Gorilla trekking is the top tourist activity done in Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are famous for hosting mountain gorillas in Uganda. The fact that Uganda protects half of the world’s mountain Gorillas removes double for being number one destination for gorilla trekking.
Other primates trekked in Uganda are:
• Golden monkeys- officiary trekked Mgahinga Gorilla National park.
• Chimpanzees in Kibale National Park
• Black and white colobus monkeys
• Vervet Monkeys among others
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), is trying to minimize the difficulties experienced during primate tracking through setting rules and regulation to follow, offering walking sticks, guiding experience by rangers, offering pre-trekking information among others, primate tracking is still a hustle and below are some of the hardships faced by trekkers in action:
Due to high demand for Gorilla permits all year round, it’s a tag of war to get them especially in peak season. For that case, its advisable to seek advise from your travel agent in time. Last minute bookings are malicious and you may fail to achieve your goal- book at least six months prior to tracking date.
In addition, some primate trekking permits are too expensive to some tourists. For example, Uganda Gorilla permit cost US$700, Chimpanzee trekking US$200.
Thick forests like BINP makes photographing hectic, if your camera has no powerful flash lenses, you can fail to take clear snaps and films during gorilla trekking.
Slippery trails make movements through the jungle difficulties. It can rain any time in Uganda Gorilla parks hence making roads and gorilla trekking trails slippery.
The biting insects like mosquitoes, tsetse flies spread malaria and sleeping sickness respectively. Such pests are common in African tropical forest including Bwindi forest, Mgahinga Forest and so on. Therefore, travelers are advised to move with insect repellent.
Unfriendly type of vegetation which is characterized by thorns, scrunches and so on. Such vegetation makes primate trekking difficult.
There is a possibility of failing to encounter primates in their natural environment. Some primates like black and white colobus monkeys use to hide in tree canopies and others move a lot.
The challenging land terrain especially in Bwindi and Mgahinga hardens primate trekking. On some parks, trekkers find it difficult to hike steep slopes when trying to look for primates in their natural habitat.
