Are you a gorilla avid and wondering where best you can do your exhilarating gorilla trekking expedition from? Worry no more; Uganda will get you well covered with an amazing gorilla excursion. Uganda inhabits the endangered mountain gorillas.
The endangered mountain gorillas are only thriving in three different countries (Uganda being one of them) and four national parks, with two of them, Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks, residing in the southwestern region of Uganda. Meanwhile, why should you go gorilla trekking in Uganda out of the other gorilla destinations? Below is why:
Uganda resides more than half the total population of mountain gorillas;
Rwanda and DR Congo are the other two countries along with Uganda where the endangered mountain gorillas reside. However, out of the three countries protecting these beautiful creatures, Uganda has the largest proportion of them – with over 600 mountain gorillas in its two Parks, which is of course more than half the total population of the endangered mountain gorillas in captivity. Viewing mountain gorillas in Uganda is definitely a guarantee.
Bwindi alone inhabits almost 500 mountain gorillas well as Mgahinga consists of more than 100 mountain gorillas. The estimated total population of mountain gorillas in the world is 1,100 mountain gorillas, thus with Uganda inhabiting more than 600 mountain gorillas certainly makes it the most perfect destination for gorilla safaris (especially the mountain gorillas).
A Lifetime Experience with the mountain gorillas;
Gorilla trekking provides a rare opportunity to observe the everyday interactions of these gentle, mysterious primates. A close up encounter with the mountain gorillas really offers a lifetime experience loaded with so many lovely memories. You will observe the daily activities and behaviors exhibited by the gorillas in their natural habitats.
Uganda is a safe country for gorilla safaris;
Uganda is one of the safest countries to carry out your thrilling gorilla excursion. DR Congo being full of instabilities and conflicts each year makes Uganda and Rwanda the safest and most recommended destinations for gorilla trekking experiences. Going for a gorilla safari in Uganda is surely safe and secure.
Affordable Permits;
Realistically, the most affordable gorilla permits are in the DR Congo but due to the annual instabilities over there some tourists fear to do their gorilla safaris from there besides the cheap permits. Uganda being safe and secure and with affordable gorilla permits lure so many gorilla lovers to throng the peal of Africa.
The standard price for a Uganda gorilla permit is US$ 700 compared to the US$ 1,500 of its close competitor, in Rwanda. However, a gorilla permit in DR Congo costs US$ 400 – making it the cheapest country for gorilla expeditions, but as already said its instability fails it thus tourists seeing Uganda as an ideal alternative.
The fantastic gorilla habituation experience;
Leave alone the gorilla trekking experience, a gorilla habituation experience offers the best knowledge about mountain gorillas. If you’re a real gorilla lover it’s always better to go for the gorilla habituation experience ahead of the gorilla trekking experience. And for a researcher, then the gorilla habituation experience is a no-brainer the most appropriate for you.
Gorilla habituation experience is the process of making wild mountain gorillas accustomed (get used) to human presence. In this experience you get to know how wild gorillas are trained to get used to human presence and be ready for the gorilla trekking experience. With gorilla trekking you interact with already habituated gorillas unlike with the gorilla habituation experience where you interact with wild gorillas that are not used to human presence but just in the process of teaching them how to become used to the presence of humans.
It’s really a raw and an authentic experience for all gorilla lovers. This experience (gorilla habituation experience) is only offered in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The gorilla habituation permit costs US$ 1,500 but it’s really worthy.