Although strong and powerful, Gorillas are generally gentle and shy. They live in groups of 2-40 individuals, averaging about 11. Groups are lead by a dominant male, the SILVERBACK, named for the silvery gray hairs that grow when the male matures. The silverback serves as the group leader and protector. To whom all group members defer. He determines when and where to forge, rest and sleep, arbitrates disputes among his family members and protects them rival silverbacks or human predators.
Mountain Gorillas have a slow rate of reproduction. This slow reproduction makes this species even more threatened. In a period of 40-50 year life time, a female might have only 2-6 living offspring. Females have their first young at the age of 10years and will have offspring every 4years or more. A male reaches sexual maturity between 10 and 12 years. Able to conceive for only about three days each month, the female produces a single young and in rare cases twins.
New born gorillas weigh about 4pounds.At 3 or 4 months, the infant gorilla can sit upright and can stand with support. It suckles regularly for a year and is gradually weaned at about 3 and half years when it becomes more independent.
Their diet perhaps is the most surprising that an animal as large and strong as the mountain gorilla is primarily a HERBIVORE. Mountain gorillas eat over 100 different species of plants. They rarely need to drink since their diet is so rich in succulent herbs, from which they get their water.
- There are only about 720 mountain gorillas left in the world.
- Humans and gorillas are 95-98% genetically identical.
- Male silverbacks can weigh 50-100 pounds.
These great giant, powerful creatures and yet gentle and shy are worth a trip down to the Heart of Africa, our pearl – Uganda to enjoy and be apart of a great lifetime experience. We as WILDPATH SAFARIS would love to package and send you off to an unforgettable lifetime experience with these bulkiest of living primates and yet among the most peaceable. Leaving you coming back for more and bringing family and friends each time for this great and delightful journey.
This great journey will lead you right to one of our most beautiful parks in a forest setting. known as Bwindi Impenetrable forest National park. Located at the southwestern part of Uganda, Bwindi is a true African jungle. Its aptly named because of its dense undergrowth, vines and other vegetation that makes it an almost “impenetrable” rainforest. Here is were you trek and see the mountain Gorillas, colobus monkeys and chimpanzees as they forage among the trees for fruit and edible plants.
An experience better lived than narrated. ( 3 Day 2 Nights Safari) Itinerary to BWINDI.
DAY One:
7-8am Morning departure with pick up from Kampala heading for southwestern Uganda. Stops at the craft village and the Uganda Equator for pictures and a little shopping or a cup of coffee with the great good African grown coffee from the mountains of Uganda. Lunch on the way at one of our beautiful and friendly hotels. After lunch proceed through the evergreen mountain countryside, refereed to as the little Switzerland. Arrive late evening for dinner and overnight at one of our beautiful lodges in the park.
Day Two:
Early morning breakfast, Briefing at 8:00am before entrance into the park. The gorilla excursion can take any where from 4-8 hours depending on where the gorillas last spent their night. Expect to do some long distance walking. When you finally come In view of these great giant animals, its certainly worth it. For conservation purposes, time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour. A game is allocated to you, who then briefs you on how to behave with the gorillas. You are required to be in good standing health. Gorillas are fully able to catch colds and flu but more likely to die of these human diseases. After a long day of trekking yet so fulfilling head back for Overnight and a great dinner at lodge. A day well spent.
Day Three:
Depart for Kampala after a good morning breakfast. Lunch on the way or carry a packed lunch from the lodge. Arrive kampala late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Kampala.
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