Mountain Gorillas Chances of seeing them

Mountain gorillas, also known as Gorilla beringei beringei, were listed by the IUCN in 2018 as endangered. They are found only in Mgahinga gorilla and Bwindi impenetrable forest national parks in southwestern Uganda. Tourists planning to travel into the Pearl of Africa are always eager to see these gentle giants in their natural habitat. It is not always a guarantee that tourists have to see these mountain gorillas on their holiday, but there are so many high chances of seeing them in their habitat.

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park has four sectors, which are Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Ruhija, while in Mgahinga, gorillas have only one family called Nyakagezi, and any of these can be accessed by tourists with the help of well-trained ranger guides from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Tourists on their trip to Africa for mountain gorillas can either do gorilla habituation or gorilla tracking. Gorilla habituation is the process where you get to set out into the forest with a team of rangers as you get to see them habituating the gorillas such that they get used to human presence.

This activity takes 4 full hours, and it gives you so much exposure as you get to know the behavioural patterns and the relationship between human beings and these gentle giants. Gorilla habituation is done only in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi National Park. Gorilla tracking is different from gorilla habituation because it takes one full hour with these giants as they nurse the young ones, groom, and look out for food.

It is always advisable by the ranger from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to follow the rules and regulations governing gorilla tracking and habituation such that it is flexible to see these gentle giants. The terrain may be rugged in certain circumstances, but it is worth it at the end of the day once you come face to face with them—a thrilling and wonderful experience of a lifetime.