Gorillas In The Mist
Seeing mountain gorillas in the wild is an experience right at the top of my list. A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Bwindi Natonal Park and wow was it an experience to remember! I had no fear of being in the forest so close to the gorillas.
Actually, one came right up to me and sat on my foot. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get the camera far back enough to film the gorilla beating its chest while sitting on my foot.
Bwindi National Park
Recognized as a National Park in 1991 and a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites in 1994, Bwindi National Park is in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley.
Bwindi’s mist-covered hillsides are sheltered by one of Uganda’s oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests which dates back for over two decades.
It is home to endemic butterflies, several primate species such as antelopes, baboons, chimpanzees, and elephants.
What makes the Bwindi National Park really famous is its large population of mountain gorillas. There are around 320 gorillas, half of the total population of mountain gorillas in the world.
Mountain gorillas
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is a popular activity for both tourists and locals. The gorilla trek is usually the highlight of all visits done in Uganda. During the trek, you have the chance to observe the gorillas in serene surroundings. Through this, you will get to know a lot more about the gorillas.
Usually, the males are twice the size of the females. They are referred to as the silverbacks because as they mature, the hair on their backs turns silver.
Gorillas can climb trees
Mountain gorillas have longer and darker hair compared to their lowland counterparts. In addition, mountain gorillas usually stay on the ground instead of staying up in a tree probably because of their size, although they can climb trees from time to time.
Although tracking mountain gorillas can be done all year round in Uganda, the best time to visit Bwindi National Park is from June to September or December to February.