There are very few experiences on Earth that will truly take your breath away, and even fewer in your average daily life. One of these can be found deep within the lush forests of Uganda, where wild mountain gorillas reside.
The combination of untouched wilderness and the quiet calm of these mighty beasts creates one of nature’s most powerful adventures you will ever get the chance to go on.
IMAGE: UNSPLASH
A Fascination With Gorillas
Humans have been fascinated by gorillas for centuries, and we can see their influence in pop culture and entertainment. Beyond fictional depictions, Harambe captured the world’s interest in 2016 and Digit, studied by primatologist Dian Fossey, shifted the perception of gorillas from beasts to thinkers.
Still, few gorillas have loomed as large in public consciousness as Kong. Having appeared in various media for over 90 years, he symbolises primal strength and deep emotion. Such is its popularity, he has crossed into the digital world of iGaming.
Slots with cash prizes like Kong 3 Even Bigger Bonus mix the world of Kong and his tropical companions, with common gaming features like free spins, cash prizes and random wilds.
Games like these capture the imagination of gamers and ensure King Kong and gorillas retain our fascination.
However, in Uganda’s misty forests, any hint of fantasy becomes reality as visitors come face to face with gorillas in their natural habitat.
Flights And Transfers To The Heart Of The Forest
Arriving in Uganda is a journey in and of itself, which is all part of the fun. There are two ways to fly to this remote part of the world.
Most fly to Entebbe International Airport (EBB) located in Kampala, while others take the option to go to Kigali, which involves a transfer across the Ugandan border of around five hours in total. Both cities are quite well connected to major international hubs, which makes the journey slightly easier.
From Entebbe, there are domestic flights to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrips (close to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park) or the longer option of a scenic drive.
This journey can take up to 9 hours but gives travellers the opportunity to see the country’s rolling hills and plantations and see local life. There are several companies that can organise transfers, so whichever option you choose, you will be well looked after.
Face-To-Face With Mountain Gorillas
Now we get to the fun part, meeting these giant beasts. Early morning starts are the norm, and everyone is divided into smaller groups to begin the trek into the forest.
Each group has a guide who is in contact with trackers who have made their way ahead of time into the wilderness.
With any luck they have found a family of gorillas close by, however some groups may need to walk for hours depending on where they have set up for the day.
The trek can be difficult in spots, and expect steep hills and muddy ground, but the reward is worth it. Once they find the group, visitors will get to spend an hour watching them all interact, watching in awe with the silverback patrolling.
Just a metre away seems like too close for comfort, but these gorillas are used to humans and are remarkably calm, happy to sit and feed on the plants while being observed.
This experience makes visiting Uganda a must for your bucket list. Whether you love wildlife or not, meeting gorillas in their natural environment will change whatever preconceptions you had of them forever and give you a newfound appreciation for not only gorillas, but nature in general.
IMAGE: UNSPLASH
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