Some visitors have reported not seeing gorillas in Uganda on rare occasions, but this is an extremely rare occurrence. The chances of seeing Endangered Mountain Gorillas in Uganda are very high because Uganda has the highest concentration of mountain gorillas in the entire world, and thus it is difficult to truly fail to see the endangered mountain gorillas once you have decided to come and travel to Uganda for the gorilla adventure vacation. The chances of seeing the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda are boosted by the good arrangement of the Uganda wildlife authority, who sent the rangers into the forest to clearly see the gorillas, such that the visitors are clearly directed where the gorillas are found before they start the actual gorilla trekking, which in the end increased the chances of the visitors seeing the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda.
You also need to understand that the chances of seeing the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda are high because it is only in Uganda that the gorillas are found within two National parks, which include Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. There are more than 20 habituated gorilla families, each of which is visited by eight people a day on average per hike, giving it home to more than half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. Every day, around 160 gorilla permits are issued for seeing gorillas in these two national parks, the greatest number of gorilla permits sold in the three African nations where gorilla trekking is conducted.
Naturally, there are no assurances when dealing with wild animals. A nighttime rainstorm or an unforeseen encounter with a predator may drive a tribe to migrate in an unexpectedly different direction while no one is around. Scouts, on the other hand, will most likely resume their path the next day. A team of scouts goes out before your gorilla trekking adventure to follow the gorilla footprints and stay with the gorillas once they are spotted. As a result, your guide will have a walkie-talkie with him to communicate with the scouts for directions.
The gorilla excursions in both Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Parks are extra organized and more structured to enhance the possibility of seeing gorillas in their native habitat, which is why an advanced team of trackers gets up every morning to find out where these gorillas are.
The technical team is heavily equipped and will remain in touch with you via radio calls to advise park officials of the gorillas’ whereabouts, saving tourists time because they follow certain paths and so have a better chance of seeing the gorillas. It takes 30 minutes to 5 hours to trek with this gorilla family. It’s incredible to see these enormous, peaceful animals up close, and it’s no wonder that the guides will work tirelessly to clear vegetation from between you and the gorillas so you can view them better. Uganda is certainly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a very safe and exciting experience, and this may well increase your chances of seeing the gorillas as you will not be fearing anything while trekking the gorillas. It’s unnerving to be so close to such a huge beast. Contrary to popular opinion, gorilla trekking is a risk-free pastime. Primatologists have acclimatized the tourist gorillas to human presence and implemented safety protocols that allow visitors to safely approach them. One of the most cleansing and personal animal interactions you can have in Africa, if not the globe, is sitting a few meters away from a family of gorillas and seeing your humanity reflected in their social rituals and loving brown eyes.
You can’t touch the gorilla since it’s against the law. They can, however, reach out and touch you from time to time, particularly inquisitive newborns. In such cases, avoid engaging the gorillas, and if silverback charges, curl up in a submissive attitude instead of sprinting or making rapid motions, and he will back down. Mountain gorillas are wild animals, so even if they have become accustomed to human presence, they are still powerful and unpredictable; if they detect any aggressiveness from you, you could be seriously injured. It is highly recommended that you strictly follow the gorilla trekking guidelines.
Gorilla populations are already threatened by logging, poaching, and human encroachment on their habitat, and they are particularly vulnerable to human illnesses. You will not only be unable to engage with them but you will also be required to maintain a distance of at least ten meters (32 feet) and wear a face mask at all times. You will not be able to go gorilla trekking in Uganda if you are sick, so make sure you are in good condition before flying and take care to avoid contracting a disease on the journey over.
Therefore, all these enable easy movement and multiplication of the gorillas, which increases the chances of the visitors seeing the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda. At Vibrant Holiday Safaris, we have never had a single case where our clients have failed to trek the gorillas.