HOW MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING IN UGANDA HAS TURNED TO BE OF GREAT VALUE TO TREKKERS

If you have been depending on movies to watch mountain gorillas, it is a high time you deceased from it. Come and experience the reality about the world’s largest Apes in Uganda! Whereas Uganda is famous for its stunning sceneries, endangered chimpanzees, golden monkeys, lush vegetation, fresh water body, craters, magnificent mountains, the big game (African Lions, African elephants, Cape buffaloes, leopards and White Rhinos), it is also credited for its charismatic mountain gorillas that are only found in the dense jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. With more than 480 gorillas that are all confined in Southwestern part of this country, traveling for your gorilla safaris is undoubtedly the loveliest experience of a life time. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is incomparable, as it comes with 12 habituated gorilla groups that are set for gorilla trekking and 2 more that are set for gorilla habituation experience.

$600 TO VIEW THEM IN ANY OF THE 12 FAMILIES

Mountain gorilla conservation and protection has been of crucial factor mainly to ensure that their population escalates since they are highly at risk of extinction in the world today. There are numerous measures that have played part in ensuring gorilla tourism, one of which is sustainable type of tourism whereby the park management has designated a specific number of tourists to track gorilla group per day. Mountain gorilla adventures are dully regulated and the revenues that are generated from gorilla permits, has been invested into conservation and protection of these species and their natural habitat. Today, mountain gorilla trekking has become the Uganda’s landmark and star attraction.

The current status:

Globally, mountain gorillas are fewer than 900 (2012) and they are only distributed within 3 countries that represent only 4 national parks in African and the world at large. Besides Uganda, mountain gorillas are also found in the Virunga Massifs of Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Uganda inhabits the largest portion of these creatures with more than 400 of them residing in the misty jungles of Bwindi while 80 reside in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and this makes it the perfect destination for you travel for your next safari holiday in Africa. For the last decade, a significant population of trekkers featured in the dense jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to trek these magnificent species. From this, tourism development and efficient management and preservation of these critically endangered species also improved. Today, there are various stakeholders that have joined the move to protect the mountain gorillas in Uganda’s wilderness which has set away forward for other national parks and countries. Some of the stakeholders include the local communities, government of Uganda, Non Governmental Organizations and responsible travelers. The main player of mountain gorilla conservation and protection in Uganda is Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) whose responsibility largely involves taking care of all Uganda’s ten national parks. Most importantly, conservation and protection of these critically endangered species has been through the following;

1.       Anti poaching and hunting mechanisms within the conservation areas

2.      Regulation of tourism activities with the conservation area.

As well, UWA has also largely collaborated with the local communities around the protected areas especially in establishing the laws and regulations that help to maintain sustainable use of natural resources and inspire them to engage in conservation and development of country’s tourism. In return, these techniques have massively improved the conservation and tourism development and the country has experienced an even escalating population of gorilla trekkers and other wildlife safaris.

Ensuring responsible tourism:

Mountain gorillas are the world’s critically endangered primates and their conservation in the wild has become the major issue to curb down the declining population. Mountain gorillas are susceptible to infectious human diseases and that is why tourists are always advised to keep a distance of about 7 to 8 meters while tracking them in their natural habitats. In order to overcome the spread of human diseases to these incredible species, the park management has set forward strict rules and regulations for trekkers to follow while in they are enjoying fantastic experiences with these incredible creatures. These rules are basically the do’s and don’ts and they include tourists with infectious diseases are not allowed to go for gorilla trekking, only 8 visitors are allowed to track one gorillas group and only one hour is given for tourists to view the gorillas.

Gorilla tourism benefits other national parks:

Besides visiting Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for mountain gorilla experiences, Uganda also has other 8 more incredible national parks for visitors to catch remarkable wildlife safari experiences. Most importantly, tourists can add Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park for game viewing where you can have opportunity to sight at the big game (elephants, leopards, buffaloes, lions, rhinos as well as other remarkable wildlife species like zebras, giraffes, Nile crocodiles, chimpanzees, antelope family. Chimpanzee trekking is fantastic while at Kibale Forest National Park.

THE TREE CLIMBING LION AT ISHASHA-QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK  

Gorilla trekking permits:

Like any gorilla destination, gorilla trekking in Uganda also requires visitors to have permits in order for them to be allowed to track a gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The gorilla permits are purchased at $600 for foreign non residents, $500 for foreign residents and shs.250000 for East African residents. For tourists who may wish to track mountain gorillas in Uganda during the low season especially in the month of April, May and November, gorilla permits are purchased at $450 for foreign non residents, $400 for foreign residents and shs.150000 for East African residents. Whereas if you are interested in participating in Gorilla Habituation Experience and enjoy all the four hours in a face to face encounter with mountain gorillas in the wild, gorilla permits are sold at $1500 for foreign non residents, $1000 for foreign residents and shs.750000 for East African residents.

In conclusion, gorilla trekking is a breathtaking adventure that you must not miss out in Uganda. Intending travelers should be physically fit to be able to hike through the strenuous steep hills of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Mountain gorilla experience comes with great value for tourist right from unique tourism products to relatively affordable gorilla trekking permits. Try to reach the misty valleys of Southwestern Uganda and be rewarded with charismatic travel experiences of life time!!