Mountain Gorillas of Uganda

Uganda is delighted to be the home of mans closest relative whom we share 95% of their genes- the gorilla. Uganda has over half of the worlds surviving mountain gorillas that are 700 and above both male and female. In Bwindi impenetrable national park which has almost half of them and the rest in Mugahinga national park in the Virunga ranges that are still shared between Uganda, Rwanda and Congo, making Uganda the largest with the only surviving apes not only in Africa but in the world.

Gorillas are large apes that are native to Africa mostly Uganda. The gorilla is massive, with a short, thick trunk and broad chest and shoulders. Its eyes and ears are dwarfed by its large head and hairless, shiny black muzzle. The arms are longer than the stubby legs. The fully adult male mountain gorilla is twice as large as the female.

They are typically divided into two groups. The mountain gorilla lives in the mountainous regions of bwindi and mgahinga national parks, while the lowland gorilla lives in the flat, dense forests in the same places or other. Though the two types are very similar, they have a few differences. For example, mountain gorillas tend to have longer hair, whereas lowland gorillas have short, soft hair, another difference is size. Lowland gorillas are 4 to 6 feet tall and weigh 181-200 kilograms. Mountain gorillas are about the same height, though they tend to weigh a bit more. They are 4 to 6 feet tall and weigh 220-500 kg. Animals of this size need a lot of food, and the vegetarian gorilla is no exception. Although they eat a variety of plants, favourites include wild celery, bamboo, thistles, stinging nettles, bedstraw and certain fruit. Given the rich fertile lands of the thick tropical rain forests in Uganda, These plants seem to provide sufficient moisture so that gorillas do not need water.

Gorillas live in groups which can range from two members to those of even up to as many as 50 members. Groups of gorillas are called troops or bands. Though sometimes a band consists of as few as two members, the troops are led by a dominant male, called a silverback, which can often be identified by a gray strip of hair on his back. Gorillas have strong attachments to members of their own group and even when groups meet and mingle and then subsequently part, each animal tends to remain with its respective unit. Gorillas continually wander through their home ranges of 10 to 15 square miles, feeding and resting throughout the day. Because gorillas are nomadic, they build new nests each day at dusk, constructing them of bend branches in a tree or of grasses on the ground.

 

The gorilla is shy and retiring rather than ferocious and treacherous. It usually seeks no trouble unless harassed but will valiantly defend its family group if threatened .Gorillas scream, grab foliage and stuff it in their mouths, stand erect on their hind legs, tear up and throw plants, drum on the chest with hands or fists, stamp their feet, strike the ground with the palms of their hands and gallop in a mock attack on all fours. . Gorillas can live around 35 years in the wild and more than 50 years in zoos.

Well there is a lot of exiting thing to know about our close relatives here in Uganda that you will find interesting to know that is if you talk to them in person on a Uganda safari that won’t disappoint you at all. This is worthy because they really need to count on us.

The Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mghahinga national parks lie south of the country Uganda and can be accessed by road on a self drive in Uganda or guided tour in Uganda. You can also access the parks by charterd inbound aeroplanes that start from Entebbe and land in kisoro. You can plan to have your car rental in Uganda down in kisoro or start off the drive right from kampala or Entebbe, all depends on your arrangement with your car rental agency in Uganda. 

Either driving by road on a self drive in Uganda or guided/chauffeur driven, the drive through the rolling hills of kabala will enrich you with real Africa. You got a chance to go through the equator and great scenery awaiting you. Preferably spice up your adventure to the gorilla tracking experience with the best adventure to the pearl of Africa.