Working with our project partners who live in the Virunga forests we are able to present this unique special opportunity. It is a self-contained module that can be combined with other safaris, beach time or mountain treks.
The mountain gorilla is the world's most endangered ape and is only found in small areas of mountain rainforest in south-western Uganda, north-western Rwanda and the east of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The mountain gorillas are divided into two populations.
2003 census figures indicate the total population in this area to be about 706 individuals, which has remained just about unchanged for the last twenty years. The first population, consisting of about 320 is found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda; the other population, of 386 individuals, live in the Virunga Volcano Range (covering 3 National Parks in 3 countries: Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda; and Djomba and Rumangabo, part of Virunga National Park in the DRC. In addition to these two populations, there’s a third group in DRC at Kahusi-Biega NP which is west of Lake Kivu, near the town of Bukavu, a no-go area notorious for its guerrilla activity. Estimates place the number of gorillas living there at around 250. Total world population of Mountain Gorillas, about 950.
Gorilla tracking is an intense experience that can take up to 6 hours. The guide leads you through the gorilla's world, explaining aspects of their ecology and behaviour along the way. To state the obvious, gorillas are wild creatures with no fixed routine, so success is not guaranteed, but your chances are very good, better than 95%.
The guides and trackers have habituated some gorilla groups and are know to them personally. “Habituate” describes the gradual process of introducing a gorilla family group to humans, over a period of months, to reach a point where small groups of unknown humans, accompanied by the guide who the gorillas recognise, may approach.
Itinerary
Day 1.
You will be met in Entebbe and driven to Kampala (1 ½ hrs).
Overnight in Namirembe Guest House. B&B
Day 2
The Land Rover will collect you from Namirembe and drive you west, crossing the equator, to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Overnight at Buhoma Homestead, which consists of 8 wooden cottages around a central dining house and is one of the most magical places you will ever stay! Dinner B&B.
Day 3
After breakfast there will be a briefing from the gorilla guides. There are certain do's and don'ts that you must observe when visiting gorillas. Transfer to mountain. Trek through dripping bamboo and the first sign of gorillas is the sound of snapping bamboo (they eat the inner flesh of the plant). A max of 1 hour is spent with the family. Trek back to camp. B&B.
Day 4
After breakfast jump aboard the Land Rover for the return drive to Entebbe or Kampala, depending what you’re doing next.
What to bring
Gorilla tracking can be a long and heavy walk, so go prepared.
Wear shoes with good tread, suitable for steep muddy slopes.
Carry rain gear, sunscreen and a hat, as the weather is unpredictable.
Carry enough water and food.
Carry binoculars
When taking photos, remember your subjects are black animals in dim light and flash is not allowed. Use a fast film setting (400-800 ASA) on your digital camera. A monopod can also be very helpful because shutter speeds can be slow in the dim light.
Included
Airport transfers
1 nights B&B in medium budget hotel Kampala
2 nights glorious accommodation at Buhoma Homestead B&B.
Private use of 4x4
Knowledgeable guide throughout.
BIM park entrance fee
I day gorilla tracking permit
Not Included
Visa for Uganda (Obtain at airport upon arrival)
Travel insurance
Meals not detailed above.
Tips.
Please help the gorillas http://www.friendagorilla.org/
Ugandan Gorillas
Uganda: comment
Uganda is an absolutely lovely country to explore. All the travel brochures you read describe it as “The Pearl of Africa” which is the phrase Churchill used. I’m not too sure exactly what he meant, but the place is green, the people are welcoming and the bureaucracy is surprisingly efficient.
The main NP’s are Murchison Falls, Mburu, Kibale Forest and Queen Elizabeth (there are others). The climax to a visit to Africa is a gorilla trek which is a unique aspect of any safari. Mammal populations are high in all the NP’s and in several there have been successful re-population programmes to re-establish species that were decimated during the Idi Amin/Milton Obote war years (late 1960’s and 70’s). Serengeti (Tanzania) and Maasai Mara (Kenya) remain the world’s number one safari destinations in terms of sheer numbers of animals, but for quality of experience, Uganda competes with the best.
Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks.
There are two gorilla national parks in Uganda: Mgahinga and Bwindi. Uganda started gorilla trekking after Zaire (now DR Congo) and Rwanda. Congo is currently a no-go area. There are five gorilla families in Uganda that are habituated.
Mgahinga Gorilla NP
The only habituated family in Mgahinga is:-
Nyakagezi
In November 2004, this family of eight gorillas, led by the silverback Nyakagezi, disappeared over the border into Rwanda not to be seen again until April 2005. It caused a panic in the gorilla safari world because it meant that at that time Uganda had no gorillas habituated (Bwindi was non-operational then). This family is currently back in Uganda.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP
The four Bwindi families are:-
Mubare
Silverback plus 3 others. This is the oldest family in Bwindi, habituated in 1993 and open for gorilla safaris in 1994. Kashundwe (alpha female) gave birth to a male 23rd July 2010.
Habinyanja
Silverbacks x 2 (dominant one named Rwansigazi) plus 18 individuals. Main range is the Nyamishamba area. The name Habinyanja comes from the local language (Rukiga) and means ‘body of water’ (nyanja). The original group was first sighted near a swamp! The latest birth was a male born 28th July 2010.
Rushegura
Silverback named Mwirima plus four others.
Nkuringo
The name derives from the hill where this group was first observed. They were habituated between 1997 and 1999 but the first tourist visit wasn’t till 2004.
The family consists of a silverback plus 19 others. In 2001 the whole group became infected with scabies which required all family members to be treated with Ivomectin. All family members recovered except one infant who died. A less obvious casualty was Posho, who was a juvenile at the time (born in 1997). Today he is one of the most peaceful in the group, with a very calm demeanour, who rarely makes a sound and befriends visitors, trackers, guides and the other gorillas in the Nkuringo group – rather like a Labrador behaves! Posho is prone to shyness which manifests itself by him picking up twigs and eating them in front of you! Posho is smaller than a black-back his age should be and his left arm (which was the one infected) is smaller than his right.
If you would like to visit these extraordinary animals in their natural habitat then email now or call on 01926 411 122