About Uganda’s Gorillas and Chimpanzees and travel advice for Uganda.

About the Gorilla:

A gorilla is the largest living primate. Half of the world’s population of Mountain Gorillas are found in Uganda. A gorilla is a ground dwelling omnivore animal and largely dwells in the forest. An example of such forest is the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda.

There are 3 classifications of Gorilla. That is the Western Lowland Gorilla, the Eastern Lowland and the Mountain Gorilla. All these gorillas are endangered due to poaching, habitat destruction and trade in bush meat. Gorillas move in groups led by the male gorilla, the Silverback, a 12 year old male with silver hair on his back. He is responsible for the entire movement of the troop, decision making and safety. The two homes of mountain gorillas are Bwindi National park and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. In Rwanda, Gorilla tracking is done in Parc de Volcans.

The Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi largely feed on fruits, foliage and epiphytes. The Bwindi gorilla diet is almost the same as that of the Bwindi Chimpanzees. Gorilla tracking or trekking is the top safari activity of tourists who flock to Uganda. A permit can be obtained and arranged by most safari operators.

Chimpanzees:

The Chimpanzee commonly shortened as Chimp is one of the primates found in Uganda. Chimpanzees are known to be the closest specie of apes to humans, sharing 98% of the genes that we also have.

In Uganda, Chimpanzee trekking can be done mainly in Kibale National Park. This park also hosts other primates including a variety of monkey species. You can also visit these Apes at Ngamba Island Sanctuary which habituates these chimps. The weight of a full grown adult male chimpanzee is about 35 to 70 kgs, with about 3 metres tall compared to a female with about 26 to 50 kgs and 2 to 4 feet tall.

The life expectancy of Chimpanzees is at the age of 40 while those in captivity can stretch to 60.
Efforts to conserve the chimps are widely acknowledged and supported. The Jane Goodall Foundation plays a big role in the conservation of the Chimpanzees and Gorillas in Uganda. African Pearl Safaris is proud to be associated with the conservation of these primates.

Uganda & Ebola:

Ebola is not an airborne disease. It is spread by blood and other bodily contact. It is extremely unlikely that any tourist would come in contact with the Ebola disease, but we should extend this information. As part of the public health response, CDC, acting upon the invitation of the Ugandan Ministry of Health, has sent field investigators to assist in the epidemiologic investigation, infection control, laboratory diagnosis and health communications. On December 1, CDC posted an outbreak notice on its website informing travellers of the Ebola outbreak (available at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/). This website will be updated regularly as new information becomes available. No U.S. travel restrictions to the Ebola affected area are recommended at this time.

Also read our article about Uganda and the top game parks and lakes in Uganda.

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