The ranger knocks down the branches at his feet with a few precise blows of the machete. The view clears… and there they are. This small group of mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei), hidden in the Bwindi forest in south-western Uganda, silently eating stems and leaves.
For people who come to observe them, the experience is worth walking through the jungle for more than two hours to reach an altitude of about 2000 meters. Because when our eyes meet those of one of these big cousins, our hearts skip a beat. Their eyes seem to reflect our 98% shared genes. We feel that they are watching us as we are watching them, and we understand this kinship between us.
Meeting mountain gorillas in Rwanda
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Nature takes its time…
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Nature takes its time…
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Bwindi Forest, a place of safety for gorillas
These peaceful giants are safe here: thanks to the fight against poaching, their population has doubled in fifty years. A reserve for animals since 1962, a national park since 1991, the “impenetrable forest of Bwindi”, which lives up to its name, offers the possibility of observing great apes in their natural habitat since 1993.
About half of the 460 gorillas that live there are accustomed enough to humans to accept the presence of tourists around. These are also the key to success: “The high price of the permits makes it possible to finance the park services, but also hospitals and schools in the region,” explains Joshua, the ranger. Local residents live better and understand the interest in protecting the forest and its biodiversity”.
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Nature takes its time…
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When to go to Uganda?
- How to get there: from the capital Kampala, by plane (1h10) then by 4×4 or directly by road (more than 10h).
- When: from June to September or from December to February.
- Move : accompanied by rangers.
- Housing: in cabins outside the forest.
- Info and prices: ugandawildlife.org/national-parks/bwindi-impenetrable-national-park/
➤ Article published in GEO Special Issue No. 47, Where to Travel in 2024from February to March 2024.
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