A gorilla visit can entail anything from a 1 to 4-hour trek through the forest, led by experienced trackers who have spent their entire lives living in or close to the forest. Your trek will be enchanting as you weave through overhanging vines, moss-covered Hagenia trees and giant Lobelias that thrive in the tropical climate.
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Gorilla trip to the Virunga
Volcanoes
The Parc National des Volcans (PNV) is part of
the Virunga Conservation Area and covers more than 125 kmsq. PNV is home of five
Virunga volcanoes: Sabyinyo (3.674 m), Gahinga (3.474 m), Bisoke (3711 m),
Muhabura (4.127 m), and the Karisimbi, the highest volcano with an altitude of
4.507 m. All five volcanoes are extinct, the active ones are located in Congo.
Two of them erupted recently; the Nyiragongo erupted in January 2002 and
Nyamulagira in July 2002.
The Virunga ecosystem is composed of 4 major vegetation zones: bamboo
(base altitude), Hagenia and Hypericum forest (2600-3300m), Sub-alpine
(3300-4000m), and Afro-alpine (4000m+).
The mountain gorillas spend most of their time in the hagenia woodlands
and bamboo forests. During the raing season when new bamboo shoots are growing,
the gorillas spend more time foraging in the bamboo forests (base altitude). The
climb to the natural habitat of bamboo forest and Hagenia woodlands offers
fantastic views.
The PNV was Dian Fossey's base a long time ago (She died on the 26th of
December 1985), and it is at the Karisoke Research Center that during 18 years
she carried out her study on mountain gorillas.
The park was closed for tourism in 1991 when the war broke out and was
reopened again in July 1999. The numbers of visitors are increasing every day
and the PNV regains its former reputation as the best organized and most popular
mountain gorilla sanctuary.
The entire world population is found in 2 only conservation area. The
volcanic Virunga Mountains, which straddle the common borders of Congo, Rwanda
and Uganda, and in South Western Uganda's Impenetrable Forest. Both conservation
area give a different gorilla experience. The habitat in Bwindi Impenetrable NP
is a dense rainforest while in Kinigi, Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda) and Mt
Mgahinga (Uganda) the habitat of the gorillas is part of the Virunga, the famous
chain of volcanoes located in Congo, Rwanda and also partially in
Uganda.
A typical gorilla trekking starts with assigning the visitors to the
respective habituated gorilla groups. In Rwanda the Park Authorities will assign
them on site the day of the trekking.
After this formality the Rangers will give you a briefing of the way they
will conduct this fantastic guided nature walk to the gorillas. They will give
you extensive information on the environment, the gorilla family you will visit
and the way you should behave with them. The so named gorilla rules will be
clearly set out because its a corner stone in the conservation of the gorillas.
There is not only a high risk of disease transmission to gorillas and vice
versa, but the daily visits can cause behavioural disturbance and stress to
gorillas. Please respect the rules!
Gorilla trekking is unpredictable and its difficult to foresee how many
hours you will hike. In Bwindi the hiking time are generally much challenging.
The terrain is usually more difficult in the rainforest and hiking times are
longer because when looking for food Bwindi gorillas tend to travel longer
distances per day. In Rwanda the gorilla trekking is usually easier except for
the challenging Sussa group located at the Karisimbi
volcano.
This doesn’t mean that you dont need a good physical condition in
Rwanda. We have seen several times that visitors had some problems during their
trekking. Rain can get you by surprise and during the dry season gorilla tend to
climb higher for their preferred bamboo shoots. It has to be said that the park
rangers and the porters are extremely helpful and will do everything they can to
make sure that visitors can see the gorillas.
For conservation purposed the time spend with the gorillas is limited to
one hour. The daily visits have an impact on gorilla activity patterns. The
daily visits are a source of animal stress and less feeding is a strong
justification for the one-hour rule.
Gorilla trekking is the strongest animal experience ever! Tracking the
gorillas is a unique experience - it leads you to meet unusual creatures on
their own terms and its a very intense and trilling experience! You will be
rewarded with a certificate of the National Park!
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Mgahinga Gorilla
National Park
The Mountain Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla bengei) are the most awe-inspiring
animals to be found in Africa. Unfortunately, man has not been merciful to them.
Poachers have decimated them, and man has destroyed their natural habitat. They
have faced extinction, but today sound conservation policies have slowed down
their decline, and in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park they are able to
establish their family groups untroubled by predatory man. Here on the slopes of
the Virunga Mountains, in south west Uganda, the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
(33.7 sq.km) has been established to provide a secure habitat for these massive,
but gentle creatures. Access to the families is strictly controlled (and not
always permitted) and small groups of visitors are always accompanied by a
trained ranger. To keep disturbance to the animals to a minimum there are limits
to the number of tourists allowed in at any one time. Here we are in the home of
the animals and we must act as the perfect guests. The park can be reached by
road through Kibale and Kisoro 510km to
Kampala.
Kibale
and Budongo Forest
All these game reserves are home to several families of habituated
chimpanzees, and are probably the best places in Uganda to watch these
fascinating primates. Kyambura Gorge and the 156 sq. km Game Reserve lie between
the southern shores of Lake George and the boundary of the Queen Elizabeth
National Park. In the reserve are several spectacular crater lakes and swamps
which are home to hippo, buffalo and some elephant, and the forested areas are
the natural habitat of our chimpanzees. Occasionally lion and leopard can be
spotted as they sleep through the midday sun.
The Kibale Forest National Park is to the north-east of the Queen
Elizabeth National Park, close to Fort Portal and Kasese, and includes part of
the Mpanga forest. Originally the Reserve was home to herds of migrating
elephants but they are now seen less and less. However, 11 species of primates,
including many families of chimpanzees and Colobus Monkeys, live in the north of
the Reserve and buffalo, warthog and Uganda Kob can be sighted. The grassland in
the south of the reserve is also home to various interesting species of birds
and insects. The Budongo Forest lies between Masindi and Lake Albert. The forest
is famous for its chimpanzees, and Chambere Gorge is probably the most
accessible place to see these intriguing primates. Also seen in the forest is
the unusual Scaly-tailed Flying Squirrel as well as the Tree Pangolin and many
duiker. The Bunyoro Rabbit will be seen on many of the roads at night. The
birdlife in the forest is extremely prolific and is a delight to all
birdwatchers. For access and accommodation see Queen Elizabeth National
Park.
Bwindi
Impenetrable Forest
Bwindis Impenetrable Forest is true African Jungle. It is so called
because the dense undergrowth, vines and other vegetation make it almost
impenetrable. Its mysterious and awesome. The lowland rainforest and montane
forest vegetation constantly struggles to reach heights that will allow it to
receive more light. Huge trees are festooned with creepers and parasitic plants
such as mistletoe and orchids. Giant thickets of bamboo thrive in the humid
atmosphere and, where sunlight breaks through, the elegant heliconia, or lobster
claw, spreads its colourful petals. Amongst the dense vegetation the Colobus
Monkey jumps from branch to branch, chattering its warning to its fellows hidden
by the foliage. Chimpanzees, in families of 20 or 30, make the rounds, searching
for fruit and edible plants. Many species of birds can be seen, including
various turacos and a great many birds of prey. This forest is a sanctuary for
almost half the worlds population of mountain gorillas (about 330 of 600),
which is the rarest race of gorilla.
Established as a safe habitat for
several families of mountain gorillas it is now the location of an important
scientific conservation programme. Gorilla tracking visits are limited to small
groups. As you walk among the shadows of the leafy canopy, this rainforest
reveals the smells and sounds of Africa, just as it has been for
centuries.