FAQs About Gorilla Trekking in Africa
FAQs About Gorilla Trekking in Africa : Gorilla trekking in Africa is an exciting, thrilling, adventurous experience that tourists get explore in while on their wildlife safari in Africa. In addition, the best destinations that tourists who are interested in involving in Gorilla trekking activities should visit are located in the following countries such as; Rwanda, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo.
However, tourists who would love to go for gorilla trekking activities can also do so from; Central African Republic, Cameroon, Angola, Congo Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and many others.
Where to go for Gorilla trekking activities in the East and Central Africa.
Tourists on a gorilla trekking safari in the East and the central in Africa can only do so from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Rwanda.
While tourists are in Uganda, the best places for them to visit for gorilla trekking activities is in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park as those visiting in Rwanda can do so from Volcanoes National Park and tourists can also trek from Kahuzi-Beiga national park and Virunga national park which are situated in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
How different is Gorilla trekking from Gorilla Habituation?
There is no much difference between Gorilla Habituation and gorilla trekking just that during Gorilla habituation, it is when these mountain gorillas are trained to get used to human beings, which makes it easy for tourists while trekking. And also while trekking, after the gorilla groups have been located, tourists are only given one hour to interact with them whereby during the gorilla habituation, they are given almost an entire day of about 6 hours to interact with the gorillas as they get to learn their behaviors and characters during the process. In addition, Gorilla habituation normally takes a period of 2 to 3 years to make these mountain gorilla groups get used to human beings.
More so, during the Gorilla habituation process only a maximum of four members and two tourists’ guides are allowed to engage in while during the Gorilla trekking process, tourists are put in groups of a maximum number of eight people per group because many large numbers of people may threaten the gorillas.
What do Gorilla trekking activities involve?
Gorilla trekking activities is when tourists engage in searching for mountain gorillas in their natural habitats therefore it involves them in Hiking Mountains, and walking through forests with an aim of locating the habituated mountain gorilla groups/ families. During the gorilla trekking activities, there are several techniques that tourists apply in order to easily track the gorillas for example; following the foot prints of the gorillas, broken plant shoots, food left overs and the nests that were being made by the gorillas the previous night and many others.
Gorilla trekking activities begin either at 8:00am in the morning or at 2:00pm in the afternoon at the park headquarters where visitors are encouraged to arrive an hour before when the activity is supposed to begin so that they able to go through the registration process and this is also when they are being briefed about the does and don’ts while in the national parks as they are trekking and they also put in groups of a maximum number of 8 people per group.
This activity goes for about 4-8 hours but the trekkers are given one hour of interaction with the habituated gorillas after they have been located. And during that one hour period of time, it is when tourists get to understand, learn and observe how gorillas live their lifestyle for example; they watch how they eat, and feed their young ones. However, the trekkers are always advised to keep a distance of 7 meters between them and the gorilla to avoid harm and avoid keep a direct eye contact with the gorillas, disable flashlights in their phones and cameras while taking pictures and recording videos while in the presence of the habituated mountain gorillas.
FAQs About Gorilla Trekking in Africa
How much does a gorilla trekking permit cost?
Tourists planning to travel to Africa to involve themselves in Gorilla trekking activities are advised to purchase their gorilla trekking permits and one should note every place has different charge of the permits for example; in Uganda a gorilla trekking permit costs 700 USD per person, in Rwanda it costs 1500 USD per person and 400 USD per person in the Democratic Republic of Congo and many others. However, the advantage of these costs is that it covers other charges like the park entrance fees, and the park guide fees.
What is the age limit of people who do Gorilla Trekking activities?
Gorilla trekking activities are always available for only individuals who are 15 years and above due to the fact that young ones are not allowed because it is considered somehow a tiring activity as it involves hiking to the mountains with high altitudes, walking through the dense forests, walking on slippery trails hence proving a point of why this activity is not suitable for children below 15 years.
More so, Gorilla trekking activities requires only individuals who are physically fit and free from diseases like heart attacks and pressure. But individuals who happen to be patients of these diseases and show up to go for trekking, they are always required to present letters from their medical doctors giving them permission.
What to pack when going for Gorilla trekking activities in Africa.
For Tourists wo are wondering on what to pack as they are planning their gorilla trekking safari in Africa, they are advised to pack the following; a pair of good hiking boots, sunscreen, a hat/ cap, a camera, a light rain coat, long sleeved shirts, long trousers, insect repellant, packed lunch, drinking water in order to keep dehydrated, warm sweater due to the fact that during hiking to the mountains, it is stated that “ the higher you go, the cooler it becomes”, FAQs About Gorilla Trekking in Africa
Is Gorilla trekking activity worth your money?
Gorilla trekking activities are worth your money it being considered among the top activities that one should not miss out while on a wildlife safari in Africa. This activity is an exciting, adventurous where by it gives tourists an opportunity to see interact with the habituated gorillas in their natural habitats giving them a chance to understand, observe, and learn how they live their daily lifestyle, they get to see what their diet comprises of as they watch how the primate species eat, they also watch how they breastfeed their young ones. In addition, what makes it exciting is that these gorillas tend to be social and friendly with the humans during their one hour of interaction. Gorilla trekking activities provide tourists with a great memorable experience and also gives an insight to how it is important for countries in Africa to conserve not only the environment and the beautiful natures but also the these primate species that have become endangered species which attract many tourists hence leading to the development of the tourism industry in Africa.
