Gorilla Trekking – Gorilla Tracking
In order for a group of people to obtain a sight of what gorillas look like and be able to examine the surroundings in which they reside, they undertake gorilla trekking—that is, hiking or treking throughout the dense forests.
Four national parks in Africa—three of which are in three different countries— Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & Mgahinga Forest), Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park), and in Congo (Virunga National Park)—as part of Gorilla Trekking.
On the southwest side of the rift valley, in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Gorilla Trekking in Uganda is undertaken. Travelers can choose from a single itinerary Uganda gorilla trekking or Rwanda gorilla trekking. Depending on a client’s inclination, such visits can start either way, allowing Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi from Rwanda – around (4 – 5 hours driving) from Kigali.
Where in Africa might one go for Gorilla Trekking?
Three nations in Africa— Uganda, Rwanda, and Democratic Republic of Congo—have Mountain Gorillas living there. Mgahinga National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Volcanoes National Park and Virunga National Park is an endemic forest of the Albertine Rift in Eastern DRC; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda; Virunga Mountains in three National Parks in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
Just three hours from Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, the volcanoes National Park is where gorilla trekking in Rwanda takes place along the DRC and Uganda border. There are 150 habituated mountain Gorillas in the park, divided into 12 Groups with daily sales of 96 permits for treking.
Rwanda calls home the oldest known Gorilla population. Rwanda’s bet is on high end low impact tourism, which boosts the cost of Gorilla trekking twice the Uganda permit and four times the cost in DRC. Attracting the most luxurious resorts and guaranteeing greater income for the local populations near the edge of the Volcanoes national park where the Gorillas dwell has always been the focus of the Rwanda tourism plan.
Gorilla Trekking Uganda
In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park, gorilla trekking in Uganda occurs Mgahinga National Park is a component of the congo including Virungas National Park and Volcanoes National Park. Its Gorilla family only exhibits one habitation.
With a maximum of 500 mountain Gorillas split into 37 social groups, the 36 are in Bwindi, the 11 habituated Gorilla groups are visited daily and one group is retained for study and habituation process. The remainder of Gorilla groups live in Bwindi impenetrable National Park.
There are four Gorilla sectors in the park: Ruhijah, Rushaga, Nkuringo and Buhoma; maximum eight persons are allowed to walk each Gorilla family under permits payable at 700 USD per person.
The area is usually referred to as the Switzerland of Africa; it takes a maximum of 9 hours to reach the park and 11 hours depending on the traffic congestion on the road. Up countries there is no traffic jam to you will drive smoothly; spot a number of things including the rolling hills, of kigezi, cattle grazing.
Trekkers might choose to go for a habituation procedure in Uganda exclusively; the ticket price there is 1500 USD. Only the Uganda Rushaga section of Bwindi experiences habituation.
Using a private charter will also help you arrive early with thirty minutes, just like the Tour operators in Uganda do.
DRC Gorilla Trekking
With so much conflict raging in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, gorilla trekking there was halted in May 2018. This got worse when two British visitors were abducted and their guide died; nonetheless, gorilla trekking will soon start once more.
Although there have been numerous conflicts and disturbance on the flanks of Goma, where the Virunga National Park is located, the nation currently boasts political stability. The game of Africa with numerous dimensions is Virunga National Park.
The oldest in Africa, highest biodiversity worldwide is found here. After hiking the mountain Gorillas, Nyiragongo Mountain may be optioned; watch the boiling lava; smoking cone it is the biggest lava lake in the world.
The Gorillas have expanded to about 300 presently; the park has welcomed 17,000 visitors since when it was inaugurated in 2014. Although the count of habituated families in DRC is always changing as new families are constantly arriving and established.
For international hikers, the DRC permit is $400; for Congolese, it runs $150.
You have to first get in touch with a tour operator who will handle booking a Gorilla permit, lodging, and remainder of your trip organization. A gorilla permit is an identification granted allowing you to hike the mountain Gorillas from the Authorities in charge of wildlife in any nation.
Gorilla permits cost various countries varying fees. DRC 400 USD, Uganda charges 800 USD, Rwanda 1500 USD. The permission lets one walk the mountain Gorillas. Depending on the site of the Gorillas allocated by the park rangers, Gorilla Trekking takes either thirty minutes to seven hours. Travelers report early in the morning at the park offices.
There will be eight persons per gorilla family in the selected sector. The permit cost is meant to support mountain Gorilla health improvement and environmental preservation.
The guidelines and policies under consideration for a Gorilla Trekking tour help to guard the Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat against invasion. Your only allowable distance from the Gorillas is seven meters. Rules on mountain gorilla hiking in Uganda, DRC, and Rwanda remain the same. In front of the Mountain Gorillas, visitors are not permitted eat or drink.
Your packed lunch will arrive at the lodge, and food is really essential as hiking the Gorillas has erratic schedule. Leave nothing in the forest to be littered. Back to the lodge or garbage containers, carry all of your plastics to the park head quarters. The woodland is loved as it provides habitat for African mountain Gorillas.
Some of the guidelines for gorilla treks:
Before embarking on a Gorilla Trekking, one should be tidy and always wash their hands.
constantly keep your voices low during the walk; constantly keep an eye on the park residents including bird life, primates, animals, geckos, reptiles and many more in the forest.
Keep trash in your bag; you are not meant to live trash in the park; so, take anything you bring back with you.
Early in the morning, you will be briefed on Gorilla Trekking policies and procedures; then, you will be divided into groups of eight and headed into the jungle accompanied by a ranger.
Approaching the mountain Gorillas, the rangers and guides will let you know about them or you will hear forest sounds. Remember their amiable primates, but also wild creatures; they may change at any moment; do not create noise out of joy.
See Further:
Regulating, safeguarding, and providing security for the mountain Gorillas, Uganda Wildlife Authority is an empowered agency. By means of vigilant tourism to the Gorilla environment, the Wildlife sectors enable the Mountain Gorillas to lead stress free existence.
Habitat decline and poaching resulting from farmer and local hunter encroachment formerly threatened Mountain Gorillas. This resulted in the Batwa people/pygmies being removed from the park. The forest is under 24 Hour careful supervision and tourists without gorilla licenses are not allowed. Poachers follow low standards of behavior.
The mountain Gorilla hiking reveals many of interesting sites. This covers many more birds, plants, animals, waterfalls, geckoes, reptiles, and so on. Trekking the mountain Gorillas will let you see plenty of items in the jungle. From monitoring Gorillas and other animals, gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC range
CHEAP GORILLA TOURS
There are several low-cost excursions including budget Gorilla trekking tours with somewhat inadequate comfort amenities.
Budget tours including gorilla trekking do not imply one receives inferior facilities. One gets virtually the same facilities; the only variation would be in the lodging as some people choose less expensive luxury lodging.
About transportation, the tour operator could choose to use their own tour vehicles based on gorilla treking safaris.
Many reasonably priced Gorilla treks let one to visit during low seasons, when lodging rates are lower.
The discount given has no bearing on permit prices. One had to schedule and pay for their permits ahead to three months of journey as their sold on first come first basis by the Authorities in Charge of Wildlife in respective nations that dwell the mountain Gorillas. Uganda permits cost 800 USD, Rwanda 1500 USD and Burundi 400USD.
Although Rwanda’s permission is pricey, Rwanda is the top luxury Gorilla Trekking destination among all the nations that call the mountain home.
Congo and Uganda are the greatest choices for low-cost safaris and Gorilla trips.
Travel during low season to obtain a discount on lodging facilities; March through May and October through November; yet during this season there is heavy rainfall.
Select the top gorilla trekking company so that your journey goes without incident.
Get in touch to learn more about the least expensive Gorilla Trekking safaris available in East Africa.
GORILL LA TREKKING SAFARI
Three months before the scheduled gorilla trekking safaris, the guests are urged to reserve them. For the trip, one also must be physically fit. Though you will be somewhat intimidated at the same time, be ready for the walk.
On the day of the trip, get early, have breakfast, and our guide will transport you to the park headquarters for a quick briefing on gorilla trekking. U will then meet the local guide and rangers who will travel with you and provide entire gorilla trekking safari etiquette. Trekking across the woodland paths will allow you to see mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat.
Trek from one to six hours of the day as you rise to high heights; the forest is tough, muddy at times.
Physical fitness is required for the climb as you will see the surrounding landscapes that will justify your trip.
When one at last encounters the gorillas, the tiredness is gone and forgotten; the experience is indelible in your natural history of the earth.
Picnic lunches are then given to you, so you might take a lot of water as you would consume a lot of energy and power.
Although speed film cameras are permitted, they do not employ flash lights for image capturing. These are wooded places, hence it usually rains every now and again. Carry waterproof cloths and zip lock bags for cameras and film.
Where— Uganda or Rwanda—is Gorilla trekking more suited?
Mountain Gorillas are ubiquitous; their routines are the same everywhere. And one cannot be sure whether their chosen trekking destination will have mountain gorillas. Customers are not often let down, though. Trekking in gorillas has the best opportunity during the dry seasons of April, May, and November.
In Uganda, the lodging is better than in Rwanda; it is accessible. The Gorillas are more likely to be found here. The authorities control the guidelines wherein the trekkers are advised to return to the park headquarters in case the Gorillas have not been located by 2pm to prevent dark hiking.
Unless the trekker becomes sick before the senior of the headquarters discovers you are not qualified to trek, there are no reimbursements.
Because of their physical fitness and spreading of childhood illnesses to the gorillas, the lowest age to climb the mountain is fifteen years old. The age limit is rigorously maintained as the passport information is always followed including the requisite date of birth at the time of booking. Before you scale the mountain Gorillas, you must prove your age.
Trekking dressed in appropriate fabrics.
One should have some garden gloves and the robust hiking footwear with sufficient ankle support. To guard your arms against thorns’ scratches, dress in long sleeved shirts; long pants help to reduce the bug bites on the legs.
Wear layers so that, should you perspire, you can hide them. You will be given picnic lunch and bring a lot of water from the resort with great energy snacks.
Since the parks are in rain forest areas and it might rain anywhere, it is advised to have waterproof clothing, zip bags for cameras and videography.
Pictures taken with spotlights are not allowed. One is not advised fast speed movies. Bring your daypack with your required trekking supplies, sweaters and shirts, basic goods and flashlights.
Though recruited at the park headquarters, the porters are ready to carry you. Since it is a required for every trekker to be escorted by the guides, porters, and UPDF troops, guides are armed along the journey. Soldiers armed for safety reasons are guides for national parks.
BEST GORILLA TREKKING COMPANIES IN UGANDA
Gorilla trekking companies like Maseke Adventure Co.Ltd enable one to make a planned journey.
Maseke Adventure Co.Ltd is registered under the umbrella of Tour operator Associations and licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board to carry out business.
Where may one engage in gorilla habituation experience?
Only in the southern portion of Bwindi impenetrable national park, in the Gorilla Habituation Experience, is done in the Rushaga Sector.
Gorilla habituation takes what length of time?
When the gorillas are found, you will be let to spend four hours with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, so providing you an opportunity to learn and track their activities, participate in the naming process, see them go about their daily business, take pictures and record videos. Gorilla habituation experience takes a whole day.
Cost of gorilla habituation in the impenetrable national park of Bwindi
A gorilla habituation permit at Bwindi impenetrable national park costs 1,500 USD per person for foreign non residents, 1,000 USD per person for foreign residents and 750,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
How are gorilla habituation permits booked?
Booking a reliable tour operator such as Maseke Adventure Co.Ltdallows you to contact us with the day, month, and year you desire to visit the mountain gorillas from Gorilla habituation permits in Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Following your contact, we will investigate permit availability through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and, should permits be available on your chosen dates, you will be required to submit a deposit for the permit. We will buy the permit on your behalf after the money has been received and provide a scanned copy of the receipt to you as verification.
Gorilla habituation experience is permitted for how many people?
Unlike gorilla trekking, which lets 8 people visit each habituated gorilla family daily, gorilla habituation experience lets a maximum number of 4 people see the mountain gorillas everyday.
For what age range does gorilla habituation experience apply?
The age limit for gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is 15 years and this is due to the fact that the habituation experience takes a whole day and children could not be fit enough, children could not follow the rules and regulations by the park rangers and mountain gorillas are vulnerable to human diseases while children easily get infected with communicative diseases like cough and flu.
When should one engage in gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park?
Though the greatest time is during the dry season, sometimes known as the peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February, Gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi impenetrable national park may be done all year long.
Access roads and gorilla trekking paths will be dry and passable during the dry season since the park receives less or none at all. This makes gorilla habituation experience easier than in the wet or rainy season when the paths are muddy and slippery which makes gorilla habituation difficult.
How differs gorilla trekking from experience in habituation?
Travelers who engage in gorilla trekking will only spend one hour with the mountain gorillas; those who engage in gorilla habituation will spend four hours with the mountain gorillas.
Pack what for a gorilla habituation experience?
Insect repellent, garden gloves, hiking shoes, long sleeved shirt and trousers, waterproof rain jacket, warm sweater, camera and extra batteries, energy snacks and drinking water, walking stick, a pair of binoculars, face masks, back pack among others should be among the few basic items you pack or carry when planning a gorilla habituation safari in Bwindi impenetrable national park.
How can one reach the Bwindi impenetrable national park
From Entebbe international airport to Kisoro airstrip and thereafter the rushaga sector, Bwindi impenetrable national park is situated in south western Uganda and can be visited by air transportation means where you will book scheduled or charter domestic flights with Aerolink Uganda.
By road, visitors to Bwindi impenetrable national park will go from Kampala via masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, and then to the Rushaga sector—a safari vehicle would cover around 8 to 9 hours’ driving.
Visitors visiting Bwindi impenetrable national park from Kigali Rwanda would travel to Kigali international airport and thereafter link to the rushaga sector via cyanika border in Kisoro or katuna border, which takes around 4 to 5 hours’ drive.
