Tracking Gorillas in Bwindi's Oruzogo Gorilla Family
Gorilla Trekking remains one of the most magical and rewarding wildlife experiences in the natural world, one that I know is high on the wish list of Uganda's tourists. An estimated 800 mountain gorillas are remaining on earth, approximately 480 of which reside in Bwindi National Park.
Some background information abour Oruzogo Gorilla Family
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| Oruzogo mountain gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda |
Naming all the 16 individuals save for the three infants who are currently known by their mothers’ identities like Mutesi baby or Birungi baby was completed before it was availed for tracking in 2012.
Other individuals in the group include Busungu(Meaning short tampered),Kashundwe, Nyakiina,Kaganga (the giant one),Otaka,Bwoba(the coward) Karimi (tongue) Kiromba, KLatooto (the small one) Kanywani(meaning friendly,Kakobe who looks like a monkey and Buchura referring to the youngest or last born before the two newest babies came forth.
My unforgettable experience tracking these gentle giants
I
had a unique opportunity to join a UWA team visiting the newly habituated Oruzogo gorilla family.
On my big day, I was up at 6:30AM to join the UWA team into the forest. Bwindi is nicknamed the 'impenetrable forest', and I've got to say that it's easy to see why; at times it was literally impossible to make your way through the vegetation, even with the trackers carving a path for us with their machetes.
On my big day, I was up at 6:30AM to join the UWA team into the forest. Bwindi is nicknamed the 'impenetrable forest', and I've got to say that it's easy to see why; at times it was literally impossible to make your way through the vegetation, even with the trackers carving a path for us with their machetes.
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| Black-and-white colobus monkeys, one of the 10 primate species in Bwindi - |
Heavy rains, and dying plants nourish this dense forest, but the benign
gentleness of the morning and gently stirring grass and vines along the
trails cunningly hide the never-ending dramas of the impenetrable
forest. In this very small forest (330sqkm) over 350 bird species occur,
as well as 120 mammal species (including 10 primates) and a staggering
1000 different plant species.
Occasionally we'd tromp through an ant colony; they'd march right up my shoes and socks, under my trousers, and make their way up to my boxer shorts before biting.
Occasionally we'd tromp through an ant colony; they'd march right up my shoes and socks, under my trousers, and make their way up to my boxer shorts before biting.
After about three hours of pushing through this thick vegetation on
steep terrain, we still seemed to be nowhere near any gorillas. But
finally we came to a flat, open area in the jungle, about 5m in
diameter. "This is where the gorillas slept last night," the tracker
told us. We all studied the area with a new interest and excitement. I
noticed eight distinct impressions in the leaves - nests made by massive
creatures.
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| A mountain gorilla resting in trees of Bwindi - www.gorillasandwildlifesafaris.com |
Then we came into a slight opening, suddenly I heard branches to my
immediate right snap as if a tree was falling, and a very big rumbling
noise beyond anything I had ever experienced! And then there was this
smell, like a pungent body odor worse than that of a human who hasn't
bathed in a month. It was then whispered that we were among the
gorillas. I strained my eyes towards the shaking shrub as I held firmly
onto my walking stick. There was nothing to see but the "raspberry
bushes" in the gloom. Another glimpse, and then appeared a couple of
square inches of black fur. It looked like being a big deal! This was
it! Gradually things improved. We got a glimpse of a female with a baby
balanced on her back. Finally we got ourselves near the silverback
seated immersed in bushes pluck-eating branches of berries. Suddenly our
luck dramatically changed, the silverback started moving further away,
ignorantly exposing himself the more.
The mountain gorilla - such a deserving name for this huge giant! In
my whole life, I'd never seen this legendary species! Oh. This was a
lifetime experience. No matter how much you watch mountain gorillas on
television or even try hard to imagine what meeting them might actually
be like, nothing can quite prepare you for this 1-on-1 encounter.
Then,
all too soon, we were told it was time up (an hour being the limit for
gorilla visits). We withdrew to make our way back. I was pretty content
with what I'd seen.
Taken as a day it ranked strenuous, but one of those that make being born and living seem fully worthwhile.
Have you been to tracking the gorillas? What's your experience?
Are you planning to track the mountain gorillas and need assistance from a local tour operator based in Uganda and Rwanda? Please contact us or see some suggested packages below for a fast and efficient service.
Have you been to tracking the gorillas? What's your experience?
Are you planning to track the mountain gorillas and need assistance from a local tour operator based in Uganda and Rwanda? Please contact us or see some suggested packages below for a fast and efficient service.
Ivan
