Bwindi Gorilla Visit Is A Magical Experience

Bwindi Gorilla Safari Journal

Bwindi Forest Gorilla Tour Company Used:

Good Earth Safaris

Duration: 19 October 2004

Journal Authors: Janet and Rick, Canada

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Janet and Rick decided to go to Uganda on the spur of the moment and they were very lucky that their safari operator was able to refer them to someone who could secure Bwindi gorilla watching permits on such short notice. The permits are usually booked a year in advance.

Accommodation:

The Tourist Hotel in Kampala which is situated in the city centre close to the famous Nakasero Open market where you will find a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Trip Highlights:

It is a hit and miss affair whether you will actually see the gorillas but an advance party of soldiers hikes to the place where they found the gorillas the previous day and then tracks them to the place they have moved to which improves your chances of seeing them greatly.

Hiking through the forest can be pretty strenuous and it is hot and humid which adds to the discomfort. The guides sometimes have to blaze a new path through the forest with their pangas so it can be rough going. Janet and Rick found the gorillas after about 4 hours of hiking.

The first thing they spotted was a group of youngsters wrestling and the male silverback peacefully sitting and munching away at some leaves. The gorillas glanced up to acknowledge their presence and then went on with what they were doing.

At one point Janet was watching a young gorilla swinging in the branches of a tree when a baby gorilla ran over to start playing with her but the guide moved the group back because contact with the gorillas is not allowed as they are susceptible to the same diseases as humans.

After spending a magical hour with the gorillas they reluctantly had to leave and they stopped briefly to eat a packed lunch before completing the hike back.

Bwindi Uganda Tips & Recommendations:

There are three groups of gorillas that have been habituated to human contact in the forest and they may be visited for a maximum of an hour by groups of no more than six tourists.

The gorillas are very rarely aggressive towards humans but in the rare event that one does charge you the last thing you must do is run. Instead crouch down and avert your eyes to show the gorilla respect.

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