What If Gorillas Were No More in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic republic of Congo?

Have you ever asked yourself the question what if gorillas were no more in the whole world? Mountain gorillas are one of the most sought-after creatures to see on any of your African Safari. Just like most primates, Mountain gorillas have been endangered for some time and fears are that if not well taken care of, they may disappear and become extinct completely. That’s where those involved in organizing African safaris are asking themselves a question what if gorillas were no more, what other activities could be included in any given African safari package?

If gorillas were no more, Uganda, Rwanda, and The Democratic Republic of Congo still have enough to showcase to their visitors. For starters, Mountain gorillas in Africa live in three Countries of Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga), Rwanda in Volcanoes National Park, and The Democratic Republic of Congo in The Virunga National Park.  To see these great apes, a gorilla permit which is very expensive is needed. This has not stopped tourists to come for gorilla trekking.

Most Popular Gorilla Safaris

• 3 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking
• 5 Day Gorilla and Chimp
• 8 Day Gorilla Tracking
• 2 Day Bwindi Gorilla Via Kigali
• 3 Day Uganda Gorilla Via Kigali
• 5 Day Chimp and Gorilla Habituation
• 3 Day Fly in Gorilla Habituation
• 3 Day Fly in Safari to Murchison Falls National Park
• 3 Day Bwindi Double trek via Kigali
• 5 Day Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

What if gorillas were no more in Uganda?

Even if gorillas were no more in Uganda (God forbid), there so many activities that can be done to make you enjoy your stay. Uganda is an Africa country gifted by nature so apart from gorilla trekking, several other activities are in place for booking. You just need to know the number of days you are planning to spend on holiday, where you want to go, number of people travelling and so much more. This is the starting point to craft a perfectly tailored Uganda safari

Other Uganda safari activities you may choose include chimpanzee trekking, great game drives, super Uganda birding, primate walks, mountaineering, white water rafting to mention but a few

Although Gorilla trekking tourism is one of the major reasons why tourists are visiting Uganda for the past decades, things are changing as other Uganda destinations are opening up.

Bwindi National park, Mgahinga National Park are the celebrated homes of Uganda mountain gorillas all in the Virunga area. Other close by gorilla trekking parks include Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National park in D.R. Congo.

In the 20^th century, the mountain gorillas suffered habitat loss because of human activities, were poached for trophies while others were caught in set snares. This led to a tremendous reduction in the number of mountain gorillas and by 1980s a total of about 250 Mountain gorillas existed in the entire world.

Because of the threats that face their habitats, mountain gorillas have been declared endangered species and the fact that mountain gorillas cannot survive in captivity, it then becomes complicated to conserve them outside their natural habitats. Current statistics have put the number of mountain gorillas at over 1000 individuals of which almost half are in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.

Thanks to heroin Dian Fossey an American researcher who dedicated her life to mountain gorilla research from 1967. Although she staged her work in Karisoke Rwanda, its effect cut across all gorilla trekking destinations including Uganda.

Going gorilla trekking in Uganda is just the tip of the ice bag of the country’s tourism potentials especially wildlife which is becoming scarce day by day worldwide.

Highlights Of What If Gorilla trekking Is No More

• Game safari in Uganda
• Birding in Uganda
• White water Rafting on River Nile
• Mountaineering in uganda
• Community visit after or before gorilla trekking
• Launch Trips during uganda Safari
• Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda
• Rich Cultural tourism in Uganda
• Sport Fishing in Uganda

Game safari in Uganda

Selecting to do Uganda game safari during your Africa holiday is an opportunity to witness rare animals without crowds to obstruct you. Uganda is the land of a variety of game living in distinctive national parks like

Murchison falls National park

 This lies in the center of Uganda bisected by River Nile. This kew garden and zoo on unlimited scale as baptized by Winston Churchill is apt for this description. During the early morning game drive especially in the Buligi grassland area you have high chances of spotting lions, Uganda Kobs, herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, hartebeests, girafees, oribi, water bucks, bush bucks to mention but a few.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

The game drive safari party in Uganda can only be complete with a visit to Queen Elizabeth National park. this biosphere reserve lies on the floor of the rift valley and offers a wide range of habitats for wildlife to thrive. Some of the game you may get to see includes Hyenas, tree climbing lions in Ishasha, water bucks, topis, bush bucks, cape buffaloes, giant forest hogs, mongoose to mention but a few.

Lake Mburo National park

This is the closet national park from Kampala the main capital city of Uganda. When you take a game drive in Lake Mburo National park, you have chances to spot zebras, elands, impalas, water bucks, bush bucks, elephants and others

Kidepo Valley National Park

This carnivore rich park lies in the fur North Eastern corner of Uganda. While on a game drive you may get to see the bat-eared fox, aardwolf, cheetahs, caracal, lions, spotted hyenas, leopards, black-backed and side striped jackals.  Others wild animals like klipsinger, Burchell’s zebra, bush pigs, cape buffaloes, defassa waterbucks, reedbucks, jackson’s hartebeests the list is endless.

Birding in Uganda

Uganda is one of Africa’s major birding destinations. Uganda has about 1000 bird species all living in different locations. The country has great habitats that favor the different birds including foreign birds to make a stop especially during winter seasons. Because of the vast favorable birding habitats, some of the Uganda birding destinations are listed as RAMZA sites.

Some of the Uganda Birding destinations include Mabamba swamp, Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National park, Bwindi forest, Kibale Forest, Victoria Nile banks, Botanical gardens in Entebbe, Mabira forest, Semliki National Park, Rwenzori National Park to mention but a few.

During birding you may get to see African Scops Owl, Red faced and Black collared barbets, Africa hill babler, pink footed Puff Back, Dusky-blue flycatcher, African wood Owl, Handsome Francolin, Grey Cukoo-shrink, Montana night jar and so many others.

Uganda has over 1000 species of birds making it one of the few African Countries where birders can enjoy a birding tour. Much as Uganda is still potential tourist destination, if marketed very well, then this would bridge any gap created by loss of gorillas.

White water Rafting on River Nile

White water rafting on River Nile is one of the outstanding activities on this longest river in the world. Itanda falls is the current location for this thrilling activity after Bujjagali was turned into an electric dam.

Even if you have no experience in white water rafting, a team of expert is on ground to take you through the procedures. You need to book in advance so that transport to the starting point is organized.

Different levels of tides make up this white water rafting voyage so you need to ask your instructor about every details of this exciting experience. You can do River Nile floating, Kayaking and so much more.

Mountaineering in Uganda

Climbing the highlands In Uganda is one way to test your body fitness. The amount of time you need to use for mountaineering range from hours to more days. The most renowned is hiking Mountain Rwenzori to Magheritah peak which is all year round iced. You need over 7 days to get to the peak of Rwenzori and return.

Other mountains like Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Muhavura, Mountain Sabyinyo can be hiked within just a day. You have to make prior arrangements in order to secure a ranger guide who will escort you.

Within the crater lakes area close to lake Kyaninga, you can hike to the top of surrounding hills and enjoy the beautiful surrounding scenery.

Community visit after or before gorilla trekking

Surrounding communities of the gorilla trekking parks are some of the hazards that affect conservation of the mountain gorillas. They set snares, poison, beat up the mountain gorillas which may lead to death.

Supporting local communities by taking activities like Buhoma community walk and cultural performances, Nkuringo community walk, Batwa Trail and Garama cave is one way to directly give back to the local people.

They use these funds to carter for their home needs like school fees, medical care, dressing and so much more. This is one way to include them into the gorilla conservation campaign. The gorillas at times stray from park boundaries into the gardens of local people so instead of beating they, they get to call the rangers.

Sustainable conservation of mountain gorillas is key in this campaign.

Launch Trips during Uganda Safari

Taking a launch trip with on major water bodies with the famous Uganda National park is relaxing this.

In Murchison Falls national park you sail on a launch to the strongest falls in the world called Murchison falls. Here River Nile flows for about 40 km over a bed of rocks then suddenly squeezes through a narrow bend of approximately 6 meters wide to burst out and create a cloudy appearance. Watch out for riverine birds, thirsty wild animals that parade at the banks to quench thirst and bath.

This spectacular boat cruise can be enjoyed in in Murchison falls national park to the delta and base of the falls.

Taking a launch trip on Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National park is a life time moment to relax.  You get to spot several animals that love spending time in the water like otters, crocodiles, hippos. On a clear day you may get to see the snowcapped top of Mountain Rwenzori. This trip gives you more beautiful scenes that cannot be seen while on land. It’s the highlight activity of Queen Elizabeth National Park

They’re very few places where one can enjoy a boat cruise other than on Kazinga Channel. This channel connecting to graben lakes of George and Edward was declared the largest natural channel in the world with the highest concentration of hippos on planet earth. Imagine a two hour boat viewing over 600 water birds, buffaloes, elephants and so much more.

Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda

Chimpanzees are human cousins in the animals kingdom so if mountain gorillas are no more, you can opt for chimpanzee trekking. These live in Kibale National park, Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kaniyo Pabidi forest in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda Wildlife Education Center in Entebbe, Ngamba Chimpanzee sanctuary and so many others.

Uganda is home to several other primates you may get to see include black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, golden monkeys, l’Hoest’s, bush babies and others. chimpanzee trekking with other primates would still attract tourists to the pearl of Africa.

Remember to follow the chimpanzee trekking rules like no feeding the chimpanzees, in case you catch a communicable infection volunteer to stay behind, stand a distance of about 8 meters from the chimpanzees when you locate them, do not feed the chimpanzees and many more.

Packing your chimpanzee trekking gears is important for this safari. carry safari clothes in dirt favoring colors like Khaki, a flash-less camera to take photographs of your experience, a mask, a backpack to carry your belonging while in the jungle to mention but a few.

Rich Cultural tourism in Uganda

Uganda is multicultural with people of different tribal beliefs living in the same boundary. The local people are tight with their norms and respecting these beliefs is key in understanding them.

Amidst these cultural differences kingdoms, chiefdoms are the local leaders. You can visit the palaces like Bulange Mengo for Buganda Kingdom, Tooro Palace for the Batooro, Busoga palace in Bugembe, Acholi chiefdom, and many others.

Each tribe has special traditional beliefs passed on by the ancestors through generations, have special staple foods, you need some time to understand all aspects that run the different tribes in Uganda.

Ugandans has been known for having very hospitable and friendly people. No one comes to Uganda and he/she does not feel welcome. We have more than 55 different ethnic groups with different cultural and community orientation and as the world shrinks, people would love to know each other a reason strong enough to visit Uganda.

Sport Fishing in Uganda

Most of the Uganda water bodies have fresh water and sport fishing can be arranged. You must carry your own fishing equipment and lures. On Lake Victoria which is the largest in Uganda, you can do sport fishing but you need to hire a boat with its captain.

Sport fishing during a trip to Murchison Falls National park is absolutely fantastic. Some points on Victoria Nile that bisects this biosphere reserve have been designated for this. You must have a boat and fishing equipment.

Some of the fish species you may get to catch include tilapia, Nile perch, cut fish mud fish to mention but a few.

The list of attractions in Uganda is endless and as long as we maintain relative security, increase on our marketing effort and budgets, maintain good working relationship with the country where tourists originate, tourism could proof to be the pivot of Uganda’s economic transformation.