Dec
15
2012
Feb
28
2013
Gorilla Tracking Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
The Experience
With only 700 left in the world, and none in any zoo the chance to see a Mountain Gorilla face to face is the experience of a lifetime. Tracking Gorillas is not easy, and there is no guarantee you’ll even get to see one.
For me the opportunity of observing mountain gorillas in their natural habitat was something I’d always dreamed of doing. The hours spent hiking through the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest melted away as soon as I caught my first glimpse of black fur through the foliage. Before I knew it the guides had carefully cleared away the hanging vines and dense leaves and we were treated to a little over an hour long close encounter with some of the most intriguing animals in the world.
For me the opportunity of observing mountain gorillas in their natural habitat was something I’d always dreamed of doing. The hours spent hiking through the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest melted away as soon as I caught my first glimpse of black fur through the foliage. Before I knew it the guides had carefully cleared away the hanging vines and dense leaves and we were treated to a little over an hour long close encounter with some of the most intriguing animals in the world.
When to Go to Gorilla Bwindi
Bwindi National Park is comprised of over 331 square meters of ancient forest. It is one of the most diverse jungles in the world allowing you the chance see to chimpanzee, elephant, bush pig, birds and of course is most famously home to over half the worlds population of Mountain Gorillas, which is about 330 of 600. The best times to visit are between December t0 February and June to September as it is pleasantly warm, with the average temperature is 25°C.
Odds n' Ends
Currently there are a few packs that you can sign up to track, each of which is lead by a male Silverback Gorilla. It is recommended that you book your tour three months in advance due to demand and the necessary time to get vaccinated against local infections. The average cost of a safari in Bwindi National Park is approximately $2,500 - $5,000 Canadian per person depending on your taste. It is important to note that should you encounter a pack of Mountain Gorillas to always act submissive, not challenging. Look them straight on and do not stand over them, rather crouch.
Want a Guide?
- Uganda Highlights and Gorillas - GAP Adventures
- Explore the less-travelled "Pearl of Africa". This amazingly diverse land offers awe-inspiring encounters with gorillas, game viewing through open African savannah, roaring waterfalls, colourful local culture and adrenaline-rushing activities.
Places to Stay Nearby
Search over 900,000 global hotel deals from over 30 merchants. Book via Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Booking.com, Priceline and the websites of popular hotel chains.
Rooms: consisting of 30 rooms, all equipped with an ensuite bathroom, internet access, telephone and balcony. facilities: car park, safe in reception, bar, restaurant, breakfast ... 27 miles away
More Experiences Nearby
- Trample through Rwandan Jungle to the Mountain Gorillas of the Virungas
- The gorillas of Rwanda's Virunga Mountains were thrust into the mainstream and popularized by the Sigourney Weaver film Gorillas in the Mist, which was adapted from gorilla research expert Dian Fossey's book. The critically endangered mountain gorillas of Africa almost became extinct in the same century they were discovered by outsiders. Thanks in large part to the efforts of people like Fossey, it is now possible to personally witness their powerful beauty in the wild. Dian Fossey argued against visitors and the further habituation of the mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park, saying that, "Any observer is an intruder ...134 miles away.
Books and DVDs
- Africa's Wildlife Collection Gorillas and Great Apes DVD - National Geographic
- Through extraordinary close-up encounters, see first-hand how zebras, rhinos, crocodiles, elephants, gorillas, leopards, lions, and other African wildlife natives survive and thrive in their unforgiving habitats.
- Africa Travel Guide (30th Anniversary Edition) - Lonely Planet
- Nothing comes close to Africa in scale, variety, and pure, raw impact. This 30th anniversary edition of the Africa guide covers classic routes and roads less travelled, and has sustainable travel and volunteering opportunities galore.
- Apes of the Impenetrable Forest (The Behavioral Ecology of Sympatiric Chimpanzees and Gorillas)
- Part of Prentice Hall's Primate Field Studies series. Apes of the Impenetrable Forest (The Behavioral Ecology of Sympatiric Chimpanzees and Gorillas) offers students a scholary and relevant study.
Elsewhere on the Web
- Bwindi gorilla - Wikipedia.org
- The Bwindi gorilla, a population of the Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei), is found in the rain forests of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and comprises about half the world's endangered population of about 600 Mountain Gorillas.
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - Wikipedia.org
- The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda in East Africa. The park is part of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and is situated along the Democratic Republic of Congo border next to the Virunga National Park and on the edge of the western Rift Valley.
- Travel Report Uganda - Voyages.gc.ca
- WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
- Bwindi National Park safaris, lodges and wildlife tours - Eco Africa.com
- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a world heritage site and the safest place to track habituated gorillas in Africa. There are also chimpanzees, 90 other mammal species, and countless bird varieties.
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - UNESCO
- Located in south-western Uganda, at the junction of the plain and mountain forests, Bwindi Park covers 32,000 ha and is known for its exceptional biodiversity, with more than 160 species of trees and over 100 species of ferns.
- Bwindi Rain Forest - New 7 Wonders
- The Bwindi National Park covers 331 sq km of tropical forest in southwestern Uganda, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Media References
- On Safari - The NY Times.com (newspaper)
- Although I had been to Africa many times, it was my first time in Uganda and I immediately recognized why Winston Churchill called it the ''pearl of Africa.''
- Tracking Gorillas and Rebuilding a Country - The NY Times.com (newspaper)
- Since Dr. Dian Fossey began studying the mountain gorillas of Rwanda and adjoining countries in the 1960's, researchers have tracked, with some interruptions, the fortunes of these engaging creatures in a perpetually endangered forest.
- UGANDA'S ANIMAL KINGDOM (newspaper)
- Six of Uganda's 10 national parks are found in the western region. These protected areas vary in size and in the wildlife-viewing possibilities they offer, but nearly all of Uganda's most charismatic species, from lions to mountain gorillas, can be found here.
- Rwanda's Mountain Gorillas Beating Survival Odds - National Geographic.com (magazine)
- The baby gorilla hangs one-handed from a bamboo stalk, making faces at another youngster below, then crashes to the ground, somersaulting through the thick vegetation into a nearby adult silverback, just as he stuffs a handful of neatly folded thistle leaves into his mouth.
- The Bleeding Heart of Africa - Time.com (magazine)
- Bwindi National Park sits on Uganda's southwestern border with Rwanda and Congo, riven by lush green valleys and sprinkled with running streams.
Travel Insurance. Simple & Flexible.
Language Guides
Hindi 
is one of the languages spoken in Uganda. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!
Discussion
Experienced this and have something to share? Experienced something like this somewhere else? Looking for advise or travel companions? Use this space to leave your mark. Our writers and editors are more than happy to help answer your questions.
People who wish to experience
Recent Tweets
Listed below are the most recent comments made on Twitter for "gorilla bwindi":
