Uganda is undoubtedly the home of primates in the whole world. It has the highest number of mountain Gorillas living in the impenetrable forest of Bwindi National Park and another group living in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in the south western parts of Uganda. Uganda also boasts in the highest number of Chimpanzees in East Africa living in the Kibale National Park.
Mountain Gorillas
Uganda is on record for having the highest number of mountain Gorillas living in its national reserves where they are visited and watched by travelers from all over the world. 20 Gorilla groups have been habituated in Uganda and are used to the presence of human beings without causing any threat or harm on them. The Gorillas are the world’s most endangered primates after the great threat on their lives that was from poachers and the neighboring communities that kept encroaching their natural homes. The Gorillas are vegetarians in nature and fed mostly on leaves and roots of the wild vegetation. They live in large groups that are led by a dominant male which is known as silverback. The silverback directs the activities of the entire day until sunset when they retire in a nest they build in the evening hours.
Tracking the Gorillas
This exercise involves going into the jungle in search for habituated Gorilla groups to learn more about them and how they live their lives in the forest. The tracking starts with a briefing at the park headquarters on the rules and regulations of tracking the Gorillas before you are led into the wild in search for a habituated Gorilla family. A group of only 8 people is allowed to visit a gorilla family every day. After meeting the gorillas, the visitors are allowed to spend one full hour with them as they take pictures and learning more about them through asking questions and watching them.
Chimpanzees in Uganda
Uganda has a high number of Chimps that have been habituated in their different areas to be visited by travelers from all over the world. Unlike the Gorillas that are so gentle, chimps are more active creatures and share 98% of human DNA making them probably more intelligent and more friendly to the people. Kibale National Park with over 1500 chimps, other Chimpanzee destinations include; Ngamba Island and Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Kibale National Park in particular has a total of 13 different primate species that are seen during the tracking of the chimps. Tracking the gorillas and the chimpanzees can be done in one trip for a memorable African Experience. The cost for Gorilla tracking is $700, $600 and 250,000Ugx for foreign residents, foreign residents and East African citizens respectively.
Tracking the Chimps costs $150 for foreign residents and can be organized at any time of the year.
