Four of the five great ape species live on the African continent, in the Albertine Rift and Congo basin.
In contrast to the six billion human beings living on this crowed planet earth, there are only seven hundred mountain Gorillas left. They live in the Virunga volcanoes on the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo and also in the Bwindi impenetrable forest in Uganda. Interior Safaris East Africa organizes tracking of gorillas and chimpanzees in Bwindi and Mgahinga in Uganda as well as in Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda and kahuzi-Biega in Congo. Bwindi has six habituated gorilla families. Mgahinga has one habituated transient gorilla family.
Parc de Volcans in Rwanda currently has seven habituated gorilla groups.
Tracking the mountain gorillas through the misty forest requires patience and stamina often walking for hours in the mud and wet. Finally meeting them in the undergrowth is an inspiring moment. Quietly chewing away at their vegetarian delicacies, they seem like a marooned human family.
The tender grooming and disciplining of their off springs seems too familiar.
The gorilla family cast away glance at the sudden human intrusion into their private world but are comforted by the trackers.
When provoked, the noisy but harmless silver back grunts, screeches, bares his fangs and beats his chest, before slithering off with attendant females, offspring and other mature males.
Uganda is also home to man’s closest relative, the chimpanzee, a delightful ape whose evocative pant-hoot call is a definitive sound of the African rainforest. Chimpanzee communities have been habituated for tourism at Kabala Forest, Budongo Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Kyambura Gorge.
A community of orphaned chimps, most of which were confiscated from poachers, can be visited on Ngamba Island, which lies on Lake Victoria 45 minutes by motorboat from Entebbe
Gorilla Permits
The gorilla permits cost USD 600, It s valid for one day and for one person. There is high demand for the permits because of the high number of people who track the gorillas. So you are strongly advised to secure your permit in advance (atleast 2 – 3 months).
These permits can be bought at the Uganda wild Life Authority (UWA) headquarters or its offices. For more information concerning gorilla permits, please contact us