Uganda adventure holiday to the Bwindi Impenetrable national park – home to the remaining mountain gorillas in the world, has been ranked among the 19 cool places to visit in 2019 according to National Geographic.
The Cool List 2019 comprised of 19 must-see cool destinations and these according to National Geographic, featured everything from futuristic cityscapes and modernist architecture to pristine rainforest and rehabilitated wildlife. Uganda in East Africa ranked 16th among the top countries following Japan, Pittsburg in the United States, Island of Corsica, Norway’s capital Oslo, Bhutan, Cambodia and Mexico’s San Miguel De Allende among others.
“The main attraction in Uganda for those looking somewhere cool to visit in 2019 is book a gorilla trek tour from Kampala to marvel at mountain gorillas in the wild in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park located in the Great East African Rift Valley.” Said the list.
According to NatGeo, when Rwanda (Uganda’s neigbour in the south) doubled the price of its gorilla trek permits from US$750 to US$1,500 (£572 to £1,144) in 2017, neighbouring Uganda responded by freezing its own rates at US$600 (£458) until mid-2019.
Main attractions: If you’re longing to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, head for Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in the Bwindi Impenetrable Gorilla National Park instead. The steady growth of its gorilla population is one of Africa’s great conservation success stories, with gorilla tourists playing an important role.
How many mountain gorillas are left in the African wildlife forests?
According to the 2018 census conducted by World Wildlife Fund – the organization in wildlife conservation and endangered species, estimates the number of mountain gorillas at 1004 in total (Virunga and Bwindi combined). In Virunga massif region, the gorilla population has risen to 604, living in 41 social groups. In 2010 the gorilla census counted 480 mountain gorillas, living in 36 groups, up from 380 individuals in 2003. The remaining 400 mountain gorillas are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, according to the 2012 census.
The national parks are ideal starting point for an ape-spotting adventure — from gorillas adventure tours in Bwindi’s tropical highlands to the chimpanzees of Kibale National Park. For gorilla trekking visitors / chimp tracking visitors wanting to spend much longer time on their wildlife watching tour in Uganda can book a whole day chimpanzee habituation or 4 hours gorilla habituation experience, both tours leads to a close encounter with our closest living relatives.
In Uganda, almost 20 gorilla families can now be visited by guided groups of up to eight each day. Trekking fees raise funds not only for gorillas and their habitat, but also for Uganda’s other national assets including Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks, home to chimps, giraffes, African buffalos and hippos.
Don’t miss: Exploring Bwindi’s birdwatching tour trails, waterfalls tour trails and batwa (pygmy) cultural encounters, cycle routes and craft scene after your Uganda gorilla trek. Uganda ranks Africa’s leading adventure tourist destination, adding excitement besides the wildlife tours, nature, people and cultural tours, food and heritage experiences visitors enjoy when coming to the Pearl of Africa.
Be it white water rafting on the Nile River or kayaking, bungee jumping, abseiling, horseback riding on the banks on the mighty river Nile near Jinja City, quad biking in local villages of Jinja, cross country cycling, hiking, mountaineering, fishing on Uganda Lakes such as Lake Victoria or on the Nile in Murchison Falls National Park and more, Uganda has it in her portfolio.
Check out the Best of Uganda adventure tours. www.responsibletourismcompany.com
To view the full list of National Geographic of 19 must-see cool places in 2019, including Uganda and African countries like; South Africa, Zimbabwe, Eritrea, click here http://www.natgeotraveller.co.uk/smart-travel/features/the-cool-list-2019/
