Gorillas are apes that share more than 90% DNA with humans. Gorillas have human sense and behaviours and it is also true that they are extremely strong and powerful animals that can be dangerous if they feel or receive threatened behaviours. The males which are silverback in particular said to be stronger than 20 men incredibly and their long canine teeth can cause serious injuries.

Gorillas are generally known as calm animals but they can charge in certain situations. It is always important to avoid confrontation when with this gentle giants, though they share DNA with humans but the fact remains that they are wild animals that should be treated with caution and respect.

In most cases, males tend to be very aggressive when they feel like their group members or their group is under threat – while humans take threats lightly, gorillas takes any threat serious even if it’s just a perceived threat.

That’s why habituation of these animals is always carried out, the gorillas are slowly habituated to people before allowing visitors to interact with them. If not, the silverback who is also a group leader could become startled and launches an attack. So, all in all, it’s best to err on the side of caution when dealing with gorillas and take things slow.

Can Habituated Gorillas Become Dangerous?

Regardless of lowland or mountain Gorillas, generally gorillas are perhaps one of the most misunderstood wild animals on earth. Though they are sometimes considered as dangerous and aggressive apes, the real fact is that gorillas are gentle giants. They are always shy and retiring by nature, gorillas usually tend to become aggressive when they are threatened in most cases. The truth is that wild gorillas are not as dangerous as they are always portrayed. There are three African countries with a large number of gorilla populations, these are Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo, all offer gorilla-habituated experiences for travellers.

How to Avoid Gorilla Attacks?

Although gorillas are known as gentle giant animals, they are still dangerous wild animals. To avoid the gorilla being charged at you, stop direct eye contact, direct eye contact is a threat to the head of the family which is silverback mountain gorilla as they will make them think that you are an enemy to their family. It’s also important to stop taking pictures using flash screens. It’s important to back off if the gorilla starts beating its chest 

Uganda is located at the center of the East African region; it has wealth in its natural beauty hence boosting its tourism development. People who embarked on a journey to Uganda testify how friendly and beautiful the country is.

You might be planning to visit now or later, here is the list of things to do and see while in Uganda for safari.

1. Game Drive

Game drive refers to the movement of people in national parks in search of animals using safari jeeps. Game drives in Uganda's savannah national parks are so amazing that you get to see most of the animals that you watch on TV. 8 savannah parks offer game drives in Uganda but four give superb safari experiences that everyone would want.

These four include; Kidepo Valley national park, Murchison falls, Queen Elizabeth National park, and lake Mburo national park. What to see during the Game drive in Uganda includes; Lions, Rhinos, Giraffes, Elephants, hyenas, leopards, etc.

2. Boat Safari

Boat safari is like a game drive, this is a view of animals and birds while cruising in the Nile. This boat safari lets you spot Hippos, crocodiles, bathing elephants, water birds, etc. The boat safari is done in Murchison, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo, and the Source of the River Nile.

3. Gorilla Tracking

Gorilla tracking refers to the movement of people in search of mountain gorillas in their habitat home which is a forest area. This is the number one activity of tourist attraction in Uganda. Tracking down the last standing mountain gorillas in Mgahinga and Bwindi national parks is highly recommended. A combination of these two primate-rich national parks will let you to encounter the largest number of gorilla families.

4. Chimpanzee Tracking

Like gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking is another activity that lets you visit chimpanzees in their habitat home. Chimpanzee tracing is done in the following places; Kibale Forest National Park, Kyambura Gorge, Budongo Forest, etc.

5. Birding

Apart from game viewing, Uganda is also a bird-watching destination with over 1600 recorded species of birds. Birding is one Mambaba Swamp, Botanical Gardens, Uganda Wildlife Education Center, Bwindi, Murchison, Kidepo Valley National Park, etc.

6. Walking Safari

This is like a game drive, where you take a foot safari searching for Animals. This walk lets you get closer to some of the animals such as Giraffes, Zebras, etc.

Foot Safari is only done in Lake Mburo National Park.

Welcome to one of Uganda’s most visited national parks where incredible mountain gorilla tracking is done, with a fraction of its visitors, Bwindi National Park offers an intimate and unspoilt Uganda safari experience.

Thanks to the sporadic placement of Bwindi lodges and accommodations, birding and cultural safaris are also undertaken using more traditional tracking methods instead of reports over radios.

1. Gorilla Leisure Lodge

Located in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi's impenetrable national park, this lodge offers luxury accommodation options for gorilla trackers. This lodge complements its beautiful natural surroundings and allows for a truly immersive experience with nice views of Bwindi Forest. In line with their eco-design, the camp is completely off-grid, running solely on solar power.

2. Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge

Ichumbi derived from the local language that means “a cool, comfortable home” This lodge is is just 10 minutes’ walk to Rushaga gate where briefing takes place before gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge offers a spectacular view of the Bwindi park right from your room!  This is a standard midrange lodge which offers luxurious amenities. Ichumbi fits both Luxury and midrange travellers since it is designed to provide high-end comfort and relaxation at affordable midrange rates.

3. Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge

Situated in the Rushaga gorilla tracking sector, it offers midrange accommodation at budget price making it affordable for both budget and midrange travellers. Rushaga Gorilla Havens is located on top of the hill with their rooms offering you beautiful views of the Bwindi forest while at your private balcony.

4. Mahogany Springs Lodge

Owned by British nationals and managed by Kenyan nationals, this is one of the luxurious safari lodges in Bwindi's impenetrable national park. Mahogany Lodge is located in the Buhoma sector, one of the oldest gorilla-tracking sectors in Bwindi. But visitors can still track gorillas in Rushaga while staying in Mahogany. This is an ideal luxury option in the Buhoma and Rushaga sectors.

5. Bwindi Lodge

Bwindi Lodge is located in the Buhoma sector of Bwindi's impenetrable national park. It is one of the finest luxury lodges in Bwindi. This lodge is suitable for high-end travellers, diplomats and honeymooners.

Ready to Start Planning Your Safari to Bwindi?

Now that we’ve revealed some of the amazing lodges in Bwindi impenetrable National Park, it’s time to experience it first-hand. Discover the untapped secrets and untamed wilderness of Uganda’s exceptional Bwindi National Park with the help of one of our African Safari Expert who can create the ultimate tailor-made itinerary for you.