UGANDA GORILLA TREKK

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the western Rift Valley lies on the Zaire border adjacent to the Parc National des Virungas. It is one of the largest (331 sq. km) natural forests in East Africa and contains both montane and lowland forest. It supports a large number of plants and animals endemic to the region, but most notably half of the world's population of Mountain . The more than 300 Mountain , divided into a dozen groups, make up the largest surviving population. The other half is split between Zaire and Rwanda, where they used to roam freely until they were separated by encroachment and farming.

The rugged terrain makes hiking in search of the  streneous work. There are two habituated groups, 'Mubare' and 'Katendegyere'. Only the Mubare group is fully habituated and a maximum of 6 visitors are allowed per day. Tracking begins with a fairly strenous walk through the forest up steep and slippery slopes, to where the  were found on the previous day. Then the trackers look for any signs - pressed-down grass, broken twigs, dung - that might tell them the direction the group has taken. Visitors follow through the dense undergrowth until they reach where the  spent the night. Then the search continues, at times crawling through the thickets, until the  are found.

Mountain  cover long distances each day and tours can last anywhere between three to eight hours. There are very strict rules to follow when around the , to prevent behavioral disturbances and transmission of desease from human beings to . Even the common cold could be fatal to a gorilla and sick participants are not allowed to join.

Even if you don't go see the , there is plenty to do in the Impenetrable Forest. You can join guided walks and choose between a two-hour stroll to some beautiful waterfalls and various hikes, lasting up to seven-hour and leading to a number of peaks. The area around Buhoma is an excellent place for watching primates and birds and you may catch a glimpse of the noisy but evasive  or the beatiful Hornbills and Turacos. The forest is home to 120 species of mammals, 346 species of birds, 202 species of butterflies, and 163 species of trees, making it one of the richest ecosystems in Africa.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park, almost 2,000 sq. km, is bordered to the North by the Rwenzori mountains and to the West by Lake Edward, and is divided in two sectors, the North and the South. It used to be one of the most beautiful and richest parks in East Africa. Unfortunately, like in other Ugandan parks, most of the game was decimated by retreating troops during the civil wars. The beauty remains though, with sprawling cacti, savannah, forests, rivers and lakes. Now that the country is at peace, the game is slowly recovering from the onslaught and the park steadily regaining its past grandeur.

The park is well worth a visit even if just to see the hippos and the birds on the Kazinga Channel, which links Lake Edward and Lake George. From the launch trip on the Channel, one can watch hundreds of Hippos at close range, spreading their mouths wide and rushing to the water. The birdlife is spectacular and includes pelicans, fish eagles, kingfishers, cormorants and saddlebill storks. s and waterbucks come to the water to cool off, and occasionally you may see , lion and crocodile.

Another attraction in the North sector are the Kobs Mating

Grounds. Here, in a small area in the plain near Lake George, hundreds of Uganda Kobs make their living. This antelope, similar to the Impala, as a similar social life too: the males keep a harem of up to twenty females and stubbornly defend their territory against younger, yet unsuccessful competitors. It is quite a spectacle to watch the kobs' antlers come together in a sounding clash, and it is not unlikely to see lions preying on the grazing females or arrogant males. Returning to the lodge from this point, you will pass by the 'Crater Area', one of the most scenic parts of the park, making your way through a series of dramatic craters, many of which feature crater lakes.

A different experience is offered at Chambura Gorge, where visitors can take a walking safari along a river through tropical forest, where Black and White Colobus, Redtail Monkeys and  are often seen.

A much less visited area of the park is the South Sector around Ishasha. This area is renowned for its "tree climbing" lions, whose habit of lounging in the upper branches of old fig trees is not usually found in other lion populations. You can also see Hippo, herds of , Uganda Kob, Topi, and many s there.

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park, with 3,840 square kilometers is Uganda's largest National Park. The park is cut in half by the Nile and its landscape varies from dense rainforest on the hilly ranges in the South-West, to undulating savannah in the North-West. The forest shelters many primate species, including , while the river attracts various Antelopes, s, Rothschild-Giraffes and s. These gentle giants are slowly recovering from the brutal slaughter they suffered during the civil wars, when they were used as moving targets for the army's artillery.

The prime area for game-viewing is the peninsula between the Victoria and the Albert Niles, known as the Buligi Circuit. The concentration of animals is highest in this area, and the lush patches of forest along the waterways and the conspicuous Borassus Palms, dotting the ridges and valleys in-between, add to the attraction of the park's landscape.

The world-famous Murchison Falls are a must for any visitor. The most impressive view is at the top, where the Nile forces its way through a 7 meter gap in the rocks and tumbles 40 meters down. A path leads from the parking above the falls all the way to the bottom and offers spectacular views of the foaming waters rushing into the gorge, with a deafening roar. In the background the pacified river winds its way towards Lake Albert. If you are up for it, you can take a refreshing Nile-bath in a small basin above the falls.

In the Fifties and Sixties, when Uganda's tourism was at its peak, the highlight of a safari was the boat-trip on the Nile. In those days the Paraa Lodge, dominating the northern shore of the Nile at Paraa, was a busy hotel with 150 beds. Some of the boats used during that time are now slowly falling to pieces along the banks of the river. Today's passengers are much fewer and so are the boats. After departing your captain will steer the launch from shore to shore, where Hippos can be counted in hundreds. Every little bay seems to be occupied with their bubbling and snorting sounds. On sandbanks huge crocodiles bask in the sun, and along the shores one can often spot s, giraffes, s, etc..

The major focus of interest, however, are the birds, which can be observed all around you, in the swampy reeds, the sandy beaches, or the huge trees along the water. Their variety is impressive and ranges from the tiny Malachite Kingfisher and the Carmine Bee-Eater, to the African fisheagle and the saddlebill stork. The most conspicuous bird, however, is the Wahleheaded (or Shoebill) Stork, which, with a little luck can be seen standing unshakeably along the water's edge. Once the currents become to strong to continue, the boat turns around, offering an unusual sight of the falls, after which you start the return journey. By then the sun setting on the river seems to invite the whole animal kingdom to come and quench its thirst, while across the sky, the birds write an ode to the Nile.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

This splendid world of ice and snow, with its massive ice-rime sculptures and incredible vegetation provide a magnificent environment for both experienced climbers and casual day hikers. The legendary "Mountains of the Moon" were first described by the Greek philosopher and geographer Ptolemeus in the 2nd century. Mt Stanley, named after the famous explorer who first saw the mountain during his expedition in 1887, is the third highest mountain in Africa (5109 m.)

A National Park since 1993, the Rwenzori Mountains, 120 km. long and 43 km. wide, were forced up during the creation of the East African Rift Valley System, and unlike the two other giants of East Africa, Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya, are not of volcanic origin. The name Rwenzori stands for 'rain-maker': There is an average annual rainfall of over 5m, and the ice-covered peaks are only visible on a few days in the year.

The ususal trip to the Rwenzoris last 6-7 days long enough to hike the "Central Circuit Trail". Shorter trips can be arranged but do not reach the higher mountains. Driest months are July and August and December through February. The usually poor weather makes trips outside of these months impossible or disappointing.

The mountains feature an incredible array of afro-alpine vegatation, including gigantic lobelias and groundsels, hallmarks of the Rwenzori. They offer a plentiful habitat to several primate species, including Chimpanzee, and other mammals such as , Bushbuck, Giant Forest Hog, Hyrax and Leopard. Some unique birds in the area include Rwenzori Touraco, the handsome Francolin, Olive Pigeon and Whitenecked Raven.

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