Gorilla trekking holidays in Africa offer the most profound wildlife encounters in Uganda and one of the reasons that gorilla trekking safari is such a life changing experience in Uganda. Don’t think that Uganda gorilla trekking safari is only about gorillas thus it is home to a range of diverse national parks for the best sightseeing of wildlife encounter. Uganda’s mountain gorillas live in the thick Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park a world heritage site that covers the country’s south west mountains. It is a 10 hour’s drive from the capital Kampala but worth the attraction as you visit wildlife national parks along your journey to Bwindi forest including Lake Mburo National Park, Queen Elizabeth and Kibale Forest National Parks.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest is well set and if you have a couple of days to work with gorilla sightings are assured 90%. Mountain gorilla trekking holidays lies in tailoring your Uganda itinerary to include the nearby Queen Elizabeth and Kibale Forest National Parks allowing you to add chimpanzee tracking and the big game viewing to your gorilla encounter. 10% of the revenue from tourism goes to community projects around the park rein-forcing the positive impact of gorilla trekking and making conservation of the great apes meaningful to rural communities in a very practical way.
The mountain gorillas are extremely endangered and while the number varies, it is widely assumed that there are approximately 800 left so visiting them is a great way to support their future on earth as the money spent on permits is used for their protection. Uganda currently has 15 habituated gorilla groups however tourists can only visit 14 of those because one was left for research. These gorilla groups are far away from the park entrance and because they are always moving and it may take time to get to a gorilla group.
Trekking through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and hilly topography may be difficult and tourists who cannot carry their luggage for long are advised to hire porters at a fee of $15. The thick forest vegetation however sometimes makes it hard to take photography especially of the gorillas that are not so social and still shy. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park id surrounded by the Batwa pygmies as well as the Bakiga who have unique cultures which acts as tourist attraction themselves especially the Batwa community. A tourist visiting them can engage in activities like the Batwa trail and community walk. If you want to experience a gorilla or wildlife trekking adventure, go with Budget Gorilla Trekking.
Another aspect is what to see after gorillas, most travelers have more days for their holiday which would remain under utilized if they trek gorillas alone. Therefore, the question of what else to see after gorillas carries weight when looking for which destination to trek gorillas from. It is noted that Uganda features more to see after gorillas compared to Rwanda. Uganda is endowed with rich wildlife in her extensive Savannah habitats of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kibale Forest, Semliki National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park.
Visit Queen Elizabeth National Park as you set out for a morning game drive in the northern part of the park on the Kasenyi track in search for lions, elephants, buffaloes, Antelopes and other wild animals in their natural habitat. The afternoon rewards you launch trip along Kazinga channel natural link between Lake Edward and Lake George. Thanks to the abundant bird life that is sighted, this gives a chance to view schools of hippos that are cooling off at the shores of the waters and crocodiles. In addition to wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park, the en-route drive in the southern part of Ishasha sector will expose you to the famous tree climbing lions.
Discover the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in Kibale Forest National Park. Enjoy a guided nature walk in the tropical rain forest in search of the habituated chimpanzees, red tailed moneys, black and white colobus monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey among others. An afternoon rewards you with Bigodi swamp walk in favour of spotting birds and primates, the Bigodi swamp walk is an initiative of the local community.
