About gorilla trekking: An ultimate adventure destination, Bwindi is home to the largest habituated gorilla families. These mountain gorillas can only be located in Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda in the three districts of Kanungu, Kisoro, and Kabale. Other than gorillas, which are the top attractions in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, it has the highest diversity of trees in East Africa, 10 of which are endemic.
It also boasts mammals and primates like chimpanzees, forest elephants, giant forest hogs, antelopes, African civets, and different species of monkeys. With over 350 bird species, Bwindi is a perfect bird heaven for bird watchers. There are mainly water and forest birds, 14 of which are endemic to Bwindi, and about 22 of the species are only found in the Albertine Rift. There is a rich diversity of butterflies as well for those who love butterflies. Several trails in the forests make it great for hiking.
My experience OF Gorilla trekking
I traveled with Shoebill Safaris, a tour company based in Uganda. I can say they met all my expectations. Trekking with these giant primates is an unforgettable experience that I will carry as a tribute to life in its simplicity. Hearing the water flow over the rocks down the stream as the birds sang, flying through the trees, I could only imagine how lucky I was to experience being one with nature, breathing in the clear air in the middle of the forest and next to these gentle giants. Bwindi was the fourth national park. I visited during my all-around trip with Shoebill Safaris. To get to the park, we drove through winding roads, on one side seeing a high elevation and a very steep slope on the other side, considering that the area is hilly.
During the drive, I could see people from the local community; their main economic activities were farming, stone quarrying, and cultural tourism, where they sold beautiful crafts. The weather was cold and foggy most of the time. Bwindi is chilly; you might need to consider warm clothing, most especially if you are coming from Kampala, which is less cold. My adventure started with a lovely breakfast at our lodge, where our guide informed us to carry enough water and a face mask for the hike; the face mask is for protection and safety measures to prevent us from transmitting any airborne diseases like flu and cough to the mountain gorillas.
We then gathered at a briefing point where rangers from the Uganda Wildlife Authority welcomed us and gave us the dos and don’ts of gorilla tracking. A local community group of traditional dancers was on hand to cheer us on with their beautiful traditional dances and to wish us a great trekking experience. We were put in smaller groups to see specific families and each given a ranger to guide us through the hike. As soon as we had all the necessary information and equipment, we set off down the hill to start this amazing adventure.
As we walked deeper into the forest, it quickly became dark as most of the light was covered by the trees’ canopies. We were surrounded by nature, and you could hear the animals move and see the birds and the insects fly through the forest. There is no proper trail or path as you trek with these mountain gorillas, so our movements ranged from crawling up the hills, climbing over large trees that had fallen, crossing streams of water, sliding on steep slopes, and, unfortunately, not swinging through vines like Tarzan.
About Gorilla Trekking an hour into the forest
The Rangers instructed us to be quieter and move stealthily as we approached the gorillas. As I took a moment to catch my breath, look around through the trees, and place my back against a tree, I could hear a stream of water moving down south, hitting the rocks as the birds sang in the trees. The feeling is indescribable but closely compares to peace in simplicity. As I looked in the distance, a large hairy silverback next to the stream gently placed his hand into the water for a drink. A silverback is the leader of each family, otherwise known as the dominant male. Gorillas live in families just like human beings.
Each family consists of juveniles, female adults, and infants. We could feel his dominant presence as he chose to unveil himself, welcoming us as visitors in his home. Behind this six-foot gorilla, I could see the branches moving towards us, like he instructed the family to move closer to us. Some of the gorillas were moving next to us on the ground; a mother and her baby holding on to her passed next to me, while others were swinging through the trees above our heads, and the group settled right next to us as they had gathered for a lunchtime meal.
The rangers allowed us to spend an hour with the mountain gorillas as we watched them eat, move around on the ground, and climb trees. The mothers occasionally groomed the infants while the juveniles played with each other. We genuinely felt welcomed into their home.
Fun facts I learnt on Gorilla trekking experience
These gentle giants are close relatives and live together as families called groups; their communications include grunts, roars, and barks. They use tools like sticks to gauge the depth of water before they cross a river/stream; if need be, gorillas possess an impressive strength. They have a wide range of facial expressions that they use to communicate and show emotions.
I could see all these exciting features as we observed them in their state of nature.
When time was up, we had to slope back to the trail from which we came and back to the starting point. Upon arrival, each of us was given a certificate in recognition of participating in the amazing lifetime adventure, and at the end, we were left with pictures and fond memories of these large, beautiful, gentle primates. This was a beautiful and unforgettable experience, and I highly recommend people visit the mountain gorillas with Shoebill Safaris Uganda.