Today was a
very special day as it involved trekking into the National Park to see its most
special inhabitants, the Mountain Gorillas. Due to the continued damp conditions, we were
taken through the community to another park entrance from where the Gorillas
were more accessible. Once there it was only a short hike to the clearing where
the animals were feeding. Initially we found a lone silverback feeding alone, but
soon found the rest of the family group of nine individuals, featuring no less
than three silverbacks. The group was absolutely fantastic to watch and we were
so close. On the occasions where the silverback might approach the rangers that
were with us would guide us back. We saw the animals feeding, grooming and
relaxing during the hour that we watched them. At one point one of the
silverbacks even walked beating his chest which was absolutely awesome to
watch. Although the experience commands a large fee it was brilliant and likely
a once in a lifetime. The animals are truly fantastic to observe and really
impressive once you get close.
The fact that the Gorilla trekking only took the morning meant we had the whole of the afternoon to watch and photograph the birds in the lodge garden. The lodge itself was directly adjacent to the park gate and as such we were able to find many of the species that were endemic to this region. The Rwenzori Sunbird, Kandt’s Waxbill and Yellow-crowned Canary were all features of our time in the garden. As was a fantastic encounter with a Western Tree Hyrax which we spotted browsing on some of the vegetation above our toilet block. We still had our guide with us and it was even a lifer for him, another brilliant mammal encounter on what has, so far, been an absolutely fantastic trip. Our guide, Gordon, also spotted a Dwarf Honeyguide perched up in the garden, which was a species we thought we had missed at Ruhija, an excellent bonus species for this location.
The fact that the Gorilla trekking only took the morning meant we had the whole of the afternoon to watch and photograph the birds in the lodge garden. The lodge itself was directly adjacent to the park gate and as such we were able to find many of the species that were endemic to this region. The Rwenzori Sunbird, Kandt’s Waxbill and Yellow-crowned Canary were all features of our time in the garden. As was a fantastic encounter with a Western Tree Hyrax which we spotted browsing on some of the vegetation above our toilet block. We still had our guide with us and it was even a lifer for him, another brilliant mammal encounter on what has, so far, been an absolutely fantastic trip. Our guide, Gordon, also spotted a Dwarf Honeyguide perched up in the garden, which was a species we thought we had missed at Ruhija, an excellent bonus species for this location.
-Mountain Gorilla
-Western Tree Hyrax
-Variable Sunbird
-Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird
-Green-headed Sunbird
-Abyssinian Thrush
-White-tailed Blue Flycatcher
-White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher
-Thick-billed Seedeater
-Cinnamon Bracken Warbler
-Yellow-crowned Canary
-Dwarf Honeyguide
-Black Sparrowhawk
-White-necked Raven
-Epiphora rectifascia
Species List:
Mgahinga National Park: Red-eyed Dove, Red-chested Cuckoo, Black Sparrowhawk, Yellow-billed Kite, Augur Buzzard, Speckled Mousebird, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Dwarf Honeyguide, Olive Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, African Paradise Flycatcher, Mackinnon's Shrike, Pied Crow, White-necked Raven, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Yellow-whiskered Greenbul, Dark-capped Bulbul, Green White-eye, Abyssinian Thrush, Archer's Ground Robin, Cape Robin-Chat, African Stonechat, Green-headed Sunbird, Bronzy Sunbird, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Baglafecht Weaver, Yellow Bishop, Kandt's Waxbill, Northern Grey-headed Sparrow, African Pied Wagtail, African Pipit, Streaky Seedeater, Thick-billed Seedeater, Yellow-crowned Canary, Mountain Gorilla, Western Tree Hyrax,
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