Year of the Gorilla in Uganda
Tuesday, March 31, 2009With 2009 named "Year of the Gorilla" by the UN, Uganda offers travellers a rare experience to come face-to-face with these primates in their natural habitat.
The wildlife authority in Uganda has recently introduced two new troops of mountain gorillas to the forests, which has doubled the number of visitors granted the privilege of seeing this endangered species in the wild.
Dubbed "Africa''s friendliest country" by Uganda Tourism, its 12 wildlife reserves and ten national parks are also home to wild chimpanzees, monkeys and the largest number of recorded birdlife species on the continent.
No mountain gorillas are held in captivity and only around 700 individuals are left in existence according to the World Wildlife Fund - the majority of these are found in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Uganda is home to more than 30 indigenous languages, but its official language is English.
The Rwenzoris - the highest mountain range in Africa - are also found sat astride the equator in Uganda.
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