Uganda Gorilla Safaris

Gorillas Factfile: Observation by Sardius Team

Gorillas are large, quiet, gentle apes that live in Africa. Although gorillas are frequently portrayed as aggressive, dangerous killers, they are really shy, peaceful vegetarians. Because of massive loss of habitat, these majestic primates are in great danger of going extinct.

ANATOMY
Gorillas have very long arms (the arms are longer than the legs), and a short, bulky body with a wide chest.

Hair and Skin:
Gorillas are covered with brownish hair on most of their body (except their fingers, palms, face, armpits, and bottoms of their feet).

The Head:
Gorillas have a very large head with a bulging forehead, a crest on top (it is called the sagittal crest, and is larger on male gorillas), tiny ears, and small, dark-brown eyes. Gorillas have no tail. Adult gorillas have 32 teeth, with large molars (flat teeth used for chewing food) and large canines (pointy teeth used for biting), which are especially large in the male gorillas. Gorillas each have a unique nose print (like we have unique fingerprints).

Senses:
Gorillas have senses very similar to ours, including hearing, sight (they seem to be slightly nearsighted and to have color vision), smell, taste, and touch.

Hands and Feet:
Gorillas' hands are very much like ours; they have five fingers, including an opposable thumb. Their feet have five toes, including an opposable big toe. Gorillas can grasp things with both their hands and their feet.

SIZE
Male gorillas are much larger than the females, and are almost twice as heavy. Adult male gorillas are called silverbacks because they have a saddle-shaped patch of silver hair on their backs after they are about 12 years of age.

Gorillas Height Weight
Female 4.6 ft (1.4 m) 200 lb (90 kg)
Male 5.6 ft (1.7 m) 400 lb (180 kg)

DIET
Gorillas are predominantly herbivores, eating mostly plant material. They forage for food in the forests during the day. They eat leaves, fruit, seeds, tree bark, plant bulbs, tender plant shoots, and flowers. They have been known to eat various parts of over 200 different plant species. Occasionally, gorillas supplement their diet with termites and ants.

Gorillas rarely drink water; the water contained in their diet is apparently enough to sustain them.

An average adult male eats approximately 50 pounds of food a day.

INTELLIGENCE AND LANGUAGE
Gorillas are very intelligent and can learn extremely complex tasks.

Language:
Some gorillas have been taught sign language by people; these gorillas learned how to form simple sentences and communicate with people.

Tools:
Gorillas have never been observed using tools in the wild, although they have been taught to use them in captivity.

 

STSU 069 6 Days – Gorilla Trekking

Day 1 Arrive Entebbe / Kampala
On arrival , you will be transferred to the hotel and spend most of the day at leisure and overnight Dinner at the hotel.

Day 2 Kampala – Lake Buyonyi
Whole day exploring lake Buyonyi taking with you picnic lunch. The lake is dotted with small Islands whereby the main Island was converted to a colony by a Dutch leper until 1969. Dinner and overnight at the Island camp.

Day 3 Lake Buyonyi / Bwindi National Park
In the morning you will have a chance to take a canoe or fish on the lake before embarking on a drive into the mountains to the famous Bwindi forest. Bwindi means “a place of darkness” derived from the thick vegetation of the forest this almost impenetrable and this is where your tour gets more excited. Rest off the day at leisure, dinner and overnight at the Buhoma luxury tented camp.

Day 4 Bwindi National Park
Full day in the forest searching for the mountain Gorilla these creature are very magnificent. They move in groups. Enjoy a picnic lunch before trekking back to camp. Dinner and overnight at the luxury camp.

Day 5 Bwindi – Entebbe
After your exciting forest tour drive back to Entebbe with lunch en-route . dinner and overnight at an hotel.

Day 6 Entebbe – Depart
Transfer to the airport fro your departure flight.





STSU 070 6 Days Gorilla Trekking and Chimpanzee Safaris
This trip starts in Kampala, Uganda and travels south through Uganda to Rwanda finishing back in Kampala. Guided gorilla trekking Chimpanzee tracking Lake Bunyonyi Trekking in the Verungu Mountains in the Parc de Volcans in Rwanda in search of the mountain gorilla is one of the most memorable experiences that will stay with you forever. Once found you can sit meters away from these magnificent endangered creatures. A visit to see the gorillas will help to ensure their continued survival in their natural habitat.

Day 1 Kampala Departure Point: Bukoto, Blue Mango Hotel, Old Kira Rd, Kampala. Check In Time: 8:45am Departure Time: 9:30am After checking into the hotel you head off to the Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Situated on an island 23kms from Entebbe, the sanctuary is beautifully forested which provides a safe environment for the orphaned chimpanzee that now regard this as their home. (L; D)

Day 2 Kibale National Park An early start sees you heading southwest to Gorilla country. Sir Winston Churchhill named Uganda "The Pearl of Africa" and never a truer word has been spoken about this beautiful country. The scenery is green and the people are extremely hospitable. The landscape varies from fertile green areas to snow covered Ruwenzori Mountains in the west to semi - desert parts in the north. (B; L; D)

Day 3 Parc de Volcansin This is an easier day as we cross the Ruwenzoris and head into Rwanda and check into our hotel. It is situated on the edge of the Parc de Volcansin the foothills of the volcanoes of the Virungus. (B; L; D) }

Day 4 Kisoro After a briefing by the park ranger, we head off in search of these magnificent gentle giants, the mountain gorilla. Optional Excursion: Gorilla Trek cost from US$250.00 - US$375 per person. The time taken to trek and find the gorillas can be long and tiring, although once in their presence the effort is more than worth it. The mountain gorilla (Gorilla Berengei) is one of our closest living relatives and it is thought that only about 600 still exist! Late afternoon sees us cross over into Uganda. The experience of trekking the gorillas is one of the greatest highlights that anyone can have in Africa. (B; L; D)

Day 5 Lake Bunyoni A leisurely day sees you make our way to lake Bunyoni, where you can relax or swim, windsurf, go cray fishing, whatever takes your fancy from the many amenities there. (B; L; D)

Day 6 Kampala Heading in a northeasterly direction we make our way back to Kampala where the trip comes to end. (B) Optional excusion Gorilla Trek US$225 - 375 Entrance into park and transfer to and from gorilla trekking point US$25 - 30 Please note: This itinerary should be used as a guide only and may vary from day to day depending on road conditions, weather, political situations, and group decisions. Due to new tourism laws in some of the countries there may be a truck and crew change during the trip. All prices & Local Payments are subject to change with prior notice.