Uganda
Gorilla Trekking
Quiet descends, the moment has finally arrived!
After trekking through the rain forest in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for what seems like hours and very well could be, your guide finally stops and calls for silence. Once more he reiterates the rules as you stand waiting in anticipation to catch your first sighting of these magical beings.
Slowly he parts the forest brush and there before you, you see ….nothing and your heart sinks. But just as you are about to turn away, you see movement and suddenly before you is what you have been waiting for – a family of mountain gorillas.
The next 60 minutes may be the longest and the shortest 60 minutes of your life. To sit in quietude and observe the mountain gorilla in its natural habitat is a rare and unique honor. Nothing can prepare you for this moment, coming face to face with a mountain gorilla in the depths of an African rain forest for the first time.
A profound experience which will change your life forever
There are believed to be only 1000 mountain gorillas left in the world and they only survive in a small area of tropical rainforest in East Africa. More than half of the world’s population of gorillas is found right here, in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
What will strike you the most about these gentle giants is how human-like their gestures and interactions are. They are after all our closest primate relative sharing 98% of the same DNA. The gorillas are habituated to human observers and will go about their daily life as you sit on the forest floor and watch in awe.
Sitting a few feet away from a family of gorillas is a humbling experience and one you will treasure forever
This may be the most intimate wildlife encounter you will ever have. It is a window into the life of a species that is almost shrouded in mystery. Observe, take photos and absorb the experience of sitting alongside a silverback and his family.
A family group may consist of up to 30 gorillas of all ages, all living together under the watchful eye of the dominant male, the Silverback. So named for the swathe of silver crossing his back as he ages. When tracking you will be assigned to a specific family that you are then able to observe from a few feet.
The only park in Africa where gorillas and chimpanzees coexist
Mountain Gorillas are on the brink of extinction and trekking is carefully regulated and monitored. The funds received for the payment of the permits is channeled back into the conservation of the Mountain Gorilla.
Within Bwindi Inpenetrable Forest you are likely to stumble upon more than what you are searching for, This area is the only park in Africa where gorillas and chimpanzees coexist so you may also encounter other primate species including chimpanzees, the black and white and red Colobus monkeys, Blue monkeys and the Grey-cheeked mangabey.
Ranked as one of Africa’s most ancient rainforests, Bwindi offers a safe sanctuary for the gorilla families that call it home. Feeding on roots, leaves and fruits from the trees the gorillas live a quiet existence.
If your heart yearns for a magical place that showcases a rare and endangered species. A place where you will indulge in the most intimate wildlife encounter of your life, then our “Best of East Africa” journey may be exactly what you are looking for. This journey offers you the opportunity to see beyond humanity to the true heart of the natural world. A journey that will leave a lasting impression on you and create memories that cannot be forgotten.
