Uganda hosts half of the remaining world’s Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Both parks are situated in south western Uganda and among the most visited parks in Uganda. Uganda is situated in East Africa boarded by Kenya in the East, Tanzania in the south, Sudan in the north and Democratic Republic of Congo in the west.
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Mountain Gorillas, the chief tourist attraction and the most visited primates. Currently, the cost of Gorilla permit in Uganda goes to up to US$700. Uganda’s dense forests are home to over half the world’s 1004 or so mountain gorillas (as of May 2018) – the rest live in the neighboring Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As they do not survive in captivity, preservation of these fragile habitats is essential for their survival.
In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP), you can trek Gorillas in Buhoma sector, Ruhija sector, Rushaga sector or Nkuringo sector in BINP and Ntebeko in Mgahinga National Park with only one Gorilla Family known as Nyakagezi. All locations combined give a total of over 18 Gorilla families but the permit number is limited to 8 per gorilla group.
Advance booking is recommended and this can be done directly with Uganda Wildlife Authority in Kampala or with a reputable Tour agent/operator. Permits can be booked up to two years in advance.
Gorillas display uncanny human characteristics. The close-knit family groups are headed by a silver back – a mature male – who selects places for the group to eat and sleep, and has many privileges, including the right to feed first. This privilege pays off for the rest of the family, as if the group is threatened, the silver back – weighing up to 120kg (260lbs) – will defend them to the death, if necessary.
Chimpanzees in Uganda:
Chimpanzee are considered as our close cousins, humans share 98% DNA with chimps. Humans and chimps are also thought to share a common ancestor who lived some seven to 13 million years ago. Uganda hosts chimpanzees in Kibale National Park, Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls national Park, Toro- Semuliki Game reserve, Kalinzu Forest and Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park along side. Chimpanzee trekking is the second sought after Gorilla trekking and its better to do both. Its believed that Kibale National Park offers the best chimpanzee trekking East Africa if not Africa at large. You can do chimpanzee habituation in Kibale National Park and Budongo Forest or do chimpanzee trekking.