GORILLA SAFARIS | GORILLA TREKKING

TOURS
Uganda Gorilla Tour (3 days)
Uganda Gorilla Tracking (5 days)
Uganda Gorilla Trekking (7 days)

Travel Hemispheres is associated with different stakeholders in conserving gorillas and other primates. Part of the proceeds we make go back to support communities that stay near the forests. Among our fore front policy is conservation and at any time we will not encourage or be part of behavior that may deplete wildlife. Through different collections and our guides, would like to bring to you interesting gorilla history into this world, description, conservation, feeding habits, Diana Fossey research findings and other researchers on gorillas, conservation, gorilla rules while trekking gorillas, social behavior, mating and diet.

The Existence and History of Mountain gorillas

The existence of gorillas in Africa’s forests has been known for centuries and not only to local residents. Gorillas were first described 2000 years a go when sailors from North African province of Carthage landed in West Africa and tried to capture some Apes, a bruising encounter that earned the animals the Carthaginian name for ‘scratchier gorilla’. It is not actually clear whether the visitors encountered gorilla or chimpanzees but the name has stuck.

Two species of gorilla the western lowland and the eastern lowland were identified for science in 1847 and 1877 respectively. It wasn’t until 1903 that the third sub species, the mountain gorillas was identified. This was observed to be somewhat bulkier than its lowland cousins weighing up to 210 kilograms with a shaggier coat suited to its chilly montane habitat. This sub species was named after the German officer, Oscar Von Berenge, who enabled its classification.

Indeed until just a few decades ago, gorilla received a bad press that dated back to their first unfortunate encounter with Carthaginian tourists 2000 years a go. This ferocious image was deliberately perpetuated to create a myth eventually immortalized on screen.

Mountain Gorilla Description

Mountain gorillas rank among the rarest animals in the world. Gorillas together with chimpanzees are our closest relatives; indeed a more impartial observer than Dr. Homo sapiens (PhD zoo) might wonder why Homo’ gorillas, and pan merit categorization as separate genera since their genetic codes are almost the same. Humans share 97.7% of their genetic material with gorillas and 98.4% with chimpanzees. The Scientific name for the Mountain Gorilla is Gorilla beringei beringei. Mountain Gorillas are extraordinarily burly and have a short trunk and a broad chest and shoulders.

The Mountain Gorilla is the hairiest race of gorillas. Its long, thick black hair insulates it from the cold living conditions at high elevations ever raining foggy and wet. Even one wonders how they survive no wonder for the few numbers remaing on the globe.

When the males are mature they develop a streak of silver hair on their backs and are therefore called "silverbacks Gorillas." Adult male gorillas can weigh up to 400 pounds, while females can weigh about 200 pounds. Female gorillas don't have silverbacks like the males. When a male gorilla with a silverback is standing upright, they can be as tall as 5 and a half to six feet tall.

Read more facts about gorillas:

Existance and History of the Gorillas
Gorilla Descriptions
Mountain Gorilla Location & Habitat
Mountain Gorilla Conservation
How you are contributing to the conservation of the gorilla
Goals of the conservation
Gorilla Rules
Mountain Gorilla Behaviors
Mountain Gorilla Diet
Breeding of the Gorillas