Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla Trekking : The activity of gorilla trekking involves hiking through tropical rainforests to see the Mountain Gorillas, which attracts large numbers of tourists to travel to Africa in order to view the mountain gorillas in their natural habitats.

Tourists can only be able to trek mountain gorillas in these countries and that is Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tourists can use various techniques during Gorilla trekking activities in order to help them track these gorillas more easily and this can be done by utilizing fresh nests that gorillas make the night before they move, tracking leftover food left over such as fruits, bamboo shoots, faeces, and tracking the footprints of the gorillas as they pass through a forest.

By doing this, mountain gorillas are easily located. The Uganda Wildlife Authority who aim at protecting these endangered species from poachers who always want to hunt mount gorillas down and sell their body part as bush meat, and earn hunting trophies manages gorilla trekking.

Seeing gorillas in the wild and taking pictures of them is not only an exciting activity for tourists while trekking for gorillas, but it is also an educational activity since visitors get to learn about the behavior and characteristics of the gorillas by interacting with them as they learn about their behaviour and personality.

More so, these Mountain Gorillas benefit their countries economically because they attract tourists from all over the world. Gorilla trekking activities in Uganda are only conducted in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Mountain Gorilla trekking requires tourists to be put in groups of at least eight people and to be accompanied by very experienced and highly trained tour guides at all times, as it is very easy for them to locate the mountain gorillas because they have extensive knowledge of their behavior.

FAQs about Gorilla Trekking

Best Places where to go for Gorilla Trekking.

There are two best places where tourists can go for gorilla trekking activities in Uganda, the Mgahinga National Park and the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, there are only two habituated gorilla groups while 18 habituated gorilla groups are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. However, only 15 gorilla groups are available for tracking while the others are purposely meant for research purposes.

In addition, tourists can experience the gorillas at Volcanoes National Park which is located in Rwanda. There are ten groups of gorillas that are habituated in that park, which tourists can track or they can go to the Virunga National Park that is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is home to 8 habituated gorilla groups, and last but not least, tourists can also visit Kahuzi-Beiga National Park, which is also one of the best places in the world to trek Eastern Lowland Gorillas.

How much is a gorilla trekking permit?   

The cost of gorilla trekking permits differs depending on which country you plan on trekking from, for instance, if you plan to trek from Rwanda, for instance;

The cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is $700 per person, while in Rwanda, it costs 1500 USD and in the Democratic Republic of Congo, it costs 400 USD per person to obtain a permit for going to the forest to see the gorillas.

Furthermore, trekking permits also cover other costs that tourists are not required to pay as long as they have the appropriate permits like guide and ranger fees, entrance fees, and government taxes, but unfortunately, they do not cover expenses like hotel charges, plane tickets, Visa meals, Transportation fees, and Meals.

Gorilla Trekking

How long does a gorilla trekking take?

Gorilla trekking activities takes about 1 to 8 hours depending on how long it takes individuals to track a gorilla group. In this activity, the tourists have to hike through the forest, which is easy and good for tourists who are fit and in good health, as trekking the mountain gorillas fast requires that they use some techniques such as tracking the footprints of the gorillas in order to find them.

 As soon as the tourists find a group of gorillas, they are always given a period of one hour to interact with them. It is during this moment that the tourists get to observe the behaviours and characters of the gorillas, which happen to be friendly to humans as well. The tourists never fail to take out their phones and cameras when it comes to taking pictures and taking videos, although it is advisable to turn off the flash light while in the presence of gorillas.  To get rid of any risk of being injured by mountain gorillas, trekkers are recommended to keep a distance of at least 7 meters between themselves and the animals in order to ensure that they do not cause damage to them.

What is the age limit for gorilla trekking activities?

As a matter of fact, gorilla trekking adventures are suitable for tourists of 15 years of age or older due to the fact that they involve hiking through the forest, which also requires an individual to be physically fit and healthy in order to do so.

As a result, young children and individuals who have conical diseases such as heart disease and high blood pressure are not allowed to participate in the trekking activities unless their medical doctor has provided permission and if they are ok with participating in the trekking activities.

What to pack when going for Gorilla trekking?

In order to enjoy a gorilla trekking tour, tourists are advised to pack with them the following items that will assist them during their trip, including but not limited to;

It is advisable to have at least a pair of hiking boots, a hat or cap, a lightweight raincoat, a walking stick, as there may be slippery areas if it rains, sunscreen, long trousers due to the bushy areas, long sleeved shirts, a bag full of snacks for you to eat if you get hungry, a bottle of water to stay hydrated, a light raincoat, a hat/cap, and a light raincoat. As a tourist, you will be asked to show your gorilla trekking permit at the park headquarters to gain entry.

Rules and Regulations to follow during Gorilla Trekking.

While trekking mountain gorillas, tourists are always provided with a set of rules and regulations that they must follow in order to avoid harming the gorillas in any way. These include the following:

• Members of the gorilla trekking group must be at least 15 year’s old and older to be able to participate.
• Tourists are required to present their tracking permits at the park headquarters as proof of their tracking rights.
• As a trekker, you are required to have a valid passport as well as a visa for tourism in East Africa.
• In general, trekkers are always grouped together in groups of no more than eight people.
• In order to participate in this activity, trekkers need to be fit and in good health, free from diseases such as pressure and heart disease, however, if a trekker suffers from a disease such as a heart disease or a lung disease, he or she will need to provide a letter from their doctor that permits them to participate in the trek.
• Keep the national park clean by not littering it.
• As a rule, tourists are asked to keep their voices as quiet as possible when they are near or in the national park.
• Whenever possible, tourists are advised to avoid unnecessary movements, and in particular it is safe to walk in groups.
• During the one hour of interaction with the gorillas, tourists should keep a distance of 7 meters between themselves and the gorillas.
• Mountain gorillas, especially silverbacks, should not be directly eyed by tourists.
• In order to protect the mountain gorillas from food and drink, visitors are advised to avoid eating or drinking while in their presence.
• Before or after trekking, visitors should wash their hands with soap and water.
• During your visit to this national park, you are not permitted to smoke.
• While taking pictures and recording videos while in the presence of gorillas, tourists should be sure to turn off the flashlights so as not to disturb them with their flashes.