GORILLA TRACKING

  Mountain Gorillas are the biggest tourist attractions in the East African Tropical region and these beautiful animals are usually found in forests and parks not to mention reserves….  Tracking Mountain Gorillas is a “MUST DO” activity because of the experience accrued from the tour..

Mgahinga National Park has a lot to offer for people who love outdoors activities. The tracking of the endangered mountain gorilla is the most important activity, which takes you through a thick jungle. It is a thrilling and unforgettable experience. Finding the gorillas requires some skill from trackers and guides. In the park there is currently one group habituated; it means the gorillas are used to humans. It is known as the Nyakagezi group and consists of 11 members.

A 13-km trail gives you the opportunity to see some of the park’s special flora and fauna. Apart from the gorillas the park is the habitat of the rare golden monkey, the colobus monkey and the jackal. The abundant type of vegetation is the bamboo, eaten by the mountain gorilla. Other types of flora include the lobelia, the black-eyed Susan and the red-hot poker.

People who like to climb should hike one of the three extinct volcanoes: Mt. Muhavura (4127m), Mt. Gahinga (3474m) and Mt. Sabinyo (3669m). Although you have to be fit, the hikes do not require special mountaineering equipment. The volcanoes provide exceptional views.

The park is also blessed with bird fauna; 79 species have been spotted, for example the Rwenzori turaco, the crowned hornbill and the crowned crane. Finally you can explore one of the caves where once the crafty Batwa (a group of warriors) lived.

We decided to track the mountain gorillas. They reside on the slopes of the three volcanoes. At eight o’clock in the morning it is still pretty cold. Four Australian tourists and the two of us shiver while we are waiting for our guide to leave. After a brief instruction we are all set. For security reasons, there are some soldiers coming with us. For about thirty minutes we walk through two different zones of beautiful vegetation. At first, we are surrounded by herbs, bushes, the black-eyed Susan and Sambucu. When we reach higher altitudes we see the Hagenia abyssinica, an attractive tree with reddish leaves and dark reddish flowers.

Pretty soon we arrive at the bamboo forest, which covers 58% of the park. During certain months of the year it provides gorillas with 90% of their food and it is an important resource for people. The trackers are looking for the gorillas. Suddenly they find gorilla-shit. It’s fresh! That means they have to be around. But where? We are told to follow. The overgrown path through the bamboo forest requires a lot of bending and almost crawling; lianas are everywhere. Then we hear rustling, and some branches are moving heavily. There they are! I have to step aside. The guide tells me one of the gorillas wants to cross the path and apparently I am in her way. Within seconds a young female comes out of the bushes and passes me. How close is she? One feet, maybe two? I can almost touch her. The small branch she holds, touches my right leg. Wow. I’m trembling with excitement. I never thought anything like this was possible. The guide leads us to a open spot. There he is! At a distance of about 12 feet Mark, the leading silverback of the group, reveals himself in full glory. While enjoying the sun, this male, approximately 28-32 years old, is having breakfast. For a moment he looks at us, distracted by the clicking sound of our cameras. We have to be very quiet. But Mark continues his breakfast; he accepts our presence. After a while he wants to rest. He rolls over and he turns on his back. We play a game, Mark and the tourists. For about an hour we just look at him, in silent admiration. He is big, he is beautiful. When we have to leave he is still lying there. On our way back I feel thrilled. I am totally in love with the mountain gorillas.