In efforts to showcase Uganda’s tourism potentials to the world, a forty-five (45) minute film featuring mountain gorillas was exhibited during this year’s Berlin Travel Festival. The film highlights the amazing cinematic journey through the pearl of Africa by British YouTuber and Videographer Thomas Alex Norman. The move was mainly to give insight on Uganda’s most sought after star attractions ‘the rare mountain gorillas and chimpanzees’ as well as its wilderness paradise ‘Kidepo Valley National Park plus scenic waterfalls, the mighty source of the Nile a mention but a few.

A 3 day Berlin Travel Festival took place from 8^th to 10^th March 2019 and it was from this that mountain gorillas were showcased in a 45 minutes’ film. Uganda is undoubtedly one of the prime destinations that offer visitors a great opportunity to catch a glimpse at these star attractions while they are in their natural habitat. Over 54% of them are all confined in the jungles of this magical landlocked country and to track them, you can head off to the southwestern side to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

The Chief Executive Officer Uganda Tourism Board (UTB)-Lilly Ajarova added that exhibiting these unique creatures in such event is one way to raise the country’s profile as a prime tourist destination. The documentary showcased was derived from familiarization tour organized by UTB together with KPRN-Uganda’s marketing destination representative in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria in 2018. It was developed mainly for this year’s event. It had the best of aerial views of the journey with rare landscape and incredible encounter of humans and an up-close encounter with wildlife. On it, not only did it showcase mountain gorillas but also other wildlife including chimpanzees and the extensive wilderness of Kidepo Valley National Park. It was set based on ‘the pearl of Africa-explore.

In 2017 alone, the Berlin Travel Festival attracted about 15000 people across different areas. This year’s event was conducted based on ‘Travel different’ and unites adventurers, discoverers, and brands of today. Over 100 speakers and 150 exhibitors were expected to be part of this event and they were expected to present the current innovations, original ideas, and amazing destinations.

Gorilla permits in Uganda

For any plans to trek mountain gorillas in Uganda, a permit is a must to have at hand. It is a very significant tool when it comes to this gorilla tours not only in Uganda but also in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo where the rare mountain gorillas thrive. To secure one, you need $600 which you can book through a reliable, trustworthy tour operator or through reservationist at Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). About 136 permits are always available for purchase in Uganda and this represents over the 17 groups that are also available for visitors to track. Note, each permit is equal to 1 habituated family and by obtaining one gives you an upper hand to take part in gorilla treks but doesn’t guarantee you 100 percent to see these dramatic creatures. Due to high demand, you are encouraged to book your permit early enough prior to the actual trek.

The habituated families for visitors to track in Uganda include Katwe, Christmas, Busingye, Kahungye, Mishaya, Nyakagezi, Mubare, Nshongi, Habinyanja, Oruzogo, Rushegura, Bitukura, Kyaguriro, and others. Gorilla treks are only conducted in Bwindi National Park which features 4 major regions where treks always start from and Mgahinga National Park where there is only 1 habituated family-Nyakagezi.

Besides mountain gorillas, chimpanzees Uganda also boasts as an incredible host to varied wildlife species, most of which are distributed in its national parks and wildlife reserves. They include the big game-the African elephants, lions plus the tree climbing lions, leopards, buffaloes, rhinos as well as several antelopes, birds (they include among others the shoebill stork, the green-breasted pitta, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, great blue turaco, standard winged nightjar, short-tailed warbler, Doherty’s bush shrike and others) a mention but a few. Incredibly, while on safari, you can incorporate a number of exciting activities with gorilla adventures or primate adventures and you will have the best of African experiences with Uganda’s natural wonders.

In conclusion, a visit to Uganda rewards travel endeavors beyond magical encounters with the rare mountain gorillas. Pay a visit to this magical country and have the best of primate adventures, adrenaline adventures, wildlife encounters among others.