The
Gorilla trekking experience is the highlight of your safari on your Ugandan
safari and when you visit Bwindi
Impenetrable National park in the south Western part of the country. You will be required to visit the park
headquarters at the Uganda Wildlife Authority as early as 7:45 from where you
will be allocated a guide before heading into the Impenetrable forest for the
activity. Do not forget a walk stick which will be offered to you at the head
quarters thus you should take this very useful because it will help you in
slippery conditions. Porters to help you with your luggage are available at the
park head quarters and these are very
helpful during the rainy season.
Presently
there 12 gorilla families which are habituated for viewing and these include; Mubare Gorilla
family which is the oldest habituated gorilla group in Uganda. Habinyanja
Gorilla family and visitors tracking this family need about 3-8 hours. Other gorilla families include Reshegura gorilla
family, Nkuringo, Nshongi, Mishaya, Kahungye, Bweza, Busingye, Nyakagezi and
Kyaguriro Gorilla family.
The
Mubare group was the very first group to be habituated for tourist in 1993 and
was named after the stunning of Mubare Hills in which the group was discovered.
The Habinyanja group was habituated in 1997 for tracking and received the first
visitors in 1999. Rushegura group was habituated in 2000 and started receiving
tourists in 2002. The Bitukura group found in the Ruhija region while the
Mishaya is found in the Rushaga region. The Nshongi group is currently the
biggest habituated gorilla family with over 25 members
The
Nkuringo Region of Bwindi Forest is one
the most physically challenging regions although it is very rewarding in the
forest for the enjoyment of Gorilla tracking The accommodation facilities in
Nkuringo offer a very good environment to view the Nkuringo gorilla family and
this group comprises of 19 members and most people who have tracked gorillas in
Bwindi say, it is a favorite to track this gorilla group.
If
you are involved in the gorilla habituation group, it will take you a minimum
of two years with daily visits which allow the gorilla group to tolerate your
presence. It should be noted however that it is only when gorillas are happy
with the presence of human beings that
visitors are allowed to share the
daily hour of contact with them and only a maximum of eight people are
allowed to track each habituated gorillas and the walk to find these gorillas may
be as short as two hours.
While
tracking the gorillas, the park rangers and guides will clear the way and will
assist you through the forest thus you will need very good fitness to make this
walk a success though the walk may be slippery. Spending time, sitting with the
mountain gorillas is one of the most amazing wildlife experiences one will ever
have and a dominant male silver back can weigh over 200 kilograms. You are
required to come with the following during tracking;
You should come along
with; A minimum of two
litres of water,Packed
lunch, Some money ,A gorilla permit and passport which will be asked at the check in, Long
parts are required to be worn by you while walking in the bush, Walking
boots and hiking socks are recommended to be worn and Layers are best as conditions in the tropical rain forest can
change from hot to wet and cold in an instant. At the end of the track, you
will have to be given
tracking certificate
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