The post What to expect on a Gorilla Safari to Uganda? first appeared on Mgahinga National Park.
]]>A gorilla safari to Uganda is undertaken in two Gorilla National Parks-Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in the south-west of the country and therefore it is possible to visit the two places without so much strain and time wasting. In the whole course of the trip, several events (good and bad) happen and therefore it is important to always be prepared for smooth flow of your journey and in the end have unforgettable experiences.
On the actual trekking day
There are a number of things to expect on the actual trekking day of the gorilla safari to Uganda but one thing for sure is that it is one of the most unforgettable days of your lifetime. Part of the most thrilling moments of this day is just pondering on where and when you will find the Giant Apes. The Mountain gorillas as their name suggests live in mountainous areas, usually ranging between 2500 and 4000 meters above sea level with thick vegetation and steep slopes as well as rugged terrains thus expect challenging and generally tiring treks. To avoid running out of breath, visitors are advised to walk as their own pace in addition to having enough drinking water to keep hydrated throughout the trek.
An early breakfast starts-off the day and this is usually provided at the Lodge, together with lunch box and this is followed by briefing at the Park headquarters from 7:00 to 8:00am. Even while trekking, visitors are constantly reminded on the guidelines as a way of protecting visitors and mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Also get the opportunity to hire a porter before entering into the jungles. Depending on the location of the allocated gorilla group, trekking takes half an hour to four hours before the Giant Apes are finally found but expect a memorable experience. Rangers/guides leading your group will be in constant radio contact with trackers for information regarding the location of the mountain gorillas, depending on the nests of previous night.
While spending the allotted one hour, get a chance to be thrilled by the physical appearance of these creatures or watch them go about their activities such as playing, copulating, suckling babies, resting, grooming and munching on vegetation. The way back to the starting point (Park Headquarters) is usually shorter and less hectic but you will be awarded a Gorilla Trekking certificate at the end of the trek. Don’t also forget to tip guides/rangers and porters (normally ranges from $10 to $20 per person).
Packing list for Gorilla safari to Uganda
For any successful gorilla safari to Uganda, a packing list is crucial for your comfort while walking through the dense vegetation, steep slopes and sometimes muddy/slippery trails. Therefore, make sure that you have sturdy hiking boots, gardening gloves, long-sleeved shirts, insect repellants, long safari pants, energy giving snacks, wide brim hats, first aid kit, rain jacket, toiletries, sunglasses, your travel documents, sunscreen, valid gorilla permit, re-usable water bottle, cotton socks, warm sweater, to mention but a few.
When is the best time to undertake a gorilla safari to Uganda?
Gorilla safaris to Uganda are wonderfully amazing and rewarding all year round, although each of the two seasons (wet and dry) offers its own opportunities and challenges as well as special enticement. For this reason, there is really no best time to undertake gorilla safaris to Uganda. The most important thing to keep in mind is that gorilla treks are guaranteed regardless of season because even in the rainy season, rains do happen all day.
The rainy/wet season is when rains are heavy, vegetation is lusher and denser making treks more difficult as hiking trails become muddy and slippery but expect wonderful photographic opportunities. In the dry season, there are reduced rains that result into sparser vegetation and drier hiking trails that offer less challenging treks. For this reason, this is also the peak season for gorilla safaris to Uganda.
Booking your gorilla safari to Uganda
You can book your gorilla safari to Uganda in two ways. The first option is directly contacting service providers-Uganda Wildlife Authority for gorilla permits, Rental Car Companies for ground transportation and accommodation facilities (where you will be spending nights and eating during the gorilla safari to Uganda). The second option is leaving the entire booking process for the Tour Operator (booking for gorilla permits, transport and places of lodging), but you will be required to pay extra (in terms of commission).
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]]>The post 5 Reasons Why Go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda first appeared on Mgahinga National Park.
]]>5 Main Reasons Why you should Go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
There are two gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest where almost half of the world’s gorilla population is found and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Gorillas don’t pay mind to political borders, so populations across the Virungas are relatively fluid.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (also called “The Place of Darkness” due to its dense treetops) is an ancient, montane and lowland forest spanning 128 square miles. The region was named a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to its incredible biodiversity and the large number of endangered species that call it home.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park accounts for 13 square miles of the larger Virunga habitat, which stretches across 168 square miles into Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The national park includes three of the eight major Virunga peaks: Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura and Mount Sabyinyo. While here you can do golden monkey tracking, the batwa trail and boat ride in a traditional dugout canoe an interesting addon on your Uganda safari
Habitat destruction is the main threat to mountain gorillas. Communities around the parks are heavily populated, and residents have traditionally used land around national park boundaries for farming or logging. Since tourism industry is now one of Uganda’s most high income earner, and the majority of tourists come to do gorilla safaris, trekkers are encouraged to use local porters who is always a local resident and occasionally a reformed poacher. The landscape within the parks is unpredictable and difficult; porters help guide trekkers through river crossings and up steep, muddy inclines. You can also get involved in community-led cultural initiatives which are so many around the park. In Mgahinga, elders of the Batwa tribe lead visitors on a forest tour along the Batwa Trail, explaining how their self-sufficient, forest-dwelling tribe traditionally used medicinal plants.
In Uganda, Gorilla permit costs used vary depending on the season, in the low season thats April, May and November, permits used $450. The rest of the year, they cost $600 until when the Uganda wildlife authority announced the increment to US$ 700 effective June 2020 . In contrast, permits in Rwanda now cost $1,500 year-round. gorilla tours also vary depending on the time you have from 2 days gorilla tour to 7 days gorilla safari Africa
One look at southwestern Uganda’s green terraced hills and rolling volcanic slopes and it’s clear this area of the country is not for the faint of heart. Add in the high altitude and the challenging terrain, and gorilla trekking in Uganda promises to be the adventure of a lifetime.It requires navigating uphill and downhill through thick tangles of vines, thorns, and roots. Thus the named Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is only accessible by foot which is why the park rangers carry machetes . The reward seems that much better after all of the hard work.
Uganda is a primate-lover’s dream. In addition to mountain gorillas, Mgahinga is home to another endangered species: the golden monkey. These furry, comical monkeys live high up in bamboo forests. Tracking golden monkeys is very similar to tracking gorillas, but the trek itself is not quite as challenging.
Bwindi has not only Gorillas but also L’hoest monkeys, gray-cheeked mangabeys, and blue monkeys. In Kibale Forest National Park, commonly known as the capital city of the primates , chimpanzees steal the show. Patas monkeys roam around Murchison Falls National Park. Go on 3 days Uganda wildlife safari. Queen Elizabeth National Park has blue monkeys and red-tailed monkeys (not to mention non-primates, like lions and elephants) see this on 3 days queen Elizabeth safari.
Visit mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park with Gorilla Safari Africa
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]]>The post 10 Interesting Questions About Mountain Gorillas first appeared on Mgahinga National Park.
]]>Where do the mountain gorillas stay?
Only three destinations in the world inhabit these critically endangered Apes and they include Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In Uganda, they live only in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in the southwestern part of the country. Over 400 of them live in Bwindi and 80 are in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. In Rwanda, they are found in Volcanoes National Park, a 160 square kilometer protected area Northwestern. Popular as the oldest conservation area in Africa and in DRC, mountain gorillas live in the Virunga National Park, world heritage site in Eastern Congo that borders Uganda and Rwanda. The Virunga National Park is Africa’s oldest park and Africa’s most biologically rich conservation area. The park spans 7800 square kilometers and inhabits about 200 mountain gorillas. Booking a gorilla safari in these destinations will offer you the lifetime opportunity of meeting these great apes in the wild!
Are mountain gorillas also found in the zoo?
No! They only live in natural forests. You can only find them in mountainous areas (wilderness) and only in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Southwestern Uganda; the Virunga National Park in Eastern DRC and Volcanoes National Park in Northwestern, Rwanda.
What behavior do mountain gorillas have?
These remarkable Apes spend much of their time feeding, playing, foraging and resting in their nests. They live in groups with one silverback as their leader with many females and infants. Mountain gorillas are peaceful but they tend to be aggressive when there is fight between their groups. This is a common behavior amongst gorillas in the wild especially when one silverback attacks for new group.
Which food do gorillas eat?
Mountain gorillas are vegetarians primarily dwelling on leaves, shoots, roots, stems, tree barks and flowers. They also feed on fruits, bamboo shoots and wild celery. Their main home is the hagenia forest since their food is explored within this area throughout the year. The Bamboo shoots tends to grow faster and tender shoots are accessible in the months of August and December.
What are some of the threats to mountain gorillas?
With less than 900 gorillas in whole world and there are many threats that have led to their status of being critically endangered species some of which include poaching, habitat loss, encroachment, civil wars, mining and human infectious diseases.
Are mountain gorilla related to human beings?
They are referred as “our close relatives,” sharing about 98% of their DNA with humans. Gorillas and humans, originated from the universal ancestor and some of the features are more like that of the humans especially the family, they are emotional in natures, playful, humble, and intelligent. They also demonstrate body language. However, they are very susceptible to human infectious diseases.
How do Mountain gorillas live?
Just like humans, these primates also have a social life style and they live in families but the size varies. One group comprises of infants, juveniles, females and males. The silverback is the main dominant in the gorilla family whose responsibility largely depends on protection and taking care of family members in terms of food. At the age of 11 years, male gorillas can split away from their biological group but they find it hard to join already established group. In many occasions, they are considered like enemies. Females leave their families at 8 years and then join the new once. They also mourn their colleagues when they die in the family.
What is the average life expectancy of mountain gorillas?
They can live up to 30 to 40 years in the wild.
Are Mountain Gorillas really friendly?
Well known as intelligent, humble, affectionate and gentle primates in the world. They spend much of their time interacting, feeding, playing but they tend to be aggressive if they are irritated by intruders in their group. Tourists can also visit habitats only when they are peaceful however, when there is danger they tend to charge against it just like humans.
What is the weight of silverback gorilla?
A mature silverback weighs at least 450 and 500 pounds and the height is 5 to 6 feet. They are big in size and they eat up to 60 pounds of vegetation daily.
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]]>The post What to Do When a Gorilla Charges first appeared on Mgahinga National Park.
]]>Despite their formidable size, gorillas are gentle and calm apes in the jungle. However, this doesn’t always guarantee a safe trek all the time. Thousands of travelers flock Uganda, D. R. Congo and Rwanda to spot these critically endangered species for ultimate encounters, and they have indeed attained astonishing experiences that they are never going to forget in their lifetimes.
Though, if on an ill-fated day you encounter a gorilla that is in a bad mood, God forbid; what would be your next move? Or perhaps you just seem a threat to the silverback that can do anything to ensure the security and safety of its family?
Mountain gorillas are far stronger and faster than us, and in any case if they feel insecure with the humans’ presence, they are not afraid of defending their troops. Frequently when a silverback suspects a threat, it first makes loud grunts and hoots, it buoys itself and pounds its chest. And if the seemingly threat to the gorilla persists, then it can grab anything and tear it down to protect its family.
In such a case, just crunch down to show the gorilla that you are not a threat. Bend down and make yourself smaller than the silverback. It being a calm ape, it will understand that you are not a challenger and finds no reason to fight you.
But if it plods on moving closer to you, just turn away and fall gently on the ground as a indicator that it has already defeated you, if it further examines you, go limp, don’t engage in anyway and don’t make any sudden movements, though you can gradually distant yourself.
When a gorilla charges right in front you, don’t show it any interest, just pretend to be doing your usual work, maybe looking at the trees or even relaxing, but staying alert at the same time. Just be submissive, calm, respectful and as unthreatening as possible.
In case a gorilla becomes more aggressive and you see that it is now very ready to grab you, start looking for all possible weapons that you can make out from the near places, such as pointed woods, stones, soda cans, and fire and glass bottles. Note that when confronting a gorilla, you should target the eyes.
If at a sufficient distance, run for your life and avoid confrontation. However if you had moved so close to the gorilla, gradually make some movements as you distance yourself from the silverback.
Withal, sometimes it also needs trekkers to imitate apes themselves if so close to the angry gorilla and there is no chance of backing out, then also just be brave like the gorilla. Show it the teeth and scream loud while pounding the chest just like the gorilla charging at you. Or also break and chew some vegetation, break some leaves and even nap on the ground to prove that you are not hostile.
And then always remember to follow the lead of the guide. Every trekking group is accompanied with an armed park ranger. And before the start of each trek, travelers are briefed on the Do’s and Don’ts while with the gorillas as the guides know the different temperaments of each gorilla group. So always follow the rules and regulations of the game rangers.
More to note, never look a gorilla directly in its eyes, don’t take flash photos of it, keep a distance and don’t pose any threat to it at all.
Otherwise, gorilla safaris in Africa offer prolific experiences that cannot be got anywhere else in the world.
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]]>The post Spreading the Wealth from Mountain Gorillas first appeared on Mgahinga National Park.
]]>Now, though, people who live in close proximity with mountain gorillas are slowly changing the way they view the gorillas and the tourism that they bring. Conversations in communities have, of late, been centered on how Gorilla Levy funds can help directly improve household livelihoods.
In 2008, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) decreed that 5 USD from mountain gorilla tracking permit sold go back to the communities surrounding Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the only two protected areas where mountain gorillas live in Uganda.
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]]>The post Gorilla Doctors Saving Mountain Gorillas first appeared on Mgahinga National Park.
]]>Due to the fact that mountain gorillas shares almost 98% of human genes, their greatest threat may come from human borne infectious diseases, since mountain gorillas bring thousands of people from the local communities within and from around the continent to have a close contact with these rarely seen apes which can only be met in their national habitat. If you are intending to take a gorilla safari in Africa, no one with signs of sickness is allowed to visit these giant apes. Thanks should go to the ranger guides and the Veterinary doctors who monitor these apes on a daily basis through a ranger-based monitoring and the veterinary team’s routine health checks.
Any mountain gorilla showing signs of respiratory disease, coughing, lethargy are identified for intensive observation. Most gorillas with viral breathing disease recover on their own, but others worsen and develop secondary bacterial infections, causing even more severe respiratory disease like broncho pneumonia which can be deadly, luckily bacterial infections can be cured if caught early enough. In case an infected gorilla with respiratory infection is not improving, the veterinary doctors will stage a medical interference to dart the individual with antibiotics. During the intervention, samples are taken so that the exact cause of the disease can be identified.Knowing the cause of the disease is greatly very important as it helps the gorilla doctors to know the medical decisions when dealing with future disease outbreaks and hence saving the life of these endangered species.
In case of any report of trapped gorilla, the gorilla doctors make plan to intervene swiftly, an intervention team which encompass of several veterinarians, national park staff members and porters trek to find the trapped gorilla and make an assessment about the cause of the situation. Unfortunately, gorillas, especially infants and juveniles, sometimes get caught in these snares. Gorillas may lose limbs or digits to snares, or die as a result of infection or strangulation.In order for the team to safely approach the animal and treat its wound, the gorilla must be scurried with an anesthetic drug. The gorilla is scurried with the drug using a compressed-CO2 dart projector by the Gorilla Doctors carefully. All veterinary care for wild human-habituated gorillas is brought in the forest; gorillas are not removed from the wild, even momentarily, in order to facilitate treatment.
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]]>The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage, and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), with the support of U.S. Mission Uganda and the American people, commissioned new markers along the trail that are expected to boost tourism revenue in the park by approximately 50 percent over the next two years.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) at the U.S. Mission is investing $31,000 to train Batwa people to serve as guides and to improve lighting, walkways, and shelters along the trail. These new features are expected to add $12,500 per year to national tourism revenue, with 50 percent going to approximately 200 local residents.
Last year, UWA, with support from USAID and other partners, signed a formal agreement with Kisoro district officials and local community members to create the Batwa trail inside the protected park.
Through this unique initiative, the Batwa tribe regained access to the land that was dispossessed in the 1990s when the Government of Uganda designated it as a national park to protect biodiversity and the endangered mountain gorillas.
USAID’s program aligns with the Government of Uganda’s Tourism Strategy to promote ecotourism, protect natural resources, and improve the livelihoods of locals.
Over the next five years, the American people will invest approximately $15 million in ecotourism and work with local government and communities to raise Uganda’s profile as a premier tourist destination.
USAID Acting Mission Director, John Mark Winfield, said, “Through our partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and Uganda Wildlife Authority, we are in a unique position to help preserve the natural beauty of this country while supporting the tourism industry so vital to Uganda’s development.
We hope the new additions to the trail will attract more tourists to the park and give Uganda a competitive edge in the global market.”
UWA appreciates the support of the American people toward biodiversity, conservation, and tourism in Uganda through USAID’s Sustainable Tourism in the Albertine Rift (STAR) Project.
The Batwa trail project is supported by the International Gorilla Conservation Program, Greater Virunga Trans-boundary Collaboration, United Organization of Batwa Development in Uganda, and Kisoro District Local Government.
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]]>The post Go Golden Monkey Tracking in Mgahinga first appeared on Mgahinga National Park.
]]>Mgahinga National Park offers t the lowest price for golden monkey tracking in Rwanda at only USD 50 per person and the trackers must be above 15 years of age.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the best place to track beautiful Golden Monkeys in the Bamboo Forests of Mgahinga Gorilla Park.
In the Mgahinga Gorilla Forest, Tracking Golden Monkeys like gorilla tracking and chimpanzee tracking in Uganda starts at 8 am with an orientation from the local guides who are to escort you along the hike. After getting briefed, set off in a small group with guides up into the Bamboo Forests in search of the Golden Monkeys and of course the other mammals you will see along with birds and the scenic setting of the park.
Golden Monkey are simply attractive looking monkeys with color, their playful ways, and since they have been habituated – they are used to seeing humans and do not scamper off as you approach a bit of advice is in taking pictures of the monkeys, they move rather quickly and you will need to set your camera on fast shutter speed and due to the bamboo forest on low light setting.
Viewing the Golden Monkeys is a rewarding experience and most find very enjoyable and Mgahinga National Gorilla Park is the best place to track them – most economical too.
Other Things to Do in Mgahinga National Park
Though Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a small park, there are several activities that can be carried out in the park
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