UGANDA & RWANDA
PRIMATES AND MUCH MORE
In August, 2024, we traveled to Africa primarily to see the endangered Mountain Gorillas who reside in a limited, mountainous region near the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda (Virunga Mountains) and Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park). In evolutionary terms, scientists estimate that we had a common ancestor with these animals about 9-12 million years ago after which humans and chimps evolved in separate lines. Volcanoes National Park is home to twelve habituated groups of Mountain Gorillas along with Elephants, Buffaloes, Monkeys and more than two- hundred species of birds. This is the same forest where Dian Fossey spent eighteen years and likely lost her life in an effort to save these magnificent animals. After several
days where we saw groups of gorillas and monkeys, we crossed the border into Uganda where we stayed at the Chameleon Hill Lodge overlooking lake Mutanda. From here we made a lengthy, difficult trek through the "Impenetrable Forest" and eventually found a group of Mountain Gorillas with whom we had the special privilege of spending several hours. We also enjoyed several cruises on Lake Mutanda. Our trip continued with a flight to Kasese from where we had several fabulous game drives through Queen Elizabeth National Park which is a vast expanse of 763 square miles of grassy
savannahs, leafy rain forests, dense swamps and natural volcanic crater lakes. Our next stop was Kibale Forest where we trekked in search of Chimpanzees, the primate species closest to us in evolutionary terms. Our trip then involved a flight to Murchison Falls National Park, the largest park in Uganda at nearly 1,500 square miles. From the Nile Safari Lodge, we enjoyed game drives and river cruises and were fortunate to see the Shoebill, one of the rarest bird species. Our trip continued with a cruise to the Nile Delta where the river meets Lake Albert. The concentration of birds and other wildlife
here was remarkable. We wrapped up this fantastic trip with a cruise to the top of Murchison Falls followed by a flight to Entebbe to begin the journey home.
PRIMATES AND MUCH MORE
In August, 2024, we traveled to Africa primarily to see the endangered Mountain Gorillas who reside in a limited, mountainous region near the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda (Virunga Mountains) and Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park). In evolutionary terms, scientists estimate that we had a common ancestor with these animals about 9-12 million years ago after which humans and chimps evolved in separate lines. Volcanoes National Park is home to twelve habituated groups of Mountain Gorillas along with Elephants, Buffaloes, Monkeys and more than two- hundred species of birds. This is the same forest where Dian Fossey spent eighteen years and likely lost her life in an effort to save these magnificent animals. After several
days where we saw groups of gorillas and monkeys, we crossed the border into Uganda where we stayed at the Chameleon Hill Lodge overlooking lake Mutanda. From here we made a lengthy, difficult trek through the "Impenetrable Forest" and eventually found a group of Mountain Gorillas with whom we had the special privilege of spending several hours. We also enjoyed several cruises on Lake Mutanda. Our trip continued with a flight to Kasese from where we had several fabulous game drives through Queen Elizabeth National Park which is a vast expanse of 763 square miles of grassy
savannahs, leafy rain forests, dense swamps and natural volcanic crater lakes. Our next stop was Kibale Forest where we trekked in search of Chimpanzees, the primate species closest to us in evolutionary terms. Our trip then involved a flight to Murchison Falls National Park, the largest park in Uganda at nearly 1,500 square miles. From the Nile Safari Lodge, we enjoyed game drives and river cruises and were fortunate to see the Shoebill, one of the rarest bird species. Our trip continued with a cruise to the Nile Delta where the river meets Lake Albert. The concentration of birds and other wildlife
here was remarkable. We wrapped up this fantastic trip with a cruise to the top of Murchison Falls followed by a flight to Entebbe to begin the journey home.
