Magic of the Mountain Gorillas

Introduction

Explore Uganda’s mist-covered Bwindi Impenetrable Forest on the edge of Rift Valley, listed as a World Heritage Site due to its unique ecology and biological diversity.

The forest is home to an estimated 400 mountain gorillas – approximately half of the world’s population – and also home to baboons, chimpanzees and many of the planet’s rarest birdlife.

Few animals have sparked the imagination of man as much as the gorilla, the largest of the living primates. Although strong and powerful, mountain gorillas are generally gentle and shy. Gorillas have strong attachments to members of their own group, which are led by the dominant male silverback. Most gorillas live in inaccessible regions in various dense forests in tropical Africa, and one subspecies, the mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei), was not even known to science until 1902. The mountain gorilla has a robust build with long, muscular arms, a massive chest, and broad hands and feet. It is the hairiest race of gorillas; its long, thick black hair insulates it from the cold of living at high elevations.

Mountain gorillas have a slow rate of reproduction. This slow reproduction makes this species even more threatened. In a 40-50 year lifetime, a female might have only 2-6 living offspring. Females give birth for the first time at about age 10 and will have offspring every four years or more. A male reaches sexual maturity between 10 and 12 years. Able to conceive for only about three days each month, the female produces a single young and in rare cases twins.

Trekking through dense jungle to spend time with a family of mountain gorillas will be an incredible experience, creating memories for a lifetime.

This itinerary can be tailor-made, with the number of days, places visited, and activities varied to suit you.

Itinerary