Uganda/Rwanda
We offer the most wonderful gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda. In the dark, primeval, forests, we search for man's shy cousins: the mountain gorilla and the chimpanzee. The six hundred and fifty mountain gorillas (Gorilla Gorilla Berengei) left in the world are found only in the mists of the dramatic Virunga Volcanoes and in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. On the savannah plains below the lofty Mountains of the Moon one can view superb game in Queen Elizabeth National Park - elephant, lion, buffalo, hippo and leopard. A launch "cruise" along the Kazinga Channel, linking Lakes Edward and George, is especially rewarding as one sees many animals and birds including, perhaps, the rare Shoebill Stork.
The beautiful, steeply forested, Kyambura Gorge is nearby, home not only to chimpanzee but also the red-tailed monkey, black and white colobus and many bird species. The Virunga Mountains are one of the most exotic habitats on earth with their row of misty forested volcanoes which shelter some of the last remaining mountain gorillas.
Gorilla tracking in the Parc National des Volcans, on the Rwandan side, one can see the gorilla families that Dian Fossey studied, befriended and habituated in these high afro-montane forests. Seeing the gorillas in their different habitats is a breathtaking, humbling, experience. Their sheer size and presence can only be fully appreciated when seeing them in their natural habitat and the special bonding that takes place in the family units is remarkable.
Each park offers its own unique attractions: The forests of the Virunga volcanoes actually comprise three contiguous National Parks - Mgahinga in Uganda, Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda, and Parc des Virungas, commonly called Djomba, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Collectively, these are home to about 350 mountain gorillas. Nyungwe Forest Reserve is home to 13 species of primate, including the Ruwenzori colobus monkeys and chimpanzees and is also renowned for its spectacular birdlife. The Akagera National Park is the remote source of the Nile, a very pretty and most rewarding park to visit. On the Ugandan side (in Mgahinga) there is one habituated gorilla family that is usually seen with a "mere" 3-4 hours' total walking and are, usually, fairly visible - although occasionally they cross into the Congo... Mgahinga is the prettiest of all three gorilla parks and there are a variety of activities to do here: climbing a volcano, going for shamba or nature walks, visiting the emerald-green Lake Mutanda or just taking in one of the most dramatic landscapes of Africa.
Gorilla tracking in Bwindi is completely different - there are about 300 mountain gorillas and two families are habituated; it is also rich in other primates, some unusual bird species and butterflies. The gorillas live in lower, more humid and denser forest with thick undergrowth and have to be tracked up and down a series of switchback hills. The total tracking time here can be 4-7 hours, one needs to be fairly fit, but the rewards far outweigh any effort!
In addition to gorillas, Uganda is such a wonderful country and deserves at least a couple of weeks to explore it. From the wonders of Murchison Falls, the base of the Nile, where game can be seen, to Queen Elizabeth National Park with its magnificent lakes and birdlife, to Lake Mburo, to the magnificent Ruwenzoris, and Semliki National Park. The best game can be seen at the very beautiful Kidepo National Park. The country has the most wonderful, gentle people and it is a joy to spend time in Uganda - akin to being in Africa fifty years ago!
