The top tourist activity in Uganda is none other than Gorilla trekking. According to Uganda Wildlife Authority, the current cost of Uganda Gorilla permit goes up to US$700 showing high yields from Gorilla tourism. Uganda offers two gorilla tracking destinations namely; Bwindi impenetrable National Park (BINP) and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (MGNP).
In this article, the writer is assessing whether it’s safe to go gorilla safari in Uganda and the answer is yes due to the following reasons:
Regular patrolling of Gorilla homes. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are tightly guarded and regularly patrolled by the armed rangers from Uganda wildlife Authority (UWA). The body fights tooth and nail to cub down poaching and illegal encroachment of the reserved land for gorillas hence conserving for generations.
Influence of the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF). The Uganda army offers security to safe guard all country boarders to allow tourists move in and leave safely after gorilla trekking in Uganda.
Presence of Tourism police to handle complaints raised by tourists while in Uganda. Tourism police ensures justice and fairness to the guests hence benefiting from their stay in Uganda. Tourism police also guards tourists while outside of the tourist destinations.
Benefits from Gorilla tourism are shared with local communities in terms of better social services like clean water, better roads, better health care, better education, security among others. For that case, the local people also engage in offering necessary support and knowledge to the tourists while on their gorilla safaris.
The gorilla parks and their reserves are highly protected from encroachers and poachers. Day and night guarding enables the tourists stay and leave safely. The UWA rangers are trained to safe guard animals and guests.
Influence of international organizations like The International Gorilla Conservation Programme which was formed in 1991, by three international conservation organisations and three protected area authorities: the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), Fauna and Flora International (FFI) and the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) among others. The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was listed by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage site 1994. International organization offers support and publicity to Uganda Gorilla parks hance promoting gorilla tourism.
Since 1985, Uganda has been peaceful without any civil war and that long term peace has promoted gorilla tourism. Tourists book their gorilla safari with confidence and leave safely with smiles after meeting with gorillas.
