In Uganda the history of mountain Gorilla trekking tracks back to the early 1990s when the country was experiencing its first years of stability after close to three decades that were marked by unrest and military coups. because of Uganda’s dark past, the world has a vague image of what the state of Uganda is like.
Whenever terrorism threats are made in Uganda, some people outside Uganda still assume that the country is going through a dark past popularly known as the reign of Idi Amin thus often made worse with news headlines that spill over the internet.
The country is relatively peaceful to anyone visiting it. Many people can spend more than a year without hearing a single gunshot in their community. Kids still play in their neighbourhood without fear for kidnaps.
The road network has also improved on top of the peace that the country currently enjoys.
According to world bank recent published report about road networks in East Africa, Uganda was ranked ahead of all her neighbors. There has been a major improvement in the road network of Uganda however many Ugandans feel like little has been done about the road network due to the many potholes in Uganda’s capital; Kampala.
However, besides the voices that are mainly inspired by Kampala potholes; it is actually possible to visit all the major towns in Uganda by road. On top of that, it is possible to visit all national parks in Uganda all year long.
About Gorilla trekking.
Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in south western part of Uganda boardering Rwanda volcano national park and Congo Virunga national park. The park is a home of endangered mountain Gorillas with population census of over 450 individuals. Bwindi impenetrable national park locates gorillas in four sectors that is Nkuringo, Rushaga, Ruhija and Buhoma.
The park is protected under the several national laws of the 1995 Constitution; the Uganda Wildlife Act Cap 200 of 2000, National Environment Act (2000), The Local Act (1997), Local Government Act (1997) and more.
At the time of its designation as a national park, the park was managed by the Uganda National Parks Department however it is now under the management and protection of Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Besides Bwindi being UWA, the park is a model for integration of community sustainable resource management in the East African region. In the development of tourism in Uganda, there is huge success in involving local communities. Today the local communities embrace tourism and the lives of the local communities have been greatly improved.
Initiatives such as conservation through public health have become conservation model benchmarks internationally earning Ugandan conservation personalities such as Kalema Zikusooka international recognition.
History about Gorillas in Bwindi.
In Bwindi impenetrable national park, the story of conservation goes back to as early as 1991 when Bwindi Forests were officially designated the status of a national park in Uganda. Two years later, the country recorded its first gorilla trekking trip in 1993 in the Buhoma sector.
A decade later after the opening of Buhoma sector for gorilla trekking, another sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park well known as Nkuringo sector was opened for gorilla trekking. Again, close to a decade later, two sectors of Bwindi impenetrable national park well known as Ruhija and Rushaga were opened up to tourists.
According to the latest population census in Bwindi, it is recorded that the park has 20 Gorilla families. Gorilla trekking has attracted not only Ugandans but also East Africans and foreigners to have memorable gorilla trekking experience in their natural habitats.
Due to conservation of mountain gorilla trekking, over decades there has been an increase in population census of gorillas in both Bwindi and Mgahinga adding up to 450 individuals. In total of Uganda gorillas with volcano national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in Congo add up to 1063 individuals.
Bwindi impenetrable national park will be celebrating 3o years of gorilla trekking this year. But besides Bwindi; Uganda has one more gorilla trekking location that is actually celebrating 30 years of gorilla trekking this year; mgahinga national park.
About Mgahinga national park. Mgahinga national park is mostly known in Virunga consecration area along with volcano national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in Congo. Although Virunga conservation area is known for mountain gorillas, there are other various activities to be done. Mgahinga national park is a home of one gorilla family called Nyakagezi gorilla family however with other activities like golden monkeys, nature walks, culture encounters and many more.
Historically mgahinga national park was opened in 1991 however Nyakagezi Goilla family was commenced taking upto 3 years where in 1994 was opened up officially for tourist visitors.
Despite the fact that Mgahinga national park neigbours Volcano national park, for decades has been confimed that Nyakagezi gorilla family has been shifting to Volcano national park in Rwanda. The incident affected Ugandans because gorillas couldn’t be spotted in mgahinga since it’s the only gorilla family located in there. For about 7 years now, Nyakagezi gorilla family has not shifted in Mgahinga and this has increased the number of visitors.
The celebration of 30 years of gorilla trekking is a remarkable milestone. It has not come without challenges but many of them have actually been used as stepping stops to make the conservation efforts even better. Among these include the limited man power, over booking and limited resources as it was raised in the 2023 Gorilla Tourism Audit report by Uganda wildlife Authority (UWA).
Bwindi impenetrable national park expects to revise the gorilla trekking permit fees from $700 per foreign none resident permit to $800 per foreign none resident permit. Then gorilla habituation cost to increase to $1000 foreign residents and $1500 foreign non residents. The collected money by UWA is used to improve on road networking, and offering some to local communities surrounding the park.
In essence of the 30 years celebrations of gorilla trekking, it would actually be a good idea to go gorilla trekking in Uganda before 1st July 2024 where UWA is still receiving $700 by foreign non resident. However, be careful from scam companies in Uganda but instead contact any entrusted companies in registration for Uganda Tourism Board
