| The Endangered Giants and Most Searched | | | | Gorillas communicate by stomach rumbling which |
| primates in East AFrica. | | | | means they are contented, a pig grunt of harsh |
| Gorillas are threatened primate species in the | | | | staccato grunts used when disciplining or |
| world with the remaining living in Africa and in | | | | complaining. A roar or scream is given when a |
| countries Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic | | | | gorilla is threatened. A loud hoot or roar is given |
| Republic of Congo. | | | | when silverbacks are interacting. This is done by |
| Known to be the largest living primates on Earth, | | | | chest beating and thrashing of trees. When gorillas |
| Gorillas are of three kinds; 1) Eastern Lowland | | | | are afraid they send out a powerful odor from |
| Gorillas, which reside in the Democratic Republic of | | | | their glands. |
| the Congo; 2) Western Lowland Gorillas which live | | | | Having endured decades of civil war in Central and |
| only in West Africa and: 3) Mountain Gorillas, which | | | | East Africa, gorillas are confronted by the |
| are only found in Uganda, Rwanda and the | | | | devastating consequences of increased habitat |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo. | | | | loss, poaching for the bush meat trade and the |
| Listed as one of the top 10 threatened / | | | | spread of dangerous diseases like Ebola. |
| endangered species, there are only 655 species | | | | “These animals are Threatened” therefore |
| remaining. There are approximately 355 gorillas in | | | | make a tour to these countries to have a look at |
| the Volcano and Virunga Mountains of Rwanda | | | | the few remaining primate giants before they are |
| and Congo and another separate group of 300 in | | | | lost. Spend some time with them, they are |
| Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. There | | | | awe-inspiring. |
| are no Mountain Gorillas living outside of their | | | | Tracking Gorillas |
| native mountain forest home. Gorillas are | | | | Following breakfast you transfer to the park |
| protected by international law. Capturing or killing | | | | headquarters for the briefing before you set off |
| gorillas and other endangered species is illegal. | | | | at 9:00 am through the tracks to search for the |
| Unlike chimps Gorilla live in groups / families | | | | humble giants. You will have to carry packed lunch |
| without territorial boundaries but with family’s | | | | because it’s hard to determine how long it will |
| range from 2 to 15 square miles. The females | | | | take you to meet these great apes. However the |
| decide who they are going to allow into their | | | | time ranges between 2-9 hours depending on the |
| family. If a gorilla wants to join another group and | | | | movement of the giant primates. There |
| the females do not want her in, they will scratch | | | | movement is determined by availability of food. |
| her in the face and keep her out. If a female | | | | The activity is tiresome, it involves walking along |
| wants to leave a group to find a male she likes | | | | steep hilly tracks however encountering these |
| better, but the other females like her very much, | | | | great relatives of man erases all the poor |
| they will grab her by the legs and not allow her to | | | | memories/ hardships you went through in trying |
| leave. | | | | to find them. They are awesome! |
| Female gorillas weigh approximately 350 pounds | | | | On encountering the Gorillas you will spend a bout |
| and adult male gorillas can weigh approximately | | | | an hour with them watching them play, feed and |
| 700 pounds. Adult gorillas can be seven feet tall | | | | take care of their young ones, just like humans. |
| with an arm span of 8 feet. | | | | Oh my they are astounding! Later after one hour |
| Gorillas feed on 58 different types of plant | | | | you will trek back to your lodge. End of tracking. |
| species, including stems, roots, leaves, flowers, | | | | Tracking can be done more than once, its only |
| thistles, ferns, tree wood and bamboo shoots. | | | | the money that might limit you as the Gorilla |
| Gallium vines, fruits and celery are their favorite | | | | tracking permit costs USD 500. Though worth the |
| foods. Gorillas have much larger teeth in the back | | | | lifetime experience. |
| of their mouth than humans do so that they can | | | | There are plenty of tour operators that can help |
| grind foliage, bark and bamboo. | | | | in organizing your tour to Uganda , Rwanda to |
| Gorillas like human are curious, they can be bored, | | | | Track Gorillas. You can also track both in Uganda |
| bold, annoyed, have pleasure, excited, afraid, can | | | | and Rwanda just for the different experience in |
| worry, show affection, be thoughtful and they | | | | the different altitude. In the mean time Congo is |
| can be hostile. Gorillas like to study people to see | | | | not realalble as the conditions there are not stable. |
| if they are friendly. | | | | Below are some of the few tour operators. |