Mountain Gorillas In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Mountain Gorillas In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The southwestern part of the Ugandan region is full of mist-covered hills, but inside the mist-covered hills is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which contains one of the most extraordinary animal species on earth- the mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei). The largest and oldest of all primates, these great apes have more than 98% DNA similarity with humans, and their behaviours, emotions, and social structures are similar to ours. Bwindi is the two locations on the earth where the mountain gorillas can still be found in their natural habitat, and therefore it is a very special conservation and wildlife tour destination.

A Haven of Mountain Gorillas.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park occupies an area of approximately 321 square kilometres of dense montane and lowland forest in the south-west end of Uganda and on the borders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 because of its outstanding biodiversity and was established in 1991. Bwindi hosts approximately 460 out of an estimated 1,060 remaining mountain gorillas in the world, that have the highest population in this area, with about 460.

The mountain gorillas, unlike their lowland counterparts, reside in the cooler forests that are found at an elevation of 1,200 to 2,600 meters above sea level. The steep nature of the land in the Bwindi forest, the amount of vegetation, and the mist that is always present form the ideal habitat of these magnificent creatures. The name of the park, which is called the Impenetrable, indicates the dense nature of vines, ferns and trees that characterise the ecosystem in the park.

Social Structure and Behaviour.

Bwindi mountain gorillas live in groups or families headed by an oversized male referred to as a silverback; this is because he has a characteristic patch of silver streaked hair on the back. Groups could have 10 to 20 people, including females, juveniles, and infants. The role of the silverback is also important: he defends his family, resolves disputes and decides when and where the group will go and feed.

Gorillas are mainly herbivores and their diet consists of leaves, shoots, roots, fruits and bamboo. They dedicate the better half of the day to feeding, resting and socialising. Their interrelations are extremely soft; mothers are very tender towards their infants, juveniles have fun and wrestle, and adults groom one another as a token of bonding. Gorillas communicate through various vocalisations, signs and even facial expressions.

Mountain gorillas are quiet creatures in spite of their huge size and power. Nevertheless, the silverbacks can display tremendous strength in protecting their group, pounding their chests, and roaring to scare away enemies.

Gorilla Sectors and Trekking Sectors.

Bwindi has four major trekking areas, which are Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo, each having several habituated gorilla families to serve as subjects for trekking. There are over 20 gorilla families that are currently habituated in the Bwindi, thus enabling tourists to visit these families.

Buhoma Sector (North): It is the initial area of Bwindi where gorilla trekking started in 1993. It is the home to the Mubare, Rushaga and the Habinyanja families.

Ruhija Sector (East), the scenic terrain and bird wildlife of this sector are famous and families such as Bitukura and Oruzogo.

Rushaga Sector (South): The greatest gorilla families (Nshongi, Bweza and Busingye) and the one-of-a-kind Gorilla Habituation Experience are located here.

Nkuringo Sector (Southwest): This area is well known for its steep climbs and views, where the Nkuringo family and many other families reside.

Every trekking encounter is different since gorillas venture out every day to find food. The trekkers can take between one to six hours to trace their routes in steep hills and wiser vegetation with professional guides of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Upon the identification of the gorillas, the visitors have a one-hour time to see them and take photographs, a period that most people call life-changing.

The Gorilla Habituation Experience.

To get a more intimate experience, Bwindi has the Gorilla Habituation experience, which is only available in the Rushaga Sector. This activity is exclusive and limited to four hours, where the visitors are able to interact with a semi-habituated group of gorillas with researchers and trackers. It gives you a backstage view of how wild gorillas eventually get used to the human presence, which is necessary and makes the trekking possible.

Since the habituation experience has a restricted number of participants per day, it presents a more personal and educational adventure. The permit charges are $1,500, and the normal trekking permit charges $800.

Environmental protection and Community Engagement.

Loss of habitat, poaching and disease have led to the fact that mountain gorillas were on the verge of extinction at some point. Nevertheless, their population has been gradually growing through conservation efforts. Success in Bwindi is mainly owed to the partnership that exists between the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), community, and foreign conservation agencies such as the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP).

A considerable amount of gorilla trekking permit revenue is used in conservation and community development. Bwindi pays 20% of all the revenue to the local communities, which benefit schools, health centres and infrastructure development. The strategy assists in establishing good relationships among human beings and wildlife, which decreases the human-wildlife conflict and invites the locals to join animal protection.

In addition, there are strict regulations which guarantee the safety and well-being of the gorillas. The trekkers should keep a distance of 7 meters, use masks to avoid transmission of diseases, and should not attend when they are sick. The number of people in each group is minimal to minimise pressure on the gorillas.

When to Visit

Gorilla trekking can be undertaken all year round, but the most preferable months to come in are during the dry seasons, which are between June and September, as well as December to February, when trails are not as muddy and access is easy. But since the Bwindi is a tropical rainforest, it may rain at any moment, and this increases its beauty and mystery.

Bwindi is a small village with a population of 1000 inhabitants near the forest.

Bwindi Accommodation.

Bwindi is a small village with a population of 1000 people beside the forest. Bwindi has a great variety of accommodation sites, including high-end eco-lodges and affordable camps. The famous lodges are Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Buhoma Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge and Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge. Most of these lodges are well integrated with the forest setting and offer cozy platforms to use in the trekking tours.

Conclusion

There is more to seeing mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park than a wildlife experience; it is a direct connection with one of the nearest relatives of the human race. The sight of a silverback leading his family or an infant playing in the arms of his mother reminds a person of the fine line that exists between humans and nature.