to easily locate the mountain gorillas. On locating the mountain gorillas, you are allowed up to 1 hour to watch them go about their daily life. Imprisonment all these great reminiscences while with the mountain gorillas. After the hour, you head back to the park headquarters where you receive a certificate for contributing in the Uganda gorilla safari.
Age limits for Gorilla Trekking
The age limit foe gorilla trekking is 15years of age and that is the last age permitted to carry out the trek because they are painstaking mature and able to take on the pressure for the trek.
One of the details why people below 15 years are partial from gorilla trekking is because they are well-thought-out juvenile and may be scared by the size of a gorilla. The massive size of a silverback and his thoughtful advent is scary to even some adults. Silverbacks and even other memberships of the group may make a mock charge.
What do you need for gorilla trekking?
Even though gorilla trekking is not only for the fit, you still need to be in good shape to complete a hike. If you are an elder, unfit or disabled, you should read about gorilla trekking for the elderly. You also need to be rationally and tangibly organized to ample the activity heedlessly of the encounters ahead. Training means packing proper hiking boots, double-layered socks, gaiters, rain jackets and insect repellents. Do not forget drinking water and light snack when going out to track gorillas. Gorillas are susceptible to human diseases. No one with a cold, flu or similar contagious diseases will be allowed close to the gorillas.
Safety measures when with the gorillas
Don’t use flash when taking photos of gorillas because it will only alert them. Keep a distance of at least 7 meters from the nearest gorilla and never eat food near them. Remember there will be no fence separating you with the primates. They can decide to walk very close to you and giving you the temptation to touch. Do not touch a gorilla and stay away from infants to avoid alerting mum and the silverback. The silverback will seem busy but always watching your every move. Gorilla charging is very rare though they may pretend to do so. When a gorilla charges at you, never run away. Simply lay low and remain submissive until it goes away.
Some facts about mountain gorillas
These are some facts about mountain gorillas that one should know about mountain gorillas aside from just their trek able fun activities and these could as well be of great impact as u chooses to have a visit to these great primates.
- Outward Looking
Mountain gorilla looks aggressive with males having crowned muscles and the silvery hair on their backs at their age of sexual maturity. They have long arm than legs, large head s with no hair, shiny black muzzle, thick trunk and broad chest.
- They Are Mountainous
Just like their name, mountain gorillas live in hilly regions. The rare species hike up to the mountain peaks, which are mostly forested. The thick fur enables them to survive the coldness in the higher altitudes. Gorilla trekking in Africa therefore entails hiking the dense forest the experience that every traveler lives to remember.
- Nourishment
They are mainly herbivorous feeding on vegetation. Mountain gorillas mainly eat fruits, leaves, wild celery, thistles, stinging nettles, bedstraw and bamboo shoots. However, though vegetarian, sometimes they can grab small insects, ants and larvae for delicacy.
- Susceptible To Human Diseases
Mountain gorillas are so close to human beings sharing 98% of human genes which them so vulnerable to human diseases. The mostly spread are airborne like flue and cough easily spread from people to mountain gorilla. Because of this, travelers are advised to keep a distance of seven meters away from the gorillas and others like in virungas, travelers are given masks to put on their mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing.
- Flexible
Mountain gorillas are movable in that they cannot stay in one place for two nights. Every morning, each family led by a dominant silver back leaves the site they slept and move to new places. They make new nests in the evening where they sleep that very night and will not return there the next night, this is reason why the ranges have to observe where the gorillas have slept so that they can be followed by the trekkers he next morning.
Best time for gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking takes place all year round. However, since the primates live in rain forests, the best time to see them is during the drier seasons. Uganda is found close to the equator Means that it has two rain and two dry seasons. The first dry season generally starts from December and ends in early March. The second rainy season starts from June and ends in early October. It is important to note that it can downpour any time of the year given that the primates live in rain forests. Global warming has also changed the rain patterns in Africa. It is therefore possible to find rain even during the dry seasons. Tourists prefer the dry season because the vegetation in the forest is less dense and the final encounter with the primates is not affected by rain. The forest trails are also less muddy hence reducing the chances of sliding.
Other activities in addition to gorilla trekking
Under gorilla trekking there are other activities that can be added to it in Uganda and have the most lovely and thrilling time in Uganda and these involve
- Bungee Jumping in Uganda
- Hot Air Balloon Safari
- Horseback Riding in Uganda
- Jet Boating on the River Nile
- River Boarding or River Surfing on the Nile
- Boat Cruise on the Nile
- Sports fishing in Uganda
- Floating Safari along the Victoria Nile
- Zip-lining in Mabira Forest
- Quad Biking in Uganda
- Golf Safaris in Uganda
- Big Game Mini Golf at Bujagali Falls
- Mountaineering and Hiking in Uganda
