UGANDA - GAME PARKS AND GORILLAS November 2016
EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME - Put in on your bucketlist - a MUST do !!!!
Not only do very few people on this planet get to see a Mountain Gorilla up close.. I can say I have and feel very priviledged to have done so.... there are only 850 moujntain gorillas left and the only place to see them are in the vast jungles of the Africa - Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
Although the Mountain Gorillas were a highlight of my visit to Uganda, we saw much much more.. After some time in the Queen Elizabeth National Park and Ishasha Wilderness Camp seeking out elephants, tree resting lions, leopards baboons, chimp,hippos,buffalos and lots more game we headed on to Bwindi Impenetrable Rainforest for our Gorilla Trek.
We stayed at the magnificent Buhomoa Lodge which faced the Bwindi Forest which is at approximately 1900 m above sea level.
There was much anticipation in the group the morning of our Trek.. we had breakfast and made our way to the Ranger Station nearby. Our Trekking fees help the community and also are put towards conservation and presevation of these magnificent creatures.
Our trek began with our guide in the lead - walking through some small villages and tea plantations. After nearly an hour walking into the Forest a sighting was made by our tracker - it was the Silverback... The undergrowth was very thick and it was very steep terrain which made it hard to balance for that photo opportunity so many of us dream of..
We continued on and followed the Silverback only to come across the rest of the family.
The adrenalin was pumping as we all tried to get the best photos possible, as most of the viewing was obscured by the thick foliage. We did however, get some great photos and also had 1 hour with them to watch them climb trees, fall down the trees and frolick with each other.
Still a buzz with excitement we made our way down the steep mountain into the Valley.
We reached the Ranger station to accept our Gorilla Tracking Certificate and share the memorable moments we had with these magnificent species.
It was one of the most memorable educationals I have had the pleasure to experience and will not be forgotten.