Tips for gorilla trekking.
Advice on gorilla trekking: Gorilla trekking is a unique and fascinating sport that entails walking through a tropical rainforest to find habituated mountain gorillas and spending an hour with them in their natural environment.
Gorilla trekking may be done in a variety of locations, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kahuzi Biega National Park, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. In order to organize a successful gorilla trekking expedition, this article will highlight many gorilla trekking recommendations.
Get permits for gorilla trekking in advance.
Gorilla trekking permits are competitive and typically sell out quickly, especially during the peak season in June, July, August, September, December, January, and February. Therefore, it is recommended that you book three to six months prior to the trekking date in order to avoid last-minute disappointments when planning a gorilla trekking safari to Uganda, Rwanda, or Congo.
Guidelines for trekking
During a gorilla trekking expedition, there are certain guidelines that trekkers must adhere to. These guidelines include
Hand washing before to seeing the gorillas in the forest
When walking and among gorillas, it’s important to speak quietly.
When hiking, avoid leaving trash in the park.
Only eight visitors per day will be permitted to see a habituated gorilla family.
To reduce the chance of illness transmission, stay at least 7 meters away from the gorillas.
Avoid eating, drinking, and smoking while around mountain gorillas.
Because mountain gorillas are wild creatures, avoid touching them.
Flashlight cameras should not be used for capturing pictures.
You are permitted to spend an hour with the mountain gorillas when they are there.
Because gorillas are susceptible to human infections, you are not permitted to hike with them if you are feeling poorly.
To reduce the transmission of germs, you may cover your mouth and nose and turn your head away if you feel the need to cough or sneeze when among the gorillas.
If you need to use the restroom in the forest, you ask the guide to dig a hole for you, which you will then cover with sand.
Gorilla hiking advice: The price of permits for gorilla trekking.
Visitors who are above 15 years old may visit habituated gorilla families and spend an hour with the mountain gorillas in their natural environment with a gorilla trekking permit, which is a legal document.
In Rwanda, a gorilla trekking permit costs 1,500 USD per person for all nationalities in Volcanoes National Park; 400 USD per person for foreign non-residents in Virunga National Park and Kahuzi Biega National Park; 800 USD per person for foreign non-residents, 700 USD per person for foreign residents, and 300,000 UGX per person for East African citizens and residents in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
The ideal time of year to go gorilla trekking
Although gorilla trekking is possible throughout the year in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Volcanoes National Park, Virunga National Park, and Kahuzi Biega National Park, the best time to go is during the dry season, also known as the peak season, which runs from June to September and December to February.
This is because there is less or no rainfall in the national parks during this time, making the gorilla trekking trails less muddy and slippery, which makes gorilla trekking challenging.
What to bring on your safari that involves gorilla trekking
When traveling to Uganda, Rwanda, or Congo for a gorilla trekking safari, travelers should bring certain essentials, such as hiking shoes to support their ankles and keep their feet dry, insect repellent to protect them from biting insects, long-sleeved shirts and trousers to keep them warm, energy snacks and drinking water to keep them hydrated, a camera and extra batteries to take pictures, binoculars, a waterproof rain jacket to protect them from rain, a walking stick to support them while trekking, a backpack to carry their trekking gear, and a back pack to carry their belongings.
Experience hiking with gorillas
One of the main attractions that draws large numbers of people to Africa is gorilla trekking, which begins very early in the morning with a briefing on the guidelines to be followed. Following the briefing, you will be split up into groups of eight, and each group will be assigned a habituated gorilla family to walk with.
Additionally, each group will be accompanied by an experienced park guide who is familiar with the various trekking paths before they begin their trip into the forest. Because mountain gorillas like to roam about in search of food, gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Congo may take anywhere from two to seven hours, depending on the gorillas’ location.
You can see a variety of wildlife while trekking, and after you find the gorillas, you can spend an hour with them in their natural habitat. This allows you to observe how they go about their daily lives, learn more about their habits and behaviors, take pictures, and record videos using a flash-free camera.
Additional things to do while on safari
Following the thrilling gorilla trekking experience, visitors may partake in a variety of other safari activities, including as animal viewing, bird watching, guided nature walks, mountain climbing, chimpanzee trekking, golden monkey trekking, and cultural experiences.
How to reserve permits for gorilla trekking
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in Rwanda, Virunga offices in Congo, and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), a government agency in charge of tourism in Uganda, are the only ways to reserve gorilla trekking permits.
To do so, you must email or call the park’s headquarters. A reliable tour operator like Maseke Adventure Co.Ltd can also help you book gorilla trekking permits in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. Simply email us with the day, month, year, and gorilla location you want to visit.
