GORILLA FAST FACTS
Gorilla treks demand a moderate level of fitness
- Mountain gorillas live in family groups headed by one or more silverback males, with several females and young. Both males and females care for the infants in their group.
- They spend about a quarter of their day eating; mainly herbaceous vegetation such as leaves, nettles, thistles, and bamboo shoots but they can eat larvae, snails, ants and rotting wood (a good source of sodium/salt).
- They have 16 different types of call including short barks when they’re alarmed or mildly curious. To intimidate rivals, male gorillas strut with stiff legs, beat their chests and roar.
- Babies are born when a female reaches 9-12 years and will be weaned at 3-4 years meaning a female can only give birth every 4+ years. They can live to over 40 years old in the wild.
Below are some of the most exciting gorilla treks on offer with a variety of options, serving the most time-pressed to more devoted naturalists.
A SHORTER TRIP
You can take a short but sweet trekking tour. The journey begins in Lake Mburo National Park, the best area in the country to spot animals such as zebras, buffalo, and leopards. Next, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest allows travellers to trek through beautiful scenery and see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
A 4-day Gorilla Short Break tour from £2,425pp excludes flights
A LUXURY TRIP
You can trek through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to see the gorillas, as well as experiencing the Great Migration in Kenya’s Masai Mara. A hot-air balloon ride offers a thrilling chance to spot the Big Five eight-day tailor-made Uganda Gorilla Trek and Kenya’s Great Migration, from £8,275pp, flights included.
A TRIP ENDORSED BY JANE GOODALL
A wildlife tour endorsed by the world-renowned primatologist in line with her mission to protect wildlife and empower local communities. As well as a traditional lunch with the Bigodi community, the tour opens travellers’ eyes to recent atrocities in Rwanda with a visit to the genocide museum.
An eight-day Uganda to Rwanda: Gorilla Treks and Safari Drives tour, from £2,999pp excludes flights.
TAKE THE CHILDREN
Although children under 15 years old cannot participate in gorilla trekking, a family luxury experience is available to suit the whole family. Alternative activities / childcare can be arranged for younger explorers while older family members see the gorillas in Bwindi. The family then continues to the Masai Mara for a classic safari experience with cultural visits also woven into the itinerary.
An eight-day Luxury Gorillas and Masai Mara safari tour, from £5,585pp, flights not included
SEE CHIMPANZEES
Gorillas are not the only primates that can be spotted in Uganda. In addition to seeing the mountain gorillas, Why not take a Gorilla and Chimp Safari tracking chimpanzees in Kibale National Park, which is home to another 13 species of primate including the Ugandan red colobus. The tour continues in Queen Elizabeth National Park scouting for tree climbing lion as well as elephant and buffalo. A Zanzibar extension can be added too.
An 11-day Uganda Gorilla and Chimp Safari tour starts from £4,895pp, flights not included. If you have a little more budget to play with then a 10-day Uganda Primate Explorer Tour, starts at £8,315pp, flights included.
Please ask for more details on these suggested trips – alternative tailored experiences can be arranged.
