Go Gorilla Trekking In Mgahinga Uganda - Uganda Gorilla News

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Before taking on your gorilla safari tour in Uganda, we invite you to get briefed more about these amazing creatures with their interesting facts.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is considered to be one the most satisfying activities done by tourists in Mgahinga national park. This park has only one habituated gorilla family known as “Nyakagezi” originally consisting of 9 family members, 2 silver backs, 3 female adults, 2 infants and 2 juveniles.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda can some if the times be tiring and occasionally cover the whole day as the guide takes you through this amazing world and also giving you information on their ecology and wild behavior. There is a good chance of spotting these gorillas of Mgahinga national park however success is never guaranteed as these creatures are wild animals, never fixed in their daily routine and finding them requires a guide with extra skill, experience as well as luck.
For the travelers on Gorilla Safari in Uganda, before setting of for the actual gorilla trekking activity, the guide will always suggest how long this activity may take. However while moving do not hesitate to ask the guides to slow down their pace in case they are moving so fast or if you need to rest. This guide will not leave you behind.
The daily routine of a mountain gorillas in Uganda includes foraging early in the morning and have a rest during the late morning and midday. In the late afternoon they forage before they rest at night. The mountain gorillas leave their sleeping nests at 6am in the morning except when it’s too cold, that’s when they stay up their nests.
Uganda Gorillas don’t have discrete territories and instead they roam in home ranges. When the sources of food are sparse, the ranges between groups also become larger and when there is abidance of food the distance between home ranges become shorter.
Gorillas get infected with most of the diseases suffered by human beings as well. It is for this reason that Uganda safari visitors to these gorillas are advised to keep a distance. Respiratory diseases suffered more especially pneumonia are the most frequently causes of deaths of most mountain gorillas.
The gorillas basically live on ground and almost 20%of their day time in trees. They climb trees either to play or harvest fruits and rarely jump from branch to branch due to their weight.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda can be physically demanding, so be prepared well enough. These Gorilla facts prepare you for this safari activity and give you guidance on conservation of the Mountain Gorillas in Mgahinga national park. Please read these Gorilla facts before your tour to Uganda.

A BREATHTAKING SAFARI ON HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT

It is evident, the popular activities that people undertake apart from the Gorilla safaris tours in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include game drive safaris and boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth national park.  Those two activities are done at intervals giving tourists who would wish to partake in both activities a chance to do so, since each activity has its unique excitement levels.

Now there is a lot more ways to enjoy the game park with more exciting activities being introduced here. Among the prominent is the hot air balloon. The hot air balloon is must-activity of late if you have some extra dollars to spend on a Uganda safari. Hot air balloon to date is only done in two national game parks in Uganda –Queen Elizabeth national park and Murchison falls National park.

The hot air balloon Safari in Queen Elizabeth national park is currently operated by Balloons tours Uganda. The only company so far that holds a license by the Uganda Aviation authority to fly balloons in this game park.

The company boasts of well-trained staff that has experience of over 10 years flying balloons. At the present time, only one balloon is operational which carries 16 passengers. But there are plans to source the second one that shall accommodate 24 passengers. The flight is usually an hour long of seeing all the wildlife from the skies. The balloon flight sets off before dawn and by sunrise you are almost done watching the wildlife and beautiful nature. And there is more to this balloon safari after the flight, you will be taken care of- take for example there will be bush breakfast for you prepared by one of the best lodges in Queen Elizabeth national park, Mweya safari lodge. And finally, the pick-up time is usually around 05.30 am at Kasenyi gate to complete your amazing balloon safari experience.

CHIMP TRACKING IN THE PRIMATE WORLD OF KIBALE

For anyone looking to discover someplace beautiful and off the beaten track, Kibale Forest National Park is a top tourist destination with something unique. This forest offers Africa as you have always imagined it - wild, green, and beautiful. Famously known as the home to a remarkable 13 primate species including the Chimpanzees.

CHIMPANZEES – Track into Kibale National Park and on arrival you will be greeted with a swarm of butterflies mostly in the dry seasons, and should be noted that during these drier months are the optimum time to track chimpanzees.

Kibale Forest National Park has been a reserve since 1932, but it was not until 1993 that this 700-square-kilometer wilderness was declared a National Game Park, pulling tourists and researchers from around the world to come and experience its unique flora and fauna. And standing at altitudes between 3,000 and 4,500 feet, it is refreshingly cool to climb to.

Expert trackers mostly known as guides lead the way into the forest ready to take visitors on walks in search of our closest cousins the chimpanzees.

How to Get There…

On landing at Entebbe International Airport, which is located just outside the capital Kampala, you will need to connect Kibale National Park by road. And the easiest way would be booking a driver guide to meet you at the airport or through a local tour operator. The journey from Kampala City to Kibale takes maximum three hours on road in a 4x4 Safari Landcruiser since it might get bumpy in some parts but this cannot take away the beauty of this place, as you go through forest and savannah and winding between tea fields.

Arranging your Safari

Chimpanzee trekking costs US$150, which includes the guide fee. The National Game Park fee for Kibale is US$40. Private tours to Uganda's national game parks can be taken with the help of a professional guide assigned to you by a tour operator. The same professional driver and guide will accompany you and at the same time give you great insight through your well-tailored Safari to Uganda.

Where to Stay

There is quite a number of good places to stay in on your Uganda Safari to Kibale National Park for chimpanzee tracking.  Ranging from budget to luxury, take for example Primate Lodge, an eco-lodge run by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), that is set within the game park with safari tents, cottages, a tree house, and a campsite would be a great pick.

The Unexplored Wilderness of Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda

The Park is best known for its Spectacular landscapes and Great buffalo herds. Boasting of sprawling savannah and soaring mountains, Kidepo Valley National Park is arguably the most picturesque game park in Africa. Kidepo sees far less visitors than Murchison Falls National Park-famously known for its spectacular powerful falls, Queen Elizabeth National Park-known for its very rare tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park-very well known for its wild Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Uganda. And this is mainly because of its remote location and few lodging options in Kidepo game Park.

Kidepo is located in northern Uganda, sharing borders with South Sudan and Kenya’s Northern Frontier District, it is Uganda’s most beautiful, remote and least-explored park. And it requires a full day of driving on road to get to Kidepo using a 4x4 safari Landcruiser, but just an hour flight from Entebbe International Airport.

And as of now, the main lodging option is the all-inclusive Apoka Lodge, but once you arrive at the lodge, the first thing you’ll notice is all the wildlife casually calm grazing outside your chalet.

And you don’t have to worry of getting attacked by any wild animal since each chalet has an enclosed porch where you can sit and watch the resident wildlife move about.

Game drives in Kidepo

The fact that there are only a few lodges in this area, and Apoka Lodge has several vehicles on hand, and you will get an impression that you are on a game drive in your own private park. At the very most, you will have like three other people with you in the same vehicle, and free to move about within the vehicle making it easy for you to take photos from any angle.

And for those who take the trouble on a Uganda Safari to get here,  they are rewarded with remarkable wildlife sightings and a level of exclusivity that can rarely be had at any cost in neighboring countries. 

TOP MUST VISIT TOURIST SITES ON A KAMPALA CITY TOUR

Kampala city has increasingly turned out to be among the most visited destinations in East Africa boasting of a number of sites and attractions among these is its rich culture, religious and political history of Uganda. Most typical Uganda safaris often start day 1 in Kampala as it gives a visitor the feel of the weather and native people before embarking on their adventurous journey into the wildernesses. First its's drive through the streets of Kampala and as you get to visit Buganda kingdom's most famous traditional sites, temples, cathedrals, craft shops, ghettos, local markets among other amazing attractions in and around the city under guidance of a very well experienced guide in a comfortable 4x4 safari land-cruiser.

There are plenty of remarkable attraction destinations to visit on a guided Kampala city tour excursion but we have narrowed them down to the top 5 must visit destinations for a full and exciting cultural and historic experience in Uganda’s capital.

Buganda Kingdom sites

Buganda stands strongest and most popular centralized kingdom in Uganda, their one of a kind culture and traditions have pulled in a huge number of visitors across the globe.

Visits to Kabaka's (king) royal Palace, Kabaka's lake, Kasubi tomb and the Buganda parliament offers you an opportunity to explore more about the history and traditions of Buganda kingdom. Kasubi tombs which are burial grounds to four of the past Kabaka's (kings of Buganda) are almost completely revamped and ready for tourism following since being burnt down 6 years ago.

Religious Attractions

Missionaries from both the protestant and catholic churches arrived in Uganda in the mid 1800s and introduced their religions setting up in schools and churches of worship which still stand ground to this very day. A visit to the hills Namirembe and Rugaba cathedrals should give you a glimpse of the religious history of Uganda. The unique amazing exterior and interior architecture of these ancient cathedrals portrays the history even before you ask the guide. And the good thing they are located just a few minutes’ drive from the city plus they are close to each by road.

Uganda Museum

There’s no better way to learn more about Uganda’s history and culture than in the Museum a majority of tourists add this place to their Kampala city tour itinerary and rightly so because of the huge collection of things you can lean in a short time on this tour around the Uganda museum. The historic items and fascinating videos here give a clear image of the ancient Kingdom traditions, war items, royal regalia handmade local clothes, local way of life in the past.

Visit markets and local craft shops

Make sure your guide takes you to the nearest craft shop in Kampala city if you looking for some souvenirs to carry back home. The craft shops along Buganda road and Uganda crafts on Bombo road are two major places you should check out for the best local hand-made crafts including animal and human clay models, traditional clothes, baskets, beads, necklaces, bracelets among other amazing African handmade items. You can also make your way over to Owino market, here you will easily interact with the local Ugandans as many converge here for shopping.

Visit Night Hangout spots

A tour in Kampala city is never complete without a night trip to one of the happening places and restaurants. If you’re looking to unwind and spend more time with friends and family before or after a Uganda safari tour up country or long road trip.  There quite a number of popular hangout spots in Kampala city and if you wish to relax in the city, you just have to ask your guide to take you to the most affordable and tourist friendly spots around town.

And if you planning to embark on a Kampala city tour and still not sure of which places to visit, the above 5 should give you the best sample of Ugandan culture and history to start with. 

TOP PRIMATE TRACKING DESTINATIONS IN UGANDA

Primate tracking is such a popular Uganda Safari activity for visitors with most more interested in Gorilla trekking Safaris and Chimp tracking. However, with over 14 primate species found in the country, there is plenty for primate lovers to see from the black-and-white colobus, red-tailed monkey and L’hoest’s to the baboons. These primates are usually come across and easily spotted during nature walks in the forests and during game drives or boat launch trip safaris. With all the so many destinations where tourists can go for primate tracking in the country, there are some of these destinations that are praised more for offering the best encounters and experience in this regard and they include the following;

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Forest National Park is the destination for Wild Gorilla Safaris in Uganda considering that it’s home to half of the world’s only remaining Gorillas in the wild. Over 450 gorillas are found in this forest and a couple of these are habituated Gorilla families that are open to tourists for tracking.

Kibale Forest

Kibale Forest national park, also commonly known as “the primate capital of the world” since it has the highest concentration of primates in Africa. Chimpanzee tracking is the major attraction in this park and with a remarkable number of over 1450 chimps inhabited in this forest, this does not come as a surprise. 12 other primate species can be found in Kibale forest which include the black-and-white colobus, red-tailed monkey, l’Hoest’s monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, the grey-cheeked mangabey and nocturnal among others.

Kyambura Gorge

Kyambura Gorge also famously known as “the valley of apes” is found in Queen Elizabeth national park and offers nature enthusiasts a great opportunity to easily see chimpanzees, red-tailed monkey, black and white colobus monkeys in the wild.

Budongo Forest-Kaniyo Pabidi

This forest is believed to have a resounding over 600 chimps in its forest cover and Kaniyo Pabidi is the best place to go chimpanzee tracking. Six chimp groups have been habituated in this place thus offering quite an exciting experience for tourists. Monkeys can also be seen roaming around here.

Tourists wishing to visit these amazing destinations do require to make prior booking to avoid any disappointments since a certain number of visitors are allowed to visit some of these places for each single day.

TOP WILDLIFE SAFARIS IN UGANDA

Selectively named the 'pearl of Africa' by Sir Winston Churchill, Uganda is indeed a naturally beautiful tourist destination, you must visit.

Uganda is a land-locked country located in East Africa and the source of the great River Nile, the longest river on the planet. The country is blessed with a number of wildlife attractions that can be explored and enjoyed by tourists looking for a true African wildlife adventure.

A drive from Kampala City, Uganda’s capital towards the countryside, you will be introduced to the true natural beauty of Uganda, as you adventure into the major wildlife wonders the pearl has to offer.

Uganda's Raw Natural Beauty

Mabira Forest

From Kampala to the source of the River Nile in Jinja, one goes through the splendid Mabira Forest, one of the huge natural forests in Uganda. Split through by the Kampala Jinja highway, Mabira Forest is of an unmissable eco-tourism destination. The forest is home to a number of wildlife species, including over 300 bird species, primates like baboons, monkeys, mangabey, and a number of butterflies and insects among others. Tourists visiting the Mabira Forest Reserve can engage in a number of adventure activities like primate tracking, forest walks, birding among others.

White Water Rafting

Just after Mabira, you will come across the great River Nile, the longest in the whole world in Jinja in its source where it forms a number of rapids. Adventurous tourists can go white water rafting across the five different stages of the rapids, including the most thrilling stage where the rafting boat is over turned by the great force of the waters of the Nile. White water rafting is not for the fainthearted but it is quite a thrilling adventure for many tourists. While on a Jinja source of the nile tour, one has got lots of options of activities to per take in, take for example boat cruise to the source of the River Nile, go bungee jumping or even horseback riding.

Murchison Falls National Park

Exploring Murchison Falls National Park comes with yet another thrilling adventure with amazing scenic views of the Murchison Falls that forms a permanent rainbow. The falls can be explored while on a launch that takes tourists to the bottom of the falls. You can also hike to the top of the falls for clearer views.

Home to over 75 mammal species and 450 birds, Murchison Falls National Park is surely one place in Uganda that offers a great opportunity for a Uganda wildlife Safari. While in on a Uganda Safari to Murchison    Falls national park, one cannot miss seeing elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, Nile hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, baboons and many other species. There are many other savannah national parks in the country where one can view other wild animals while on game drives and boat cruises take for example Queen Elizabeth National Park in the South-Western side of the Country.

Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks

The critically endangered mountain Gorillas in the forests of Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks are other natural wonders one should not miss while on a Safari to Uganda. These gentle apes are highly endangered and the total population remaining on the planet is estimated at a mere 900 of them.  Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has half of the mountain Gorillas over 450 with 12 habituated mountain Gorilla families that are open to tourist for Gorilla trekking safaris.

Each mountain Gorilla family can only be visited by a group of 8 tourists a day. This group treks through the forest to search for a specific mountain gorilla family, with whom they spend an hour learning more about them and taking photographs, call it Gorilla tracking experience.

Spending time with these critically endangered species in the wild on your Gorilla Safari tour in Bwindi is fascinating and exciting and is truly an experience one should not miss while on a Uganda safari Tour.

All these remarkable wildlife experiences in Uganda can be enjoyed all year round. And what makes the wildlife experiences special in Uganda are the very hospitable and welcoming people, especially the guides who are committed to take the tourists around and have considerable knowledge and information about the major wildlife species.