Uganda protects about 410 mountain gorillas and boasts of being home to more than half of the entire gorilla world population! Mountain Gorilla tracking in Bwindi ranks one of the absolute highlights of African travel. The exhilaration attached to first setting an eye on a wild mountain gorilla is difficult to describe.
They’re enormous animals, yet despite their fearsome appearance, gorillas are remarkably peaceable creatures. More impressive even than the gorilla’s size bearing is their unfathomable attitude to people, which differs greatly from that of any other wild animal that you’ve ever encountered! Anthropomorphic as it might sound, almost everybody who visits the gorilla experiences an almost mystical sense of recognition.
Often one of the gentle giants will break off from the business on chomping on bamboos to study human visitor, soft brown eyes staring deeply into theirs as if seeking a connection-a spine-tingling wildlife experience without peer.
However, a reasonable fitness is required to trek for gorillas as the hike can be tough going because of downs and ups on the hillsides and valleys before you encounter any group of gorillas. Another variable is the altitude effect in Bwindi which favors unexpected overhead rains and slippery surfaces while trekking, therefore, arguably you’re required to carry along with you trekking gear like jungle boots and rain jackets, wear thick trousers, and long sleeves as protection against vicious nettles Carry some quick calories and water.