WHY UGANDA IS THE BEST PLACE FOR GORILLA TREKKING
WHY UGANDA IS THE BEST PLACE FOR GORILLA TREKKING
In the tropical rainforests of central Africa and East Africa in the countries of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda are where one can find the critically endangered mountain gorillas. Gorilla safaris are one of the most selling and expensive tours in these countries but still, thousands of tours flow in Uganda and Rwanda less than their counterpart in DRC. Do you know why Uganda is the best place for gorilla trekking?
Mountain Gorillas are very rare and most fascinating primates and their conservation status has put them in the limelight that every traveler to Africa has developed a feeling of interacting with these gentle giants in their natural habitats and maybe before extinction. However, despite being threatened the recent release from the last gorilla census show that they have clicked more than a thousand gorillas and have moved from being critically endangered to endangered.
Of the three countries, Uganda is the best country for tracking the mountain gorillas and they can be found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is part of the Virunga Ranges, and in the hilly areas of Bwindi Impenetrable national park in Southwestern Uganda. Uganda gives the best advantage for gorilla tracking and these are the reasons as to why:
Uganda’s national parks that have gorillas provide the best experience of tracking gorillas not only because of the number of families but also because of what it takes to get to the gorillas like hikes in the parks that make the activity more adventurous. The challenging terrains of the parks that home these gorillas require hard work if you are to reach the gorillas because you have to walk (Hiking) on foot inside the jungle but in the end it is rewarding. The elderly should not worry because there are porter services available for them to take them up and bring them back down.
Also security-wise, Uganda is a free, friendly, and safe country. This makes it a more secure place for gorilla tracking where you can view the gorillas in a serene surrounding compared to the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is not usually recommended because of political instabilities and insecurity.
Uganda has half of the remaining mountain Gorillas in the world. Over 560 individuals are found in Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park. The rest are shared by Rwanda and Congo but Congo has the least numbers. This makes Uganda a great option for gorilla tracking as it will be quick and easy to locate the mountain gorillas due to high numbers despite the challenging terrain of the national parks but they are experiential and ultimate.
Tracking gorillas in Uganda is cheaper compare to Rwanda. In 2017, Rwanda Development Board double the price of a gorilla trekking permit to 1500 US dollars which is three times the price of a gorilla permit in Uganda that is 700 US dollars and in both the seasons low and high season the experience remains the same and the value for your money is guaranteed.
The gorilla habituation experience that is only offered in Uganda gives you another option to spend more time and study at least study the behaviors of these gentle giants. Unlike the one-hour gorilla tracking experience, you can spend four hours with the gorilla after winning their trust and the experience that is not for mass people where only four people are allowed to go for this experience a day with a knowledgeable and experienced guide.
Trek through the lush and ecologically rich rainforests and enjoy the experience with these creatures. The reward for seeing these gentle giants more than makes up for the effort of reaching them. Uganda will offer a guarantee to see the gorillas up-close and in a relaxed mood.
Contact us for all your gorilla tracking safaris to Uganda.