Uganda Safari - An Amazing Primate Tracking Adventure

Uganda is a stunning country offering some of the best tourist attractions in East Africa- no wonder the christening as the Pearl of Africa. Uganda Tours offer a unique adventurous experience. Some of the most spectacular attractions during your Uganda Travel include the Nile River (the longest river in the world), Ruwenzori Mountains, among others. Most of those who have been on a Uganda Safari will tell you that gorilla tracking is one of the most interesting adventure in the country. In deed, Uganda is a paradise for primate tracking enthusiasts as it is boasts more than 20 species of primates – including over half of the world's remnant population of mountain gorilla mainly found in the impenetrable Bwindi Forest. The primates of Uganda come in two varieties; the nocturnal and diurnal. There are six types of nocturnal primates and thirteen types of diurnal distributed among Uganda's wildlife parka and reserves.

When organizing a gorilla tracking safari, you should make sure that you are in good company. This is because most of primate tracking adventures are conducted in deep forests of the mountains. Although tracking is interesting, it can also be risky and without adequate knowledge you can get lost. Among the most popular areas for gorilla tracking include Kyambura Gorge, Kibaale forest and of course the impenetrable Bwindi Forest.

The impenetrable Bwindi forest hosts more than 5 groups of habituated primates as well as more than half of the world's population of the endangered mountain gorilla species, only found in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and which can grow up to 1.8 meters and weigh up to 350 kgs. The primates are used to visitors and they do not charge at them.

Another common type of primate in Uganda is the chimpanzee. In deed the country has more chimps than Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda combined. The chimps are also habituated though, they at times steal tourist's food. The chimpanzees are found in the Kibaale forest, Kyambura gorge, and the Kanyiyo Padidi forest. Ngamba Island is a good destination for visitors who do not want to go into the wild . The island mostly hosts orphaned chimps or those that have been rescued for different reasons.

Uganda has over 8 species of monkeys, including the menacingly looking olive baboon found in all the national park except around the Montane region and the Ruwenzori Mountains. The baboon's head resembles that of a dog and the primate frequently bares out its teeth to scare others. The commonest type of primate in all East African countries is the blue monkey. The monkey is dark blue and grey in colour with a white throat and a white chest patch. A close cousin of the blue monkey, the golden monkey, is unique to Uganda and is only found in the Mgahinga gorilla park. The monkey species is not easily seen but it can be spotted by a keen observer.

January and February, and June to September (the drier months) are the best time to visit Uganda. Although rain is likely almost all year round, heavy rains can make gorillas tracking very difficult, so the months of March-April and October-November must be avoided by those wishing to go on primate tracking adventures.