Mountain Gorillas Uganda, Uganda is known as the Pearl of Africa, indeed it’s true with over half of mountain gorillas population remains in the whole world. Mountain gorillas Uganda are located in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, these are the only National Parks in Uganda where Mountain Gorillas are found.
Mountain gorillas are the primary draw of Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park, the majestic animals can reach weights of over 400 pounds and heights of around five and a half feet when standing on two feet. Unlike other gorillas and apes, they have thick fur coats, suited to the cool temperatures of their mountain home, which can drop to freezing on the coldest nights of the year. There are only an estimated 800 mountain gorillas which are found in Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda and over 90% are in Bwindi National Park, the Park has over 36 gorilla family and 19 are habituated for gorilla trekking meaning that each gorilla family are visited by 8 people per day making the total of 152 gorilla permits are sold per day. Whereas Mgahinga National Park has only one gorilla family which is habituated for gorilla trekking meaning that each gorilla family is visited by 8 people per day making the total of 8 permits are sold per day.
There’s an intimacy to visiting a gorilla family, as you watch a mother keeping an eye on her baby as he learns to crawl, or a father munching on bamboo leaves and snapping even the thickest branches as if they were mere twigs. Experiencing Mountain gorillas in Uganda is done in two ways tracking and habituation are the activities which are absolutely fantastic with different experiences.
Gorilla tracking is a majestic sight when you finally spotted the gorillas after 30 to 5 hours of trekking, these gorillas are quite used to human presence so they go about their own business of eating and napping; they couldn’t care less about you being just 2-5metres away! You spend a good one hour with the gorillas and have a great time taking photos and observing their human-like behavior which is absolutely fascinating beyond words experience. Those who will be interested to do this activity has to pay $ 600.00 per person per trek and each gorilla family is visited by a maximum of 8 people per day, it’s advisable to book your gorilla permit in over 6 months in advance.
Gorilla habituation experience is another way of spending more time with Uganda gorillas. Gorilla habituation experience takes place in only Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the southern area in Rushaga region and is an initiative aimed at giving more time of 4 hours with gorillas to those who can afford. Gorilla habituation experience permits cost $ 1500.00 per person per trek and each gorilla family under habituation is visited by a maximum number of 4 people which once in a life and simply unforgettable experience. As making the incredible experience in your life, visiting Mountain Gorillas in Uganda is never to be forgotten life experience.