Mountain Gorilla Tracking Adventure in Africa-Uganda Safari News

Mountain gorillas are ranked among the most critical endangered world species which if not protected and conserved, they can totally suffer extinction. It’s anticipated that 880 gorillas still survive in the wild. These are distributed in three neighboring countries of Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda. Half of the total gorilla population lives in Uganda’s Bwindi national park and the other half is shared by the three national parks of Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in Congo and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. If you have your plan set on encountering the endangered mountain gorillas in Africa, you are looking at a Gorilla safari tour to Uganda or Rwanda and the Congo to track these picturesque creatures.
Encountering the gorillas on your gorilla safaris to Uganda or Rwanda in Africa is a special feeling and nothing can ever make you ready for that life changing experience. The hike up the terrain when searching for the charming apes is at a high altitude –Volcanoes is over 25500 meters while Bwindi national park is about 1500 meters – 2000metres which will leave you gasping for breath, but the aspiration of finally encountering the gorillas will keep you strong to climb all the hills and slop most of the valleys. Your guide who will lead you in the trekking trails will keep reminding you “Slowly Slowly”. There is no rush. Your experienced ranger guide is in direct touch with your gorilla group’s set of trackers so you’ll get to them eventually. You should immerse up every minute of this life changing adventure experience.
After your early morning briefing from park officials at the park headquarters, remember to hire a porter – a local Ugandan/Rwandan to help you carry your bags and pull you up/down the slippery terrain as you hike in Uganda Safari destination of Bwindi or Rwanda Gorilla Safari destination of Volcanoes or Congo Safari destination of Virunga. The price of hiring a porter is between 15-20 US dollars and you will definitely appreciate the idea of hiring one as you keep hiking. A moment you infiltrate the gorilla forest, you will meet thick bamboo vegetation; the best diet of the mountain gorilla. The blend of thick bush as you follow your guide in the trekking trails through a track with their pagans soon invokes the understanding that this gorilla safari will be everything you could have always sought for from real African jungle adventure.
After some good time of trekking depending on the movement of the apes, kindly note that the time spent searching for the mountain gorillas will be mainly determined by the movement of the gorilla family. The hike can last from 2 to 8 hours, so ensure that you enter the forest trails with a packed snack and drinking water, dressed appropriately; long sleeves and long trousers are advised to help protect your body from the small forest inhabitants like insects and thorns.
Once your group comes up-close to the mountain gorillas, you will be allowed one to spend with them, with an opportunity to take memorable photos and capture video clips. This life time experience is honestly moving and a must for each and every traveler planning wildlife safari tour to Uganda –the pearl of Africa. The most important tip for your gorilla safari tour in Uganda or Rwanda is; if a mountain gorilla decides to back at you, stay calm and steady, don’t run away or shake.
Gorilla tracking safaris in Africa is an experience which doesn’t come at no cost, in Uganda a Permit goes for only $600 and in low season &350, in Rwanda a permit goes for $750 year round.
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What to pack for Gorilla Tracking safari in Rwanda-Rwanda Safari News

With an estimated  number of 480 mountain gorillas thriving on the altitude range of 2,300 to 4,500 meters in the hilly areas of the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Gorilla trekking is a highlight activity  done by many visitors on Rwanda safaris. The activity done in the hilly forested areas of volcanoes national park, requires potential travelers planning for gorilla trekking safaris to Rwanda to pack some useful things to help enhance their gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park.
For any potential traveler planning for gorilla safari to Rwanda, there is need for you to pack a light weight hiking boots or strong waterproof walking boots, Garden gloves because gorilla trekking is done in slippery trails and requires hiking the high altitudes areas of Virunga Mountains. You are also urged to take a light jumper and lightweight breathable waterproof jacket/trousers as temperature is variable and weather conditions can change any time in Volcanoes national park.
Due to the fact that gorilla trekking in Rwanda is done in the forested hilly areas of Volcanoes national park, there is need for you to pack a few long-sleeved shirts/trousers. These will help to avoid insects such as safari ants entering your trousers and injuring you. Sweater are also necessary since evenings and early mornings times in Volcanoes national park tend to be very cold due to the nature and altitude of the place.
In addition to the above, traveler must pack a Video/photo camera, extra lenses and extra batteries because photography is an important component of your gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda .Remember that you have one hour to spend with the gorillas and during this time you will be allowed to take as many photos as you can . Don’t forget that you are going  on safari to Africa and you will want to have clear views of everything so there is need for binoculars .these will help to spot some other wildlife species like birds, primates and large mammals when searching for the mountain gorillas.
Last but not least you need insect repellants to protect you from Mosquito bites as volcanoes national park which is mountain gorilla safari destination in Rwanda has mountains and a tropical forest so many insects are accommodated there in.
In conclusion, encountering the gorillas on your gorilla safaris to Rwanda or Uganda in Africa is a special feeling and nothing can ever make you ready for that life changing experience.
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The reason to trek gorillas in Uganda – Uganda safari news

The worlds critically endangered mountain gorillas are among the heavily sought after species in the world today. Their conservation status have put them in the lime light and every world traveler has developed a feeling of having a glance at them before the eventually get extinct as some may think something that have resulted in gorilla trekking safaris and tours in Uganda.
The truth is that mountain gorillas are not in Uganda alone. Though Uganda has about 412 mountain gorillas, the remaining 468 are shared by Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo in the Virunga massif. But one would ask himself that in  three destinations, where should i undertake a gorilla trekking safari of a life time. The answer would be none other than trekking gorillas in Uganda.
Trekking gorillas in Uganda is rewarding in terms of gorilla experience and then beyond gorillas themselves. First of all the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where 400 of these species thrive is a unique park of its own. It is marked by mature trees with dense undergrowth making it an impenetrable forest. The terrain is very challenging as it is hilly with steep lopes and narrow valleys, the beautiful birds sing all over the forest, remember it is the number one birding spot in Africa according to Africa bird Club and this indeed puts the guest experience during gorilla trekking safari in Uganda to go beyond gorillas. Encountering gorillas in such habitat is very rewarding and not only does it give him/her full value for money which is actually $600 very affordable compared to $750 in the neighboring destination but also exposes one to magical experiences that would form a gorilla safari of a life time. The volcanic hills of Mgahinga are rewarding too offering the impressive views of the Lakes below in the Kisoro sub region, impressive Kigezi Highlands and the Impenetrable forest of Bwindi. This makes the Uganda gorilla safaris in both Bwindi and Mgahinga memorable.
The drives involved an e scenic encounters en route make Uganda your favorite spot for gorilla trekking. Bwindi for example is 527 km from Kampala which is a whole day drive traversing the lush country side and gaining impressions of what it has to offer. The Uganda Equator stop at Kayabwe enables you to justify the geographical divide between the north and southern hemispheres, the traditional Ankole range lands where the beautiful long horned cows are seen grazing alongside Zebras and Impala emerging from Lake Mburo National Park while the traditional lunch stop at the Igongo Cultural Center which is among the largest privately owned museums in the region combine to generate lasting experiences while on your gorilla safari in Uganda. More importantly is the easiest incorporation of wild game viewing is either Mburo or Queen Elizabeth National Parks that is hardly found nowhere else in destinations where mountain gorillas are found. A combination of the above thus qualifies Uganda as the best gorilla trekking destination.
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Nyungwe forest lodge; the best Luxury lodge to stay in Nyungwe national park

  Nyungwe Forest national park  positioned in south western part of Rwanda is blessed to house the largest number of chimpanzees in Rwanda. Situated in Gisakura, a working tea plantation, on the margin of the Nyungwe National Park, Nyungwe has an estimated number of 500 chimpanzees and hence making it the best destination for chimpanzee trekking safaris in Rwanda.
The chimpanzees of Nyungwe which have been habituated to be confronted by visitors on Rwanda safari tours are distributed in two areas of Cyamdungo and around Uwinka area and trekking chimpanzees in each of these areas require visitors on chimpanzee safari tours in Rwanda to spend night in nearby accommodation facility. Therefore Nyungwe forest lodge strategically positioned in Gisakura, a working tea plantation, on the margin of the Nyungwe is the best lodge for tourists on Rwanda safaris to Nyungwe national park.
Spanning on serene natural surroundings of Nyungwe forest, the lodge was carefully built to suit unique natural environment of Nyungwe forests and to offer unique service that derives life time memories to visitors on Rwanda Safaris and tours.
Nyungwe Forest Lodge consists of 22 luxury rooms distributed in 6 wooden villas of four rooms each. The lodge also has two presidential suites in separate villas with one of these having a Jacuzzi. All the rooms in the hotel are characterized by features like Air conditioning, Private deck, Electronic safe, Hairdryer, En-suite bathroom with indoor shower, WiFi access, Flat LCD screen and digital satellite channels, Fire place, International electric adapters and all these are offered for you comfortable stay while on your Rwanda safari tour to Nyungwe national park.
The dining areas in the luxury lodge are built up with a wood-fenced area containing tables and chairs around an open fire which provides a great location for outdoor dining and sun-downers for visitors on chimpanzee trekking safaris to Rwanda.
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The world’s mountain gorilla population – Uganda gorilla safari news

The critically endangered Mountain gorillas that apparently thrive in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the entire Virunga Massif comprised of the Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Congo’s Virunga National Park are at the helm of the most sought after Species on the African Continent prompting the range of world travelers to plan gorilla safaris to Uganda and Rwanda.
The Mountain gorilla populations have been changing with time and following their 1902 scientific discovery which aroused the world’s interest in them, a range of efforts have been dedicated to their conservation thus favoring the increase in their numbers which has put the hopes for gorilla travel including gorilla safaris in Uganda to remain sustainable.
The mountain gorillas also passed through dark times with lots of people picking interest in hunting them for leisure, prestige and the local communities poaching on them. They were listed as critically endangered because their fate was indeed at stake. From the efforts of various conservationists including the Dian Fossey, the plight of Mountain gorillas were up lifted and gradually the sustainable means for conserving them have been devised among which included gorilla tourism. This gave rise to gorilla trekking safaris and tours in Uganda.
As a result of these initiatives, the mountain gorilla populations have increased to 880 individuals bringing smiles in the faces of the gorilla conservationists and the Uganda gorilla safari undertakers not forgetting the travelers that undertake gorilla safaris to Rwanda.
The increase in the mountain gorilla populations from 620 in the year 1989 to their current numbers cannot be taken for granted and the conservation efforts and the role of gorilla dollars have to hailed. The 400 individuals are known to be thriving in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park usually visited in Uganda gorilla trekking safaris while the rest (480) exist in the Virunga massif.
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What to know about Mountain Elgon National Park-Uganda Safari News

Mount Elgon is a massive solitary volcanic mountain situated on eastern part of Uganda and western Kenya. The park’s vast form, eighty kilometers in diameter, rises up at 3070m above the surrounding plains, providing welcome relief which is so surprising to visitors on safari tour to  Uganda. Its ragged terrain inaugurates variety to an otherwise tedious regional landscape. It’s cool heights offer breath taking atmosphere for hikers on Uganda safaris from the hot plains below and its higher altitude provide a refuge for flora and fauna which are stunning to any traveler on Uganda safaris to Mountain Elgon National Park.
Mount Elgon has been considered a regional landmark for decades: the extinct volcano is one of Uganda’s ancient physical features which first erupted some 20 million years ago. The famous mountain was once Africa’s highest mountain attracting many safaris in Uganda and Africa at large. Towering above Tanzania’s Mountain Kilimanjaro’s 5895m. However, due to millennia of erosion, it has reduced its height to 4321m, pushing it to 4th highest peak in East Africa region and 7th on the African continent. Hence attributing to the low hiking Uganda safaris under taken to the park because its often considered after the first highest mountains in the continent .Despite of its being the fourth highest in East Africa, its 4000Sqaure kilometers surface area is still offers the mountain a ranking of being the only mountain in world with the largest volcanic base. Therefore it’s due to this that different visitors from different corners of the world under take trekking safaris and tours to Uganda to explore this world remarkable natural feature.
The stunning Uganda safari destination of Mount Elgon is an important water catchment for different rivers which supply Africa’s largest fresh water body-Lake Victoria. The park’s forests receive up to 3000mm of rain each year, which they store and supply to support different floral, faunal life and more than a million local Ugandans surviving in the mountain’s adjacent areas. The mountain’s natural vegetation, and its role as a giant biological sponge, makes it a must visit destination for any traveler planning hiking safaris and tours to Uganda.
The Ugandan park, which was upgraded from a forest reserve in 1993, strenches to cover areas of 1,110 square kilometers and the park forms a trans boundary conservation area covering 2,229km2, which have been declared Man & Biosphere Reserves under UNESCO. The unexplored Mountain Elgon should  be the dream of any traveler seeking for an experiential Uganda safari.
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Gorilla Tracking Experience in Uganda –Uganda Safari News

    With an estimated number of 400 mountain gorillas thriving in the ancient impenetrable forests, Uganda is home to more than half of the world’s total population of mountain gorillas and these are acting as main tourist’s attractions attracting many safaris to Uganda mainly to participate in highly rewarding gorilla trekking activity.
Gorilla tracking is a very captivating activity which is more rewarding to each and every traveler who under takes gorilla trekking safari to Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable national park. The activity done in the dense forests of Bwindi Impenetrable national park offers thrilling experience which is more than any efforts needed to reach Bwindi and to trek through the forest. Bwindi a gorilla safari destination in Uganda has 12 habituated Gorilla groups and out of these one is located in the hilly forested area of Mgahinga gorilla national park situated in the border between Uganda and Rwanda, Congo. The habituated Gorilla groups can be trekked by any traveler who under takes Uganda gorilla trekking safari to either Bwindi or Mgahinga national parks all franked in the hilly areas of south western Uganda.
The habituated Gorilla groups can be trekked in the four gorilla trekking regions in Bwindi namely Buhoma gorilla trekking region, Ruhija gorilla trekking region, Rushaga and Nkuringo gorilla trekking sector. These gorilla sectors have different habituated Gorilla groups which can be encountered by any visitor on Uganda gorilla tours and safaris.
Taking Gorilla trekking safari to Uganda’s Buhoma sector in Bwindi exposes you to three habituated Gorilla groups i.e. Mubare Gorilla group which was the first gorilla group to be habituated and opened for tourists on Uganda gorilla tour in 1993. The Habinyanja group is the second gorilla group which can be confronted by trekkers to Buhoma sector .This particular group was opened for tourists on Uganda safaris and tours to Buhoma in 1998 and is composed of 17 individual gorillas with 2 silver-backs.
The Rushegura gorilla group marks the third habituated gorilla group in Buhoma and this is composed of 19 gorillas and 1 silver-back.
The Nkuringo Gorilla group situated in the southern part of park is only gorilla group which can be trekked in Nkuringo Gorilla trekking region of Buhoma. The group was opened for tourism in 2004 and is composed of 19 gorilla’s members and 1 silver-back.
Gorilla tracking is Uganda’s most booked by many travelers on Gorilla safari to Uganda and hence you should book well in advance to ensure that permits for your requested dates are available.
Gorilla tracking process can be challenging and hectic and hence any traveler planning for gorilla safari tour of Uganda should be reasonably fit.
Gorilla trekking experience starts by trekkers reporting to the park headquarters for registration and briefing from the park offices at Buhoma and Nkuringo at 07.45local time. Then after briefing, the trekkers are led to the trail head at 08.30 to start searching for the mountain gorillas. This can take few hours or whole day because it’s mainly determined by the movement of the apes. Once up, close, trekkers are allocated one hour to spend with the apes and after the one hour they retire back to the starting point and this makes the end of the thrilling experience.
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Primate trekking in Uganda-Uganda Safari News

 Before you think of Gorilla trekking safari to Uganda, first meditate the experience of sitting in the jungle of forest amidst interesting Primate Species. Uganda gifted by nature is fully endowed with unique primate species and these range from World endangered Mountain Gorillas housed in Bwindi and Mgahinga, Golden Monkeys, Chimpanzees, Black and White Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, among others. These unique primate species can be encounter by any travelers who under takes primate trekking safaris to Uganda.
Primate trekking activities are one of the main activities attracting travelers to undertake safari tours to Uganda. The prominent ape species attracting visitors to book Uganda safari are the Mountain gorillas which are housed in two protected areas franked in south western park of Uganda –Bwindi and Mgahinga. Trekking these primates in their natural environment offers thrilling experience which is described as life time experience on planet Earth. The activity involves hiking the hills and slopping the valleys for about 2-8 hours when searching for the mountain gorillas.
Chimpanzee tracking is one of the famous primate trekking activities which can be explored by visitors on Uganda safaris and Tours. Chimpanzee trekking is a very popular activity in Uganda’s safari destination of Kibale forest park also nick named the Primate Capital and other prominent destinations like Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Budongo Forest Reserve Which forms part of MFCA.
Just like trekking the mountain gorillas, you have to foot in the dark forest trails when searching for the Chimpanzees and when you come closer to them, you have to spend one hour with humans’ closest living relatives’ .Immediate after the one hour, you retreat to the starting point. Unlike the gorillas that are sometimes just laze around doing next to nothing, chimpanzees put on a show, fighting, swinging through the trees and mating.
Though golden monkeys lack the cache of chimpanzees, tracking this endangered species is very fascinating especially in their natural home of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park .The activity takes you through the hilly volcanoes mountains which decorate the areas covered by the famous Mgahinga National Park.
In nutshell, when you’re Uganda safari without primate trekking is not complete safari and hence each and every traveler planning gorilla tour to Uganda should request for an itinerary that gives  more opportunities of encountering other primate species besides gorillas.
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True facts about mountain gorillas in bwindi impenetrable national park-Uganda safari news

 Mountain Gorillas are the main tourist’s attraction in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that is drawing many travelers both local and international to undertake gorilla trekking safaris to Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National park. The park is inhabited by an estimated population of about 400 individual mountain gorillas, which makes up almost half of all the remaining mountain gorillas in the world living in the wild. The other half of the mountain gorilla population is housed in the nearby Virunga Mountains covering three national parks of Mgahinga Gorilla Park in Uganda, Volcanoes in Rwanda and Virunga national park in Congo. A 2011 census of the mountain gorilla population in the park showed that its numbers had increased greatly from an approximated 300 individuals in 1997 to 320 individuals in 2002 to 340 individuals in 2006 to 400 in 2011.
Research exposes that Mountain gorillas in Bwindi mainly feed on fruits than that of the Virunga population, and also Bwindi gorillas including the Silver-back tend to climb trees to feed on foliage, fruits, and epiphytes. The best way one can prove the published literature about gorillas in Bwindi is by under taking gorilla safari tour to Uganda’s destination of Bwindi. Your Uganda safari tour to Bwindi will give you the opportunity to trek and spend one hour studying the way of life of the mountain gorillas protected in Bwindi Impenetrable national park. Within the one hour, you will identify the daily food eaten by the gorillas, how they build their nests in trees, among other unique activities done by mountain gorillas.
In Bwindi national park, mountain gorillas are habituated in four main regions within the park and these regions form the four prominent regions where tourist on Uganda gorilla safari tour can easily trek and encounter the mountain gorillas in the ancient Impenetrable forest. The four regions include Buhoma region which was the first region where gorillas were first habituated and opened in 1993 to tourists on their Uganda gorilla safaris to visit, Nkuringo region is one of the famous region with only one gorilla group, Rushaga and Ruhija regions. What is so interesting is that, all of Bwindi’s habituated gorillas are known individually by the rangers and have been given names in order to identify them. The male gorillas in Bwindi can weigh more than 500lb and some silver backs exceed 6ft.
Currently Bwindi has 11 habituated gorilla families and one group that is only available for research and the other ten can visited by visitors on gorilla trekking safaris to Uganda. These habituated groups include Mubare gorilla group, Habinyanja Gorilla troop, Rushegura gorilla group, Bitukura, Oruzogo, Nshongi, Nkuringo, Bweza, Mishaya, Kahungye, Busingye and the research group Kyaguriro.
Before embarking on your Uganda Gorilla Safari to Bwindi, we kindly encourage you to research more about these incredible creatures and read interesting facts about the various gorilla families habituated in Bwindi. This will help you to have wonderful gorilla trekking experience while on your Uganda gorilla trekking safaris and tours. What you should not is that, the mountain gorillas are wild animals and details such as the group size, their location in the forest and leading silver-back might change without notice hence be flexible when you find changes.
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