Gorilla trekking is an activity done in Uganda, Rwanda and democratic republic of Congo. while in Uganda gorillas are spotted in two national parks unlike other countries like Bwindi impenetrable national park and mgahinga national park. These gorillas are located in tropical forests as endangered mountain gorillas whose population census is 1067 individuals in the whole world.
Uganda gorillas in both Bwindi and mgahinga population census is about 459 individuals with 25 mountain gorilla families. These parks are protected by Uganda Wildlife Authority which is the government body and is a UNESCO heritage site. Bwindi gorillas are located in four sectors which include Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkurnigo and Rushaga.
While as Rwanda uses Rwanda Development Board which protects national park include volcano national park which hosts endangered mountain gorillas. Gorillas in Congo are located in Virunga national park.
About mountain gorillas.
Gorillas are herbivorous, predominantly ground-dwelling great apes that inhabit the tropical forests of equatorial Africa. Researchers have confirmed that mountain gorillas are 98% humans due to their characters, their ways and they are the next closest living relatives to humans after chimpanzees.
Gorillas are the largest living primates, reaching heights between 1.25 and 1.8 m (4 ft 1 in and 5 ft 11 in), weights between 100 and 270 kg (220 and 600 lb), and arm spans up to 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in), depending on species and sex. They tend to live in troops, with the leader being called a silverback.
Gorilla habituation is a process of training gorillas to get used with humans taking about 2-3 years as they are doing research on them. Visitors doing gorilla habituation are given four hours to visit the gorillas and they are limited to four individuals per gorilla family.
What to pack.
- Cameras
Visitors are free and allowed to carry their cameras at the condition of removing flash lights while they are with mountain gorillas.
- Binoculars
Visitors are advised to carry their binoculars as they spot various bird species as they search gorillas in their tropical forest.
- Comfortable hiking boots.
Visitors are also advised to pack comfortable hiking boots since gorilla trekking is located in mountainous areas thus comfortable boots would make their experience the best.
- Hiking sticks.
Despite the fact that mountain gorillas are located in mountains, visitors are advised to go with hiking sticks to give them support as they search gorillas in the tropical forests.
- Long trousers, long t-shirts, cap.
Visitors are advised to pack long trousers, long t-shirts and long stockings because the trails they are passing through as they search mountain gorillas are bushy. some areas are slippery so long trousers and long t-shirts help you from mosquitoes as we as helping you from getting injuries in case you fall.
- Water & snacks.
As they search for mountain gorillas in their tropical forest, visitors are briefed that the activity may take full day or half day. So, they are advised to pack water and snacks to eat long the way however they are advised not to dump wastes in the forest.
- Rain coat.
Despite the fact that mountain gorillas are located in a tropical forest, its hard to predict the weather and its always expectant for weather changes. Visitors are advised to pack rain coat since searching for gorillas may take full day or half day
What is the best time to visit the mountain gorillas?
Although mountain gorillas are visited throughout the year, there is always the best time and that is dry season however wet season can still be tracked. During dry season, visitors will find the forest easy to walk through because it is not slippery and rainy.
While in wet season, visitors in wet season also track gorillas however there is much rain and trails in forest are slippery. In wet season, visitors will spot few birds in the forest as they search for gorillas.
How much is a gorilla permit in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo?
Despite the fact that endangered mountain gorillas are spotted in only 3 countries in the whole world, foreigners and residents desire to visit them and as the government in charge of them protected them and they are charged fee to pay to experience them. However, gorilla permits in each country differ from the other.
In Uganda, gorilla permits for foreign non resident costs $800 per person, foreign residents $700, rest in Africa $500, East Africans UGX 300,000 per person. While in Uganda gorilla habituation visitors pay $1500 per person.
In Rwanda, both foreign -non -residents, residents and East Africa pay $1500 per person whereas visitors of gorilla habituation still pay $1500 per individual.
Although Congo is less visited due to wars, their gorilla permits cost $450 per person.
What are the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking?
Before trekking.
- Visitors are gathered together for briefing to know dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking.
- Visitors are given hiking sticks after briefing.
- During the briefing Rwanda offers visitors coffee as they warm up for gorilla trekking unlike Uganda and Congo.
- Visitors are advised to sanitize themselves and wash hands.
After briefing.
- Visitors are led by rangers who knows the tress of mountain gorillas in the tropical forest.
- Gorilla trekkers are advised to lower their voices while they are with gorillas.
- Cameras are allowed without flashlights as visitor takes as many photos as they want.
- Children below 15 years of age are not allowed to trek gorillas for they are under age.
- Visitors advised not to dump wastes in the forest which may affect mountain gorillas.
- Visitors are limited to 8 individuals per gorilla family.
- Visitors of gorilla habituation are given fours hours to be with gorillas.
- Gorilla trekkers of normal tracking are one hour visit to be with endangered mountain gorillas.
- Illed visitors are not allowed to track gorillas because they can easily be affected by human diseases.
- Visitors of gorilla habituation are given fours hours to be with gorillas
- Visitors of gorilla habituation are limited to four individuals per gorilla family.
