Gorilla Trekking

Monday I depart for my mid-year / winter safari season. I will be on safari in Uganda tracking the mountain gorillas followed by  10 days in Kenya watching the annual migration.

Follow my blog for stories, wildlife accounts and exciting happenings as I go along my journey.

Kenyan Tourism has advised that visa fees into Kenya have increased to the following:

Single entry visa US$50.00

Multiple entry visa US$100.00

A transit visa U$ 20.00

Please note that all children will now require a visa to enter Kenya.

South African Airways, (SAA) announced today that as of 1st October 2011, they will operate three times per week from OR Tambo, Johannesburg into Kigali International Airport.

This is good news for those wishing to gorilla trek, as it will increase the service on this route to six times per week? Rwanda Air services the current route thrice per week.

Kabandize, a juvenile gorilla from the Bitukura group has moved back to her mother group,  the Kyaguriro gorilla group. Kyanguriro are the research group located in the Ruhija region of the park. Bitukura are now left with 13 individuals.

News just in from Philip Keter, Porini Lion Camps Manager: “The wildebeests are in theMara already.  I see over 20,000 just 100 metres from Porini Lion Camp as I write this e-mail. Thousands more all over the Conservancy. They came straight into our Conservancy through Keekorok in the south. Its just Amazing!”

We are set to visit the Masai Mara from the 2nd – 7th September 2011. Cant wait, my fist time and excited knowing that the migration has already arrived. Lisa 

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park protects the the Ugandan part of the Virunga Mountains and its three main peaks: Muhavura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo. Mgahinga is the smallest national park in Uganda and is home to one gorilla group, the Nyakagezi gorilla group.  Small it might be, but it is arguably the most beautiful park in Uganda, offering panoramic views that stretch northward of Bwindi, and a southern skyline dominated by the steep volcanic cones of the Virungas.

Whilst Mgahhinga is home to the 9 strong Nyakagezi gorilla group often the gorillas cross over into the Volcanoes national park on the Rwanda side. Currently, the gorillas are still in Rwanda and gorilla tracking in Mgahinga has stopped until such time as they return to the Uganda side.

It is now the dry season in this part of the world and a contributing factor for the gorillas movement is the availability of food.

I will keep you posted as to when they return.

News just in from Ruhija and Fred the birder is that the researchers in the area (ITFC) who monitor the endemic birds in the area have found a nesting pair of African Green Broadbills. The nest is close to the Mwabwindi Swam, aprox 7 km from the Ruhija park headquarters.

Whilst it is seldom that one gets to see the chicks, the new nesting site has been recorded. The only threat the the eggs or chicks come from mammals within the forest such as squirrels, Genet’s and the likes.

The African Green Broadbill is one of the Rift Valley Endemic and found no where else but the Bwindi Forest in Uganda. This brightly coloured bird is a big tick for twitchers alike. Hoping the birds will still be there at the end of August when I visit Ruhija.

Some good news just in – the Habinyanja gorilla group has a two day old infant. The gender is still to be identified, but its fantastic news as this group is the group who lost Mizano, a black-back to a poaching incident on the 17th June.

There is a new gorilla group about to open in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Oruzogo group is located in the Ruhija section of Bwindi (eastern part of the park) and are under going the last phase of the habituation process, “mock-tourism” should be up and running shortly. A few visitors are currently viewing this group on a daily basis now.
The group has a total of 22 individuals, two of which are very small babies.

Mizano, the gentle giant lost to poachers last week.

Some very sad news just in from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda.

Mizano, my favorite gorilla of all time has been tragically killed by poachers. Mizano beloned to the 20 strong Habinyanja gorilla group has killed in a poaching incident. It is the first incident whereby a gorilla has been killed by poachers since 1995.

Poachers had entered the forest with their dogs to hunt duiker and bush-pigs. Their dogs ran into the H group who naturally, defended their young and females. It is believed Mizano defended and was speared by the poachers in order to save their hunting dogs.

Whilst three of the poachers have been arrested, Mizano is dead. The H group have now moved very deep into the middle of the forest.

I am at a loss for words. Mizano was a gentle gorilla who enjoyed visitors coming to see him. What a sad loss this is to Bwindi Forest, the gorilla guides and scouts and all who has seen him in the past.

Always a characterYou will be missed my friend

Sounds asleep, nothing phased him

Oruzogo, the latest and 8th habituated gorilla group in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has just been opened to visitors. Today, permits are available to track this group. Located in the Ruhija section of the park! 8 more permits are now available for the peak tracking months!

Businza of the Rushegura gorilla group has a new infant. Total members in this group – 20! (see attached latest picture taken 4th June 2011)