Uganda: Exotic Trekking in the Heart of Africa
See also Gorillas in Rwanda.
Uganda is a true paradise – a rich fertile land and a warm friendly people. I visited Uganda often in its tourism hey day, the early seventies, but Idi Amin precipitated 20 years of civil war which destroyed all the tourist infrastructure and much of the game. However he never destroyed the will of it’s people – they are still smiling and the game has recovered well, and you will see very few other tourists there. Human pressures have kept the game in Uganda to the 7 parks and 15 reserve areas in this fertile country. Murchison Falls to the North, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo, Bwindi Impenetrable forest, Kibale forest and Kidepo make up the main sights. To see all these would take more than 3 weeks, so a planned cross section will have to suffice for most people. Travel, particularly flying, is relatively expensive, and the lodges are distinctly variable. However there are a number of well run small camps in each area. The weather is generally more wet than Kenya, with the same rainy seasons in April, May, October and November. If you are interested in reading more depth on Uganda please read the diary entry of a recent trip of mine.
Highlights:
Murchison Falls: The entire Victoria Nile thunders through a 20ft wide gorge crashing 150ft down in one of the most spectacular displays of water power in Africa. A highlight of this area is the 7 mile launch journey up close to the base of the falls. You can then hike up to the top of the Falls. The bird-life, in addition to the hippos, is spectacular, and here one of Africa’s highest concentrations of Nile crocodile feast on the fish dazed by their white water ride! The surrounding 1500 sq mile national park features excellent viewing of elephant, buffalo, Rothschild’s giraffe and Uganda kob.
Mating lions in Queen Elizabeth Park: Lions mate every 20 minutes for up to 24 hours – not surprising this lioness is looking somewhat fed up! Lions have made a great comeback in this area, along with their prey species. This varied 770 sq mile park borders lakes Edward and George and is teeming with game. A trip along the Kazinga channel, which links the two lakes is well worthwhile, and on the floor of the nearby spectacular Chambura Gorge, good sightings of chimpanzees are often to be had. At the southern end of the park lies the Ishasha region, which is world-famous for its tree climbing lions – well worth a night or two in the local camps.
Mountain Gorilla trekking: Surviving numbers all live in the same small geographic area, the Virunga volcano forests which straddle Rwanda, Uganda and the Congo. People always ask which is the best place to view them, and frankly viewing and photo opportunities can be excellent in any of these three countries in my opinion.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda: There are few wildlife experiences that can rival the excitement of sitting and exchanging stares just a few feet away from 98% of your own DNA!! Permits are $ 600 per person per day**, and you are allowed a maximum of one hour in close proximity to them. This is to prevent any transmission of communicable diseases.
The cost for this is $1,500 per person for the day, and must be booked well in advance as there are only a few permits available for this unique experience.
Presently you can track one of 11 habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, translating into a maximum of 88 permits per day – meaning that 88 visitors a day can track Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and one gorilla family ( Nyakagezia a transitory gorilla family often on the move) in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park with 8 permits, for a total of 96 daily permits being available. (** Occasionally the parks will offer permits for $ 450 pp per day during the rainy months of April, May and November). Which family group you visit is allocated by the parks, and frankly it does not really matter which you get .. if you have 2 day permits, you will get a different group the next day.
Murchison Falls: The entire Victoria Nile thunders through a 20ft wide gorge crashing 150ft down in one of the most spectacular displays of water power in Africa. A highlight of this area is the 7 mile launch journey up close to the base of the falls. You can then hike up to the top of the Falls. The bird-life, in addition to the hippos, is spectacular, and here one of Africa’s highest concentrations of Nile crocodile feast on the fish dazed by their white water ride! The surrounding 1500 sq mile national park features excellent viewing of elephant, buffalo, Rothschild’s giraffe and Uganda kob.Mating lions in Queen Elizabeth Park: Lions mate every 20 minutes for up to 24 hours – not surprising this lioness is looking somewhat fed up! Lions have made a great comeback in this area, along with their prey species. This varied 770 sq mile park borders lakes Edward and George and is teeming with game. A trip along the Kazinga channel, which links the two lakes is well worthwhile, and on the floor of the nearby spectacular Chambura Gorge, good sightings of chimpanzees are often to be had. At the southern end of the park lies the Ishasha region, which is world-famous for its tree climbing lions – well worth a night or two in the local camps.Mountain Gorilla trekking: Surviving numbers all live in the same small geographic area, the Virunga volcano forests which straddle Rwanda, Uganda and the Congo. People always ask which is the best place to view them, and frankly viewing and photo opportunities can be excellent in any of these three countries in my opinion.Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda: There are few wildlife experiences that can rival the excitement of sitting and exchanging stares just a few feet away from 98% of your own DNA!! Permits are $ 600 per person per day**, and you are allowed a maximum of one hour in close proximity to them. This is to prevent any transmission of communicable diseases.
The cost for this is $1,500 per person for the day, and must be booked well in advance as there are only a few permits available for this unique experience.
Presently you can track one of 11 habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, translating into a maximum of 88 permits per day – meaning that 88 visitors a day can track Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and one gorilla family ( Nyakagezia a transitory gorilla family often on the move) in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park with 8 permits, for a total of 96 daily permits being available. (** Occasionally the parks will offer permits for $ 450 pp per day during the rainy months of April, May and November). Which family group you visit is allocated by the parks, and frankly it does not really matter which you get .. if you have 2 day permits, you will get a different group the next day.
There is also now a “Habituation Experience”, which allows for a small group to spend up to 4 hours with them, giving you a real chance to study their behaviour, as well as getting more photographs than you will know what to do with !
“Habituated Gorilla Groups” indicates that they are used to human beings, a process that takes about two years, during which time the gorillas gradually become used to Human Presence and simply go about their daily business while you are near them.
Hiking to get to gorillas varies, it can be very tough, as one sometimes has to hike straight across country through the forest … and up to an 8 hour trekking day, or if you are lucky, they will be close to camp, you just never know. So, come prepared!
Contact us to discuss options and plan your safari: +1 435-649-4655 or safari@safariexperts.com