Mountain gorillas are unique species of wildlife and like humans, they live in families, and each family is led by a mature male- silverback gorilla. When allocating mountain gorilla families to gorilla safari holidaymakers, different factors come to play. Mountain gorilla allocation exercise is usually done on the actual date of gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, or D.R. Congo. Each of these leading mountain gorilla trekking destinations has already habituated mountain gorilla families or groups set for tourism purposes.
Mountain gorilla families in Uganda, Rwanda, and D.R. Congo are only allocated to tourists or visitors with valid gorilla permits. A gorilla permit is a legal document that allows you to trek gorillas while on gorilla trekking tour in Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
In Uganda, there are 5 gorilla trekking locations, 4 in Bwindi (Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga) and Ntebeko in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Gorilla permits are purchased depending on the gorilla trekking region or location and in every gorilla area/region, there are habituated gorilla families.
A total of 21 habituated mountain gorilla families are distributed within the 5 gorilla locations in Uganda each gorilla group is trekked by only 8 tourists per day. Only 8 are in D.R. Congo and 13 families are in Rwanda. The cost of gorilla permits also varies from one gorilla destination to another- Uganda issues her permits at USD700 and if you are interested in gorilla habituation experiences, permits are sold at USD1500; in Congo USD450 and Rwanda gorilla permits can be purchased at USD1500 per person.
The age of a visitor is another important factor that is often put into consideration during mountain gorilla families’ allocation. The park official can use details on your passport to ascertain the age of visitors. However, age isn’t a good determinant of trekkers’ ability to complete a gorilla trek. There are cases where a 60-year-old proves fitter than a 23-year-old. If a trekker is 60 years and feels fit to tackle tougher hikes, he or she can inform the park office of his or her ability. This also applies to the young trekkers who may be unfit- you are advised to let the park official early so that you are allocated to a gorilla family that you will manage. Trekkers below 19 years usually go for easy/medium treks considering their mental preparedness for gorilla trekking. Note, only tourists above 15 years are eligible to undertake gorilla trekking experience- Uganda or Rwanda.
Mountain gorillas are found in different locations, some live on a higher elevation and others prefer lower elevation requiring varying fitness levels. To find mountain gorilla families, visitors will be required to trek via terrains characterized by dense vegetation, valleys, hills, and more. Things can even go worse if the gorilla families live far away from the briefing point.
Visitor fitness levels are often used to allocate gorilla families in Uganda, Rwanda, and D.R. Congo which is why it is essential to have the respective park authorities/official informed about your level of physical fitness. Elderly, persons with disabilities or expectant mothers have other options including the use of sedan gorilla chairs. Besides, each gorilla group family features distinct characteristics with some taking a long or short time to find but on finding gorillas, there is a standard one hour to enjoy face to face with them.
Visitor preference or interest plays an important part in the allocation of gorilla families in Uganda, Rwanda, or D.R. Congo. Preferences differ from visitor to visitor on gorilla trekking safari. You are advised to inform the ground tour operator of your gorilla trekking location or area of interest or the gorilla family you desire to track. By so doing, it makes it easier to plan for a successful gorilla trekking tour.
Seasons also play a significant part when it comes to mountain gorilla families allocation in Uganda, Rwanda, and D.R. Congo. However, finding a favorite gorilla family may be challenging especially during the peak season. Unlike the peak season, during the low or wet/rainy season, there are higher chances for visitors to be allocated to your favorite family of mountain gorillas. The low season often attracts fewer visitors due to the nature of the gorilla habitat, unlike the dry or peak season when more tourists flock into different gorilla trekking destinations.
In case you have already trekked a particular gorilla group- especially for visitors on double gorilla trekking safaris, the next day you will be allocated to a different gorilla family. The allocation will depend on visitors’ choice and you can even choose to track the same gorilla group that you trekked the previous day.
Once you have arrived at the gorilla safari destination of your choice for gorilla trekking, the allocation of gorilla families is done during briefing time that starts at 7:00 am. The park guides accompany different groups of trekkers and in each group, there will be 8 visitors trekking one habituated gorilla family per day.
There are 21 habituated mountain gorilla families thriving in the 2 (two) National Parks in Uganda- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. 20 families are in the four regions of Bwindi National Park, that is, Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Ruhija, and only one region in Mgahinga National Park which is Ntebeko.
Ruhija gorilla families include Oruzongo, Bitukura, Kyaguriro; Buhoma has Habinyanja, Katwe, Mubare, Rushegura. Other families of mountain gorillas to explore include Busingye, Bikingi, Mucunguzi, Bushaho, Nshongi, Bweza, Kahungye, Nkuringo, Christmas and more.
Where else to visit to see mountain gorillas? Other than the two National Parks in Uganda, the other unique places worth visiting to view mountain gorillas include Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park in Ruhengeri and Virunga National Park of D.R. Congo. In D.R. Congo, visitors can still embark on lowland gorilla trekking to see Eastern Lowland gorillas.
Tips
If you are planning a Uganda road trip to see the mountain gorillas in their natural habitats, you require a strong 4×4 vehicle to access the gorilla destinations. And your packing list should contain the following items;
Gorilla habituation and gorilla trekking are without doubt Africa’s most sought-after primate adventures. The two safari activities often confuse many tourists on gorilla safaris in Africa. Though they all offer tourists the opportunity to see gorillas in the wild, they are all different from each other in many aspects including the price of gorilla permits, how many tourists visit per gorilla group family, the time spent with gorillas, and other factors.
Gorilla habituation is a process of initiating or training or making wild gorilla families get used to human presence. Making gorillas get used to human presence is to ensure that they don’t cause any harm. It is after a gorilla family has undergone full habituation that it can be opened for gorilla trekking. The long process of habituating gorillas takes 2 years less/more and usually, it is an activity carried out by scientists, researchers, conservationists, and many others.
A group of scientists or trackers spend most of their time following, observing the daily behaviors of gorillas, name them. Gorilla habituation is, without doubt, a unique tourism activity introduced in 2014 and presently, it is conducted in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park protects a significant portion of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas with 20 habituated gorilla families. Its establishment in 1991 was primarily to host mountain gorillas and in 1994, it was declared a UNESCO Heritage Site.
Gorilla trekking is one of the searched terms by tourists on gorilla tours in Africa. However, gorilla trekking doesn’t have an actual definition. It is understood as means of hiking to see gorillas in the wild. Generally, while on gorilla trekking, tourists embark on a foot-walk experience, involving navigating via the rain forest with a purpose to see already habituated gorilla-family in the wild.
Gorilla trekking is one of the unpredictable foot-walk experiences, usually taking visitors 2-6 hours and this is inclusive of one hour every group of tourists are allowed to spend with mountain gorillas. All treks to view gorillas begin early with a briefing at the park offices and you get to understand guidelines or rules/regulations to observe while on a gorilla trek.
Gorilla habituation & gorilla trekking are all conducted in the rainforest of Africa and specifically, habituation is done in only Bwindi National Park in Rushaga region. Gorilla trekking is open to visitors in all the for National Parks where mountain gorillas live including Mgahinga National Park, Bwindi in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, and in the D.R. Congo, mountain gorillas live in only Virunga NP.
During gorilla habituation, only 4 (four) visitors are accepted per gorilla group and gorilla trekking takes 8 tourists per gorilla group family. Allocation of gorilla families is always done by park authorities- the park official and this is during briefing time.
Gorilla habituation is conducted only in the wild gorillas or semi-habituated gorilla groups and tourists on gorilla trekking are allocated to already habituated gorilla groups. To be part of habituation, you will visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and specifically, Rushaga or Nkuringo sectors. Gorilla trekking is done at any of the four National Park- Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, Virunga NP, Bwindi Impe and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Each gorilla habituation permits cost USD1500 for FNR- Foreign Non-Residents, USD1000 FR- Foreign Residents and East Africa citizens on gorilla habituation safari pay UGX750,000 per person. Gorilla trekking permits- Uganda cost US Dollars 700 for Foreign Non-Residents, US Dollars 600 (FR- Foreign Residents), UGX 250,000 East Africa citizens. All gorilla permits- whether for habituation or gorilla trekking are issued to persons above 15 years.
During gorilla trekking, time to spend face to face with mountain gorillas is limited to only one hour. Visitors on gorilla habituation have 4 hours to spend observing various behaviors of gorillas and taking pictures etc.
Gorilla habituation is open to scientists, environmentalists, conservationists, trackers and takes full-day or half-day of following gorillas in their natural habitat. Gorilla trekking takes 2-6 hours and visitors/tourists search already habituated gorilla families with park guide on lead.
Gorilla habituation and gorilla trekking are all-year-round adventures. But, the dry season is the best time to enjoy the best of these two primate experiences. There are 2 dry seasons to undertake gorilla habituation or gorilla trekking- December to February and June to September. However, because the gorillas live in mountainous tropical rain forests, it is expected to rain at any time. Therefore, highly recommended to carry warm clothes, waterproof shoes, and rain jackets. A 4×4 is a must because the roads are slippery in wet seasons. Among the recommended 4wd you can use on a gorilla safari in Uganda include Land Cruisers, Land rovers, Nissan Patrol, and small SUV Toyota Rav4 for tight-budget travelers. Fortunately, 4×4 car rental in Uganda is now very convenient with the mushrooming numbers of car rental agencies in the country. However, you must ensure that you get a suitable vehicle in perfect mechanical condition for your safari in Uganda.
Consider packing appropriately whether it is gorilla habituation or normal gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda. The items to include on your packing list are long-sleeved shirts, gardening gloves, backpack/daypack, trousers, bottled water, sweater, good hiking boots, rain jacket, snacks, insect repellents, sunglasses, camera free of the flashlight.
Read MoreRugezi Marsh also famously called the Ruhengeri marsh features among Rwanda’s most spectacular protected areas. It stands within 6735 hectares and it is one of the headwaters of the mighty Nile in the Northern Province within the Buberuka highlands. The 2100 meters features as its high altitude and it formed due to accumulation of various organic materials within the quartzite rock trapping water depression. This wetland plays significant ecological, socio economical, historic, hydrological and recreational role in Rwanda most of which include controlling the water flow. However, the unsustainable use of the marsh resources and that of the watershed together with continued climate change have affected the wetland and led most locals to suffer and the entire nation in one way or another. Rugezi wetland features as an important bird area and it is acknowledged by the Birdlife international in 2001. It offers refuge to over 43 bird species which thrive in and around the marsh and the notable ones include the white winged swamp warbler, yellow warbler, Caruthers’s Cisticola, baglafecht weaver, white collared olive back, papyrus canary, thick billed seedeater, slender billed starling, white winged scrub warbler, Cyperus papyrus, papyrus gonolek, Grauer’s swamp warbler and others. The plant species that thrive within this wetland include the Cyperus latifolius, Miscanthidium violaceum, papyrus c. papyrus and others.
The Rugezi wetland features as the high elevation valley which formed as a result of the uplift of Buberuka highlands. Its borders stretch between the southern latitude and eastern longitude. However, its hills in the marshy land are as a result of erosion and they come in a round shape. Its geological creation comprises of metamorphic rocks and the ridges around the flooded wetland are of quartzite creations. Naturally, it existed due to intense mat over floating peat formation in its deeper waters. The average rainfall in the wetland is about 1200 mm per year. Rugezi wetland controls the inflows and outflows in the area especially the water resources that flow into the downstream Lakes of Ruhondo and Bulera. However, there are some environmental matters that are linked to Rugezi wetland and they include water and gas supply, agricultural reclamation and drainage by electro gas. Within water level and swamp degradation, the wetland come in 3 parts which include the northern section that is largely degraded by most of human activities like livestock grazing and agriculture, the central part that is degraded as a natural vegetation that features typical highland marshes and the southern sector where the water levels are high with living and the typical vegetation. The illegal practices in the wetland that have impacted on this wetland are fishing, agriculture, trading of chicks of the grey crowned crane, illegal hunting and others.
Ruhengeri marsh features as one of Rwanda’s most populated areas and covers more than eight (8) administrative sectors like Kivuye, Butaro, Miyove, Nyankenke, Ruhunde, Burera, Gatebe, Cyero and Gicumbi. Most of the residents around the wetland depend on farming and the major crops cultivated are beans, Irish potatoes, maize and livestock systems practiced comprise of zero grazing.
Read MoreMany people travel from different parts of the universe into Africa to see the gorillas in their natural habitat in East and Central Africa.Some tourists choose guided tours, while others choose to drive them selves in rental cars. For example, clients can rent a 4×4 car in Nairobi and drive through Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda to enjoy the different wildlife, scenery and the gorillas in their natural habitat. However, self drive tours are not recommended in DR Congo where we find the low-land gorillas. In that case, tourists hire local guides from Goma, Bukavu, Bunagana and Cyagungu to complete their gorilla safari in Congo.
[caption id="attachment_681" align="alignnone" width="1026"] Mountain Gorilla Family Bwindi Forest[/caption]Did you know that gorillas come in different types? Gorillas distinctively come in various species which is why they are all different from one another. The Eastern Lowland gorillas thrive in Kahuzi Biega National Park and Maiko National Park. They are the largest species of all the Grauer’s gorillas. The mountain gorillas feature larger bodies with longer hair and shorter arms compared to the Eastern Lowland gorillas. The Grauer’s are mostly thriving within the trees and preferably the thick forests, flatter habitat compared to mountain gorillas. The Lowland gorillas are a sub species of the Eastern gorilla.
[caption id="attachment_686" align="alignnone" width="2024"] Mother Gorilla – Bwindi Forest[/caption]Like the names suggest, these Great apes have distinct habitats. The Grauer’s are mainly found in the heavy forests on the Atlantic coast of Africa. They have smaller place where they thrive from as well as the wilderness in Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic and Cameroon. Mountain gorillas are only tracked from Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park in southwestern Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda and the Virunga National Park in the Eastern Democratic Republi of Congo. They mostly live within altitude 3000 to 4300 meters above sea level. The mountain gorillas’ habitats feature steep slopes once active volcanoes though they are famous of wandering as far as the highest elevation where they can encounter freezing temperatures. Mountain gorillas feature as the hugest among all the apes with males weighing about 135 to 220 kilograms and standing between 1.2 and 1.8 meters. The Grauer’s weigh from 65 to 180 kilograms and females are said to be smaller compared to males normally weighing half of the mountain gorilla weight.
Mountain gorillas are listed as the critically endangered species and they are fewer than 900 in the entire world. To track these unique creatures, there are several groups that have been habituated for visitor experiences. In Uganda there currently 15 habituated gorilla families for visitors to track each day, 10 are found in Rwanda and 8 are in Democratic Republic of Congo.
[caption id="attachment_682" align="alignnone" width="2348"] Lowland Gorilla – Africa[/caption]For Lowland gorilla trekking, only two gorilla families have been habituated for visitor encounters and there are not more than 5000 Eastern Lowland gorillas still thriving on earth with 284 of them living in Kahuzi Biega National Park. Due to extreme threats, the Lowland gorillas have also become the most endangered apes in the wild today.
Both mountain gorilla and Lowland gorilla trekking require visitors to have a permit. However, the cost of permit differs from destination to destination. In Uganda mountain gorilla permits are obtainable at US$600, in Rwanda at $1500 per visitor and $400 in Virunga National Park and as well as Lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park.
[caption id="attachment_683" align="alignnone" width="2072"] Gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park[/caption]Kahuzi Biega National Park is a national area around Bukavu town in the Eastern part of the DR Congo. It is located close to the western bank of Lake Kivu and the Rwandan border. The park is the perfect destination for Eastern Lowland gorillas and features a number of gorilla groups for visitor encounters.
In conclusion, mountain gorillas and Eastern Lowland gorillas are Great apes in the world. Trekking to see the habituated gorilla family for these remarkable creatures offers lifetime experiences. Mountain gorillas are scientifically called Gorilla beringei beringei while the Lowlands are known as Gorilla Grauer.
Read MoreHave you ever thought about visiting the national park in Uganda? While self-drive or guided tours are very exciting, but you need also to be extra careful while driving along the national park. Once you hire a car in Entebbe or Kampala, you will certainly hit the road to park plains, woodlands and valleys and terrains and wildlife and many more things to encounter and you ought to be keen with how you drive in the park as there are policies governing most of Uganda’s protected areas.
Some of the reasons why you need to be careful while on self-drive in Uganda national parks and wildlife reserves include the following;
Most of the routes that take visitors up to Uganda’s national parks and reserves are either tarmac or murram but can be navigated through using the saloon or safari cars. The only challenge is that these routes linking up to the national parks at times can be muddy and the best is for you to rent a 4×4 safari vehicle. You have to be keen and slow down the speed while on game tracks in case you need to catch a glimpse of wildlife while on a game drive with no inconveniences.
While at the national park, never forget and imagine that you are driving in the city or town street. Like you pay attention to pedestrians as well as other road users, make sure that give these wildlife species their ample time to cross to any part of road that they deserve. You will be driving at the park with many wildlife species that can come and want to cross at any time and you have to be careful and let them cross first then you follow. Colliding with any wild animal means you will dig into your pocket which is something bad for any safari experience in the destination.
You may risk missing to sight most of the wildlife species when you drive carelessly and this may not be healthy enough to you and the other visitors on board. Never blow a car horn and over speed in case you do not need to miss out any attraction including wildlife species and the stunning landscapes.
Try as much as possible to avoid the national park fines that are levied by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) for visitors who mess with rules and regulations of driving along the game tracks. Take your time and go through these park rules and regulations that are displayed at the national park entrance gate and also online to have a clear picture of the dos and don’ts while at the park.
Do not forget that both fauna and flora species in the national park have been conserved for many years and so they should be treated with respect and care. Never litter the park and knockdown or tamper with any plant species in the park. Leave nature the way you got it.
Therefore, if you are planning your safari to one of Uganda’s national parks make sure that you take care while driving along the designated game tracks. Never go off track as this will cost you. Mind about wildlife species just like you pay attention to pedestrians and other road users in the city centre but you have to be extra careful when it comes to driving along the national park. Never go off track otherwise you will be charged! Enjoy your safari in Uganda
Read MoreAre you planning your safari to Democratic Republic of Congo but you do not which place to visit? Situated in central Africa, the DRC feature among Africa’s largest countries and it is credited for their famous protected areas that have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. While on your safari in the DR Congo, never forget to pay a visit to these stunning areas most of which make up the spectacular conservation areas in the country.
Listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Virunga National Park is famous for its unique and diverse flora and fauna. The park offers refuge to more than 200 individuals of mountain gorillas making it one of the four only national parks in the world where visitors can visit while on mountain gorilla safaris in Africa. About 8 groups have been habituated for visitor experiences with permits being sold at $400 per visitor. The other attractions include the hippos, plants, savannas, forests, valleys, active volcanoes (Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira), swamps as well as glacier peaks in the Rwenzori Mountain ranges, three of the four of large primates, elephants, birds, okapi and zebras and many more. The park is situated in Eastern side of DR Congo.
This is another remarkable UNESCO Site which features mainly the Eastern Lowland gorillas a largest sub species of gorillas in the world. It refuges the two extinct volcanoes of Mount Kahuzi and Biega where it derived its name and they offer the wonderful hiking adventures. This park is situated around south Kivu province and extends up to the River Congo basin to Bukavu. Besides, it also refuges many forest elephants, eastern chimpanzees, genet, antelopes, endemic plant species and serval.
This is another remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site in the DRC and it mainly features the open savanna as well as grasslands and woodlands. It comes with stunning wildlife species like giraffes, elephants, hippos, white rhinoceros and black rhinoceros and many more. Visiting this stunning protected area gives you a chance to explore most of its amazing mammal species at open space.
The Magnificent Salonga National park features as tropical rain forest protected area and also listed as a UNESCO site due to its incredible wildlife species like dwarf chimpanzees, elephants, and the endemic Congo peacock. It is also popular because of the African slender snouted crocodile or what is also known as a false crocodile. Salonga features as DR Congo’s and Africa’s biggest tropical rain forest.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its distinct bird species and primates. A visit to this stunning protected area rewards visitors with authentic natural wonders that it offers to the world travelers including its outstanding waterfalls as well as the remarkable sceneries at Ituri and Epulu Rivers. Besides, there are also some pygmy nomad tribes of the Efe and Mbuti hunters. This is the best place for you to look out for the unique Okapi species.
Situated within the Virunga National Park, Nyiragongo volcano features as one of the most active mountains in the world. It refuges the world’s largest and most powerful Lava Lake that visitors can view while it vigorously bubbles at a distance. It is known to have erupted for more than 34 times and in 2011 alone about 120000 people were left with no homes.
This is DRC’s capital city and features a number of budget hotels especially Al Dar and La Bloque. For visitors who love night life they can pay a visit to Matonge at night where most bars and restaurants as well as the famous clubs are found. This city features among the 11 provinces of DRC. It comes with millions of people. The capital city was established by Henry Stanley in the late 19th century just as a trading post. While here you will also have a chance to embark on boat rides or enjoy BBQ picnic along the shores, visit the city market and many more places within the city center.
This is one of the incredible sites for nature enthusiasts. A visit to this site rewards you with exceptional views of the Zongo waterfalls and the surrounding natural beauty. In case you wish to extend your stay, you can camp around or rent a bungalow for night stay. This remarkable touristic site lies about 130 kilometers away from Kinshasa capital city. It is the best site for hikers and climbers.
If you are looking for outstanding areas to spend your romantic safari in DRC, then consider visiting this place with your dear one and you won’t regret in life. You will spend a quiet and peaceful moments with your lover or simply take a short nature walk on the trails and rest on a quaint bamboo bench in case you feel tired.
Bukavu is another city of its own that is worthy visiting while on safari to the Democratic Republic of Congo. It rewards visitors with the most exceptional scenic views of Lake Kivu and also offers you opportunity to track the Eastern Lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park.
In conclusion, the Democratic Republic of Congo is remarkably one of the best tourist destinations that are worthy visiting while on you are on safari to Africa. The country features a number of amazing places that are waiting for visitors to explore. With the listed areas, we believe that you will make the choice while planning your trip to DRC.
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Read MoreIt was in December last year when we thought of traveling to Africa, but the problem was where to go for a fantastic and memorable jungle safari. We checked on internet for different interesting safari destinations in Africa and most travel websites where recommending big five watching in South Africa. There were also different destinations like wildlife watching in Masai Mara Kenya, pyramid visit in Egypt, wildlife and chimpanzee tracking in Uganda among others. As we were about to go with Big Five Tour in South Africa, we landed on a website; www.gorillatrips.com with cheap gorilla safari packages to Rwanda and decided to contact them. We talked about prices, number of days, number of people, different accommodation and their prices and among other important information we needed to know before traveling to Rwanda.
We concluded on taking a 3 day gorilla safari Rwanda and Mukasa Mathias who handled and organized our trip was so knowledgeable and provided us with all the information we need, he advised us on the high demand of the gorilla permits and requested us to at least book them 3 months before we travel.
We handled them all the responsibilities to organize everything for us and our job was only to fly to Rwanda to enjoy the trip.
On our first day we landed at Kigali international Airport on 15th/April/2016 and our safari guide was ready to transfer us to Kigali the capital of Rwanda. This city is decollated with many hills and is a very organized and even one of the most clean and organized cities in Africa. We just continued for breakfast at Kigali Serena Hotel and then head for a city tour where we got a great opportunity to see the remains of the 1994 genocide in different genocide memorial museums. After at around midday, we returned to the hotel for lunch and then we drove towards the northeaster direction to Volcanoes National park at the boarder with Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We had dinner and over night and Mountain Gorilla View Lodge this was an eco lodge found in Musanze district and is about only 15 minutes drive from the main entrance of Volcanoes National Park.
The second day of our trip was the most amazing and memorable, the day we entered the think jungle to track mountain gorillas. Every early in the morning we had breakfast and the transferred to the national park headquarters with our packed lunch and tracking gears because the time to take while tracking gorillas is unpredictable. After a short briefing from the ranger guide we entered the forest to start the search for the great apes. Our guide told us that mountain gorillas are huge apes about three times the weight of an average man and they live in the thick forests of Virunga Volcanoes covering countries like; Rwanda the Volcanoes national park, Democratic Republic of Congo the Virunga National Park and Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla Park. Another population of mountain gorillas is found in Bwindi Impenetrable National park in the southwestern part of Uganda.
As we were moving in the forest we come across different wildlife like many bird species and our guide told us the forest if home to over 178 bird species, we found different primates like golden monkeys and many other wild animals in the forest.
We moved in the jungle for 4 hours before we reached where the gorillas spent the last night and guide told us we are about to see them. In moved more 15 minutes and we found these animals playing and doing the daily work when they sow us they didn’t feel bothered because they are habituated and they just continued with what they where doing. It is very interesting to know that you are in touch with the only left over mountain gorillas in the world. We spent a full hour with them and surely there is nothing interesting and exciting like spending time with these animals. After we returned to the lodge for late lunch and relaxation as we waited for dinner and overnight.
This third day we reserved it for departure, every early in the morning after breakfast we packed up and hit the road back to Kigila for a last minute shopping and then we transferred to Kigali International Airport for our departure flight.
Read MoreMore than 30 million travelers visit Africa every year. Over half of the international arrivals are for business reason, and may partake in different tourist activities also, while 15% travel specifically for tourism and 30% travel to visit their loved ones.
Vacationers choose Africa as a destination for wildlife watching and to enjoy the sunny skies. The continent is the world’s leading destination for safaris which range from exotic to the very simple safaris.
The tourism is among the most vital sectors for the continent: it provides employment for over 12.8million people, directly and indirectly, in 2011. Tourism in 2012 contributed over US$36 billion or 2.8% of Africa’s GDP.
Africa’s wide and diverse nature makes it complex and difficult to choose on the best region for a safari. Yet, the south, east and central parts of Africa are by far the preferred choices. These regions generally have well developed and fast developing tourism industries. There is a variety of amazing wildlife and in addition low to no visa requirements. Visitors to these areas mostly come from nations such as France, the UK, the USA, Germany and Portugal.
The following is a quick guide to some of the safari hot spots on the African continent.
Most of countries in East Africa strongly depend on the tourism sector for generating income. Solid improvement in promoting and collaboration between these countries will ensure the success of this fundamental tourism industry.
Institutionalized criteria for hotels, eateries and different services over these nations will make it easier for voyagers to find suitable services. These countries have different natural and cultural resources that make tourism possible.
Kenya and Tanzania has become a popular safari destination because of the wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park. This migration sees a large number of wildebeest, joined by different other animal species, move between Tanzania and Kenya. The perfect destinations to view this migration include Kenya’s Maasai Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Parks.
And while in East Africa, don’t forget to visit Africa’s highest mountain – Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro National Park.
The Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area is additionally an extraordinary choice with a variety of big 5 – the African elephant, white/dark rhinoceros, African lion, African leopards and the Cape wild buffalo – and won’t baffle.
Political instability, civil war and terrorist groups have made many countries in central Africa dangerous destinations to travel to. But many travelers take their chance, however, as Central Africa is a region of huge natural beauty.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), The Central African Republic (CAR) Rwanda and Uganda are incredible destinations to watch the rare and endangered mountain gorillas. The best places to view them include the Virunga National Park in the eastern DR. Congo, Volcanoes National Park in northwest part Rwanda or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in southwest part Uganda.
Different factors have threatened the population increase of these endangered primates, including poaching, disease, war and unrest and poverty. Today, because of conservation efforts, the population of mountain gorillas in the region is showing a steady growth. The way that numerous tourists want to get up close to these primates additionally drives conservation efforts, since tourism comes with economic improvement.
In the event that you’d prefer to partake in Africa’s best on foot chimpanzee encounter, take a Uganda tour visit and Kibale Forest National Park found in the Southern part of the country protecting moist evergreen rain forest the home to over 70 mammal species, most famously 13 species of primate including the chimpanzee. .
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and Namibia offer extremely diverse wildlife. This is due to the variety of biomes in the area.
Botswana’s Chobe National Park is home to the highest concentration of elephants in the world with over 70 000 of them. It found between the Okavango Delta and the Chobe River in the northeastern parts of Botswana. Likewise in Botswana, the Moremi Game Reserve, in the famous Okovango Delta, is the first wildlife reserve in Africa to be set up by local residents.
In Namibia’s Etosha National park in the northern part arid part of the country offer a great opportunity to sport the endangered black rhinoceros as well as flamingos in the salt pans.
The South Africa’s Kruger National Park is in its own group due to its variety of animals as well as the improved environmental management policies and techniques.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park was the first site to be awarded a World Heritage status in South Afrioca. It contains the country’s most of the remaining swamp forests and is Africa’s biggest estuarine system, which is a partially closed water where fresh water from rivers and streams mix with salt water from the sea and it is the only destination in the world where you can find sharks, hippopotamus and crocodiles in the same body of water.
Read MoreAfrican Jungle Adventures Ltd is a Uganda based tour company organizing safaris to different tour destinations more especially in Uganda. Its tailor made safari itineraries are amazing as they give a tourist an opportunity to edit and make some adjustments where necessary.
Albeit one can go for distinctive number of days to Uganda contingent upon the tourists’ wish, a 3 day safari to Uganda is a fantasy works out as expected. There are fundamentally two best choices with regards to arranging a three days visit to this Pearl of Africa to be specific, 3 days gorilla safari in Bwindi Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla Park or 3 days wildlife safari to the different wildlife park in the country like; Queen Elizabeth National, Murchison Falls National Park and many others.
For a 3 day gorilla trekking tour in Uganda, the excursion begins from Kampala whereby guests are picked from their particular lodging by well an experienced and skilled tour guide and transfer to Bwindi in the southwestern part of the country. This drive takes 7-9hours and in this manner on that same day tourists will not be able to do any activity just in light of the fact that they will be tired. In any case, they can have an amusing background as they are being exchanged to Bwindi on their way like halting and taking photographs at the equator. The elusive breathtaking view of the nature on the ways which guests can have on their drive to Bwindi is great. Later in the evening, visitor will reach at their booked lodge for dinner and over night.
After a night rest in a comfortable safari lodge, wake up very early for breakfast and then transfer to the national park headquarters for a short briefing before you enter the forest for gorilla trekking. Then after you continue to the starting point for gorilla trekking and the trekking may take about 3 to 8 hours and you will be allowed a maximum of one hour to stay and observe mountain gorillas as you take photos and filming then after return to the lodge for late lunch. Depending on your itinerary you may have an addition activity in the evening or relax at the lodge as you wait for dinner and overnight.
The next day you will wakeup very early in the morning and transfer back to Kampala and later to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight.
If it is a three days wildlife tour, the safari will also start in Kampala. Depending on the national park you choose to visit in the country, an awesome experience is guaranteed. The first day of the tripe will be for driving from Kampala to the park and the next day will be for wildlife watching on a game drive. Other additional activities may be offered depending on your preference. The third day is for transfer back to Kampala and that will be the end of the safari.
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