What is a gorilla trekking certificate?
What is a gorilla trekking certificate? A gorilla trekking certificate is a document that is given to tourists who have trekked with mountain gorillas by the Rwanda Development Board, Uganda Wildlife Authority, or Virunga Authority. It includes information about the gorilla family you visited, the date of your trek, and the gorilla destination or national park you came from.
In the thrilling sport known as “gorilla trekking,” visitors journey through the tropical jungle in search of habituated mountain gorillas and, if they are located, spend an hour with them in their natural environment. Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are the three African nations where gorilla trekking is practiced.
In Rwanda, gorilla trekking is conducted in Volcanoes National Park, in Congo, in Virunga National Park and Kahuzi Biega National Park, and in Uganda, in two national parks: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Gorilla trekking experience
In Rwanda, Congo, and Uganda, gorilla trekking begins at roughly 8:00 am with an orientation on the guidelines to be followed throughout the hike. Following the briefing, visitors will be split up into groups of eight, with each group being assigned a habituated gorilla family to travel with and a knowledgeable park guide who is familiar with the jungle’s gorilla trekking routes.
Because mountain gorillas like to roam about in search of food, trekking with them might take anywhere from two to seven hours, depending on their location. In addition to seeing other primate species, birds, plants, and vibrant butterflies while trekking, you will be permitted to spend an hour with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
This will allow you to observe their daily activities, take pictures and videos to share with people back home, and learn more about their habits and behaviors.
Gorilla trekking permits
Visitors over 15 years old are granted gorilla trekking permits, which are official cards or credentials that let them see habituated mountain gorillas and spend an hour with them in their natural environment.
Permits for gorilla trekking in the Congo’s Virunga and Kahuzi Biega national parks cost 400 USD per person for all nationalities, 1,500 USD per person for all nationalities in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park, and 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 in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
How to reserve permits for gorilla trekking
A reliable tour operator like Maseke Adventure Co.Ltd can help you book gorilla trekking permits in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Congo. Simply email us with the day, month, year, and gorilla location you want to visit.
After contacting us we will check for permission availability and if there are permit available, you will be required to submit a deposit for the permit. As soon as the funds are received, we will buy the permits for you and confirm with a scanned copy of the receipt.
In addition to organizing your entire gorilla trekking safari, which includes transportation to the national park, lodging, a full-time driver guide, additional activities to partake in after gorilla trekking, and other destinations to combine with gorilla trekking, Maseke Adventure Co.Ltd will not buy gorilla trekking permits on your behalf.
However, because gorilla trekking permits are competitive and tend to sell out quickly, especially during the peak season in June to September and December to February, it is recommended that you book three to six months prior to the trekking date in order to avoid last-minute disappointments.
Things you should bring on your gorilla trekking expedition
Insect repellent, long-sleeved shirts and pants, hiking shoes, a waterproof rain jacket, energy snacks and water, a camera and additional batteries, binoculars, a walking stick, a backpack, and other goods are among the many things that must be brought while going gorilla trekking.
The ideal time of year to go gorilla trekking
The best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Congo is during the dry season, which is June, July, August, September, December, January, and February. This is because there is less rainfall during this time, making access roads and gorilla trekking trails dry and passable, making trekking easier than during the rainy season, when the trails are muddy and slippery.
