Gorilla Tracking Safari  

Although Uganda is rich in nature and culture, the country is particular known for the mountain gorilla safaris.

It is the largest living primate, world’s most endangered ape and without a doubt a most fascinating creature.

Luxury Primate Safari 10 days

Luxury Primate Safari 10 days. An amazing safari that combines the wide savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth national park with the dense tropical rainforests of Kibale and Bwindi. Excellent wildlife viewing and unforgettable encounters with the primates of Uganda!

Safari Overview 

Uganda’s star attraction is the endangered mountain gorilla, the bulkiest of living primates, and among the most peaceable. Staring into the pensive brown eyes of these gentle giants, who share 95% of their genes with humans, is as humbling as it is thrilling; no less so when one realizes that fewer than 700 individuals survive, divided between Bwindi National park and the Virunga Mountains.

Within Uganda, five habituated gorilla troops- four in Bwindi and one in Mgahinga National Park- can be visited by a total of 30 tourists daily.

Uganda is a home of Man’s closest relative, the Chimpanzee, a delightful ape whose evocative pant-hoot call is a definitive sound of the African rainforest. Chimpanzee communities have been habituated for tourism at Kibale Forest, Budongo Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Parks Kyambura Gorge.

A community of orphaned Chimps, most of which were confiscated from Poachers, can be visited on Ngamba Island, which lies on Lake Victoria 45 minutes by motorboat from Entebbe.

Monkeys are exceptionally well represented in Uganda. Indeed, Kibale Forest boasts the greatest primate variety and density in East Africa, with five to six species likely to be observed over the course of one afternoon walk. Elsewhere, Mgahinga national park hosts habituated troops of the rare golden monkeys, while Murchison Falls is one of the few east African strongholds for the spindly, Plains-dwelling patas monkey.

This is an amazing safari that combines the savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth NP with the dense forests of Kibale and Bwindi. Excellent wildlife viewing and unforgettable encounters with the primates of Uganda!

[wptabtitle] Highlights of Uganda 15 days

Visit all highlights of Uganda!  

From the Murchison Falls you will track the chimpanzees in Kibale Forest and continue to the gorillas in Bwindi and a fascinating meeting with the local people of Nshenyi.

Safari Highlights

•  Game drive in Murchison Falls
•  Boat Cruise in Murchison Falls
•  Chimp Tracking in Kibale
•  Bird Watching in Bigodi Swamp
•  Nature Walk in Tropical Rainforest Kibale Visit Mahoma Falls in Kibale
• Chimp Tracking in Kyambura
•  Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi
•  Canoe Trip in Bwindi
•  A glimpse of culture in the Local Community

HABITAT OF THE GREAT APES

The gorilla is the largest of the great apes family, which includes the chimpanzee and orang-utan as well, and can be divided in three subspecies:

• Western Lowland Gorilla (gorilla gorilla gorilla); these type of gorillas are mostly seen in zoos. A population of about 50,000 lives in West Central Africa.
• Eastern Lowland Gorilla (gorilla gorilla graueri); about 2,500 live in the wild. They can be found in the eastern Congolese rainforest.
• Mountain Gorilla (gorilla gorilla beringei); the most endangered of all with only 620 remaining. They are living in the afro montane forests in northwest Rwanda, southwest Uganda and eastern DRC.

Obviously, the mountain gorilla is the most endangered specie of the great apes family. And because they can’t survive in captivity, you will never see a mountain gorilla in the zoo.

The mountain gorillas live in the almost impenetrable parts of the tropical forests in East-Africa. The entire world’s population is spread out over only two different places. Approximately 320 individuals inhabit the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes, stretching out from the border area in Congo to Rwanda. The remaining 300 are found in Bwindi National Park in Uganda, covering an area of about 330 sq kms.

LIFESTYLE OF THE GORILLA 
Gorillas live in groups consisting of about 25 to 35 members. Usually there is one leading male, accompanied by several females with their young. When a baby gorilla is born it weighs on average 2.5 kg, which is about half the weight of a human baby. However, this baby develops twice as fast! Within 40 weeks it can walk and reaching 3 years it slowly becomes independent. At 6 years they are about 1.20 meter tall and weigh almost 70 kg. At this age the female gorilla matures, though they continue gaining weight for the next 4 years. Males on the other hand don’t reach maturity till they are 10 years old. When their black back starts turning into grey it is time for them to leave the parental group. They wander alone or join other males for some time, before attracting females who will join them. In this way they form their own family.

Gorillas reproduce slowly, hence the world population doesn’t increase rapidly. Gestation period is approximately 8.5 months and gorilla mothers give birth to a baby once every 4 years. Unfortunately at least 30% doesn’t survive their first year because of diseases and accidents. Another situation that causes death among the baby gorillas is when their father dies and another silverback takes over. This new male often kills all the babies of his predecessor, securing his own genes in the posterity.

GORILLAS AND PEOPLE 
Although the chimpanzee is our closest living relative on the planet, the gorilla resembles us in even more aspects. Their hands and feet are like ours, they spend more time on the ground and consequently gorillas are better able to walk. In fact, they share almost 98% of our DNA!

Gorillas have high social qualities and relationships within the family are very important. They express their feelings, varying from loving and hating to shame and jealousy, by at least 20 distinct vocalisations, all with a different meaning. Besides, beating on the chests or on the ground is a common form of communication as well. It is mainly the silverback who does this, in order to show his power and to intimidate others.

Aggression is rarely seen within gorilla families. Despite their impressive looks, they are extremely gentle and peace loving. In case of danger they stand up for each other and defend the weaker ones. Serious fights only might take place when two leaders of different groups meet each other.

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