Chimp & Gorilla Trekking

I had only been in East Africa one night and already I was on my second flight, heading towards the chimps and gorillas of Uganda. After breakfast, I promptly transferred back to Entebbe Airport. From here, I caught a short flight that took me to Kasese Airstrip roughly 250 miles away. Looking down from my seat in the sky, the ground beneath me spread out in an earthy patchwork blanket as far as the eye could see. I was thankful for the clear sky and little turbulence that met us mid-flight, and soon the aeroplane was firmly on the ground, the door was open once more, and I was met with the warm midday Ugandan air.

Kasese Airstrip was relatively small, bordered on one side by a high ridge that disrupted the horizon and cushioned all around with greenery of all types. From here, I and a couple of others were met by a Great Lakes Guide who drove us to Primate Lodge located in the heart of Kibale National Park. 

A small stretch of building, Primate Lodge was nestled amongst thick stretches of tall trees and hedgerows that made up a good majority of the park. This area is also known as the ‘Primate Paradise’, and the guide informed me that Kibale National Park boasted the greatest variety and concentration of primates in all of Africa. An air of excitement settled. This was what we had all come to experience for ourselves. 

The research I had conducted before coming out here told me that there was a lot to spot - Chimpanzees, Red Colobus Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, and Olive Baboons to name but a few. Not only this, but I had read of forest elephants, a smaller and hairier relative of the savannah elephant, and had it highlighted on my list of must-sees for the trip. 

A long day of travelling called for a good night’s rest, and not long after the sun had retired for the day, I did too. Tomorrow we would be heading deeper into Kibale Forest National Park in search of its residents. 

Breakfast was early in the morning, a hearty meal to set us up for the day that I gladly wolfed down. Once cleaned up and ready for the day - a few of us headed over to the Park Headquarters nearby for a briefing before embarking on the chimp tracking. There were important things to cover - general safety and courtesy regarding the forest and the primates. Once we were all fully informed, it was onwards to the trailhead to begin the expedition for the day. 

The thick air of the day had already set in, and I was thankful for the small gusts of wind that would make their way between the trees to meet us. The hike itself was not a steep one compared to others I had trekked in the past, but it still required close attention. A shower of rain in the night had made areas of the path muddy and loose underfoot, and some balance was required to remain upright. 

Ahead, our guide listed off facts they impressively recalled from their memory. Chimpanzees and humans share up to 98% of the same DNA. They create and use tools more than any other creature except for us. They laugh when they play, their hair stands on end when they’re frightened. 

Mid-fact, our guide trailed off, crouching slightly as they edged forwards, beckoning us to follow them, slowly. In a small clearing of their own creation, a group of chimpanzees sat. It was more peaceful than I had imagined it would be - nobody said a word, simply taking in this incredible first sighting so early on in our adventure. The Chimpanzees made little noise, a small grunt here and there in between grooming, what sounded like a giggle as they shifted about. They paid us no mind except for a glance from time to time, their attention focused on grazing on the shoots and leaves they had nestled themselves amongst. 

We spent an hour here, watching them closely, smiling as they smiled, moving slightly into the forest as they did. Barely ten words were spoken by anyone during this time. Every now and then,  a click of a camera would go off. Other than these minor interruptions, it was one of the most peaceful moments I’ve ever experienced whilst on safari. 

Our time in the jungle was up, and in high spirits, we began the trek back to the lodge. By now, the mud had dried for the most part, and it was a relatively stable journey back. Here and there we stopped, pointing upwards into trees where a chimpanzee or two would be lounging, snoozing in the afternoon heat. 

A new day and a new forest. Early breakfasts are something of a given during safari expeditions, and by now it feels like second nature. The sun had barely risen and we were headed to Kasese airstrip once more. From here, we boarded a light aircraft that took us a short way to Kihihi airstrip, the entry point for northern Bwindi. 

We were met warmly by a representative from the lodge. She gestured to the clear sky above us and said we were in for a good couple of days, and I couldn’t help but agree. It was brighter than usual, the leaves glinted on every tree, the birds sang a little bit louder in chorus. We all knew that the next couple of days would be unforgettable. 

Piling into a 4x4, we made our way back to the lodge. The drive was smooth and took just over an hour. We spoke about what we hoped to see when we headed into the park tomorrow - families of gorillas playing in the wild, a rare bird resting within view, a certain flower in bloom, a forest elephant in a clearing. 

By the time we had arrived at the lodge, checked in, and settled into our respective rooms, it was mid-afternoon. The others that I had arrived with were now heading into the forest with a guide on a tour showcasing the flora and fauna of the surrounding forest. I waved at them from the courtyard outside the lodge, and they gestured to their cameras, indicating that they’d take photos for me to look at over dinner. Although tempting to join them, I had decided it would be best to rest up as much as possible before the big day tomorrow. As much as I loved the different flowers and creatures the forest had to offer, it was the primates I was really there to see, and I wanted to be on top form for when I did early tomorrow. 

Relaxing on the veranda as the day began to dim, I took in my surroundings for what felt like the first time since arriving here. A small group of people emerged from the bush, tired but noticeably buzzing with happiness as they walked with heads craned towards one another’s cameras, recounting the success they had no doubt had with their gorilla trek.   

There was a light air of chatter until our guide put his hand up in a fist: stop. He had crouched to the floor a little off the path and gestured for us to come to do the same. In the mud, a crisp round outline had been made - the unmistakable print of a forest elephant. The guide told us that the elephant had probably passed through here about an hour ago and that it would be long gone into the deeper part of the forest by now. 

Undeterred, we pushed onwards for a couple of hours before coming to a standstill. Here and there, the route was punctuated with small presents left behind by primates. We took this as a good sign, stepping over and around them, our excitement to spot our family of gorillas mounting. Another hour passed until we were told with a hush to gather round. Shuffling into a small huddle, we followed the path of sight that our guide held. Through the dense greenery, dashes of black moved slowly in a trail. They were some distance away, and we had to squint to keep track of their movements, but it was definitely the gorillas that we had come to see. 

The largest of the gorilla family sat with his back against the trunk of a tree, watching stoically as the younger primates moved around him. Occasionally, he would reach up, scratch his head, and inspect his fingers before resting them at his side again. Once, he reached out and plucked a shoot from the ground, savouring each bite as he chewed. We watched in awe as he did. Is that the silverback? Another in the group asked. The guide nodded once in confirmation. As if on cue, the gorilla stood and turned from us slowly, edging back into dense trees and eventually out of view. 

It was breathtaking. It had been mentioned in our briefing that there was a slim chance we may spot a silverback, but I had never thought we would be so lucky. 

One by one, the gorillas formed a trail, following the silverback into the forest. It was an indescribably beautiful sight, to see them so calm and at peace in their home, and that they had allowed us in. With breath held, we watched them until the very last one was finally out of view. 

Before long, the forest became still again, as if the gorillas had never been there and we had simply imagined them. I looked at each of the people in my group, and they all had the same look of sheer happiness plastered on their faces. 

After some time, we made it back to the clearing where the car was waiting to take us back to the lodge. The day was over as quickly as it had begun. The drive was smooth, and I dozed with my forehead pressed against the cool glass of the window. The day appeared to have been much longer than it had actually felt. 

Now back at the lodge, I can tick the gorilla and chimp safari off of my list. I’ve done many things whilst in Uganda, and I can leave knowing that this will be a definite highlight. Tomorrow, I’ll be heading into the towns to do some sightseeing before catching a flight home, but I know now that nothing I see in the next couple of days will compare to the experience I had today.