GORILLA TREKKING ADD-ONS IN UGANDA
If not all, then most travelers to Uganda purposely come for gorilla trekking in the pearl and then travel back. Little do they know that being named the pearl of Africa, Uganda has a lot more to offer than just these impressive creatures in the jungle.
It would still be a short gorilla safari in Uganda with a few add ons to make the trip complete. Or for travelers who would want to prolong a little more time in Uganda, the country offers a dizzying variety of pre and post gorilla trekking extensions.
Don’t book any gorilla trip in Uganda that only takes to Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga national park and that which is specifically trekking the mighty apes. Both these park have a lot more extensions to complement your gorilla safari in Uganda. Besides Bwindi and Mgahinga, Uganda as a whole also has a whole load of attractions that would perfectly complete your gorilla tour.
And if you ever find yourself stuck, and not sure of what to do and see after trekking the forest giants, then think of these. Having encountered the mighty giants of the forest, watched them play with each other, feeding and jumping from one tree branch to the other, then extend your Bwindi or Mgahinga trip to other activities.
Cultural tours. Whether in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park or Mgahinga national park, complement your gorilla trip with a cultural tour to the Batwa pygmies. These are the ancient people of the forest, the very first ones to inhabit the impenetrable jungle. Experience the way of life in a totally African setting, see how these short people used to hunt before they were resettled outside the park. Enjoy the traditional performance, you can even join the dances. A taste of the local cuisines is a guarantee except to those who don’t wish to. An encounter with the Batwa ancient people is surely a must not miss while on a gorilla safari in Uganda.
Golden monkey trekking. This is done in Mgahinga national park, the only park in Uganda where travelers can meet both the silverbacks as well as the golden monkeys. These are endangered species listed on the red list of the international Union for conservation of Nature, and meeting one is a lifetime memory that cannot easily be forgotten. Thousands of tourists storm Uganda just to hunt out for these beautiful monkeys only found In Mgahinga national park. On any gorilla trip in Uganda, still look out for the golden monkeys, you won’t regret the experience.
Birding. After a lifetime encounter with the mountain gorillas, it is not yet the right time to leave the park. If you are a bird lover, birding would be the next option. Mgahinga and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park are homes to a vast bird species making them a purely birders’ paradise. From the Emerald, western green tinker bird, fine-banded woodpecker, kivu ground-thrush, collared apalis, chestnut-throated apalis, common bulbul, fine banded woodpecker, African green broadbill and grauer’s rush warbler to almost 400 bird species that dwell in Bwindi, with some even endemic to the park, bird watching is worth a complementary activity to gorilla trekking in Uganda.
Mountain hiking. The fact that Mgahinga and Bwindi impenetrable forest national park are located in the Virunga massif, hiking is inevitable. Even gorilla trekking itself involves a simple hike through the lower gentle slopes of these volcanoes. Three out of the eight chained Vurunga volcanoes are in Mgahinga national park, furnishing the best hiking experiences one can ever have in Uganda. Trekkers can choose from a variety of trails, whether Mountain Sabinyo, Mountain Muhavura or Mgahinga, whichever you decide, the experience is equally beautiful.
Outside these amazing parks, trekkers can still do wildlife safaris in Queen Elizabeth national park and Lake Mburo national park to watch some of the world’s most beautiful wildlife species like the lions, zebras, giraffes, warthogs, oribis, topis, elephants, buffaloes and so many others.
Alternative one can opt for chimpanzee trekking in Uganda majorly done in Kibale national park plus other forest reserves like Kyambura gorge, Budongo and Kalinzu forest reserves.
Uganda is surely a country of adventures, that only a gorilla trekking safari would be an incomplete trip without any other add ons.
