Frequently asked questions about gorilla trekking
Frequently asked questions about gorilla trekking; Gorilla trekking is the most famous activity that attracts big number of tourist to travel to Africa and it involves visitors moving into the tropical rainforest in search of the habituated mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking is done in different destinations including Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda, Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Virunga national park and Kahuzi Biega national park in Congo.
Below are the frequently asked questions about gorilla trekking by most travelers and their answers?
What is gorilla trekking?
Gorilla trekking is an adventurous activity where the travelers get an opportunity to move on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of the habituated mountain gorillas and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat.
Where to go for gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking is an interesting activity that is done in three countries that is Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. In Uganda, gorilla trekking is carried out in two national parks that is Bwindi impenetrable national park which harbors the highest number of gorillas and Mgahinga gorilla national park, in Rwanda gorilla trekking is carried out in Volcanoes national park which in Democratic Republic of Congo, gorilla trekking is carried out in Virunga national park and Kahuzi Biega national park.
What is gorilla habituation experience?
Gorilla habituation experience is a process where the wild mountain gorillas are trained to get used to human presence for trekking. Gorilla habituation experience is only done in Rushaga sector, southern part of Bwindi impenetrable national park and takes a period of 2 to 3 years to be complete. Tourists who engage in the habituation experience will be allowed to spend four hours with the mountain gorillas in their environment.
Best time to go for gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park, Volcanoes national park, Virunga national park and Kahuzi Biega national park can be done anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the dry season which is also known as the peak season in the months of June to September and December to February because during this period, there is less or little rainfall in the national parks therefore access roads and gorilla trekking trails will be passable which makes trekking easy compared to the wet season when the gorilla trekking trails are wet, muddy and slippery which makes trekking difficult.
What to pack for your gorilla trekking adventure
When going for your gorilla trekking safari in either Uganda, Rwanda or Congo, there are a number of essential items that travelers should pack including hiking shoes, garden gloves, long sleeved shirt and trouser, waterproof rain jacket, long socks, warm seater, energy snacks and drinking water, face masks, camera and extra batteries, a pair of binoculars, insect repellent, walking stick, back pack among others.
What is the minimum age limit for gorilla trekking?
The minimum age limit for gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic republic of Congo is 15 years and the age limit was set by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) a government body in charge of tourism in Uganda, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) a government body in Rwanda and Virunga tourism. Children below the age of 15 years will engage in other safari activities like cultural tour, guided nature walks among others while there parent are trekking gorillas.
How long does gorilla trekking take
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park, Volcanoes national park, Virunga national park and Kahuzi Biega national park takes about 2 hours to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food but once the gorillas are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to watch them carry out their daily activities, learn more about their behaviors, take photos and record videos with a flash less camera.
What is a gorilla trekking permit?
A gorilla trekking permit is legal card or document that is issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority, Rwanda Development Board and Virunga tourism offices to any visitor above the age of 15 years allowing him or her to visit a habituated gorilla family and spend one hour with the mountain gorillas.
Cost of a gorilla trekking permit
Cost of gorilla trekking permits vary according to the gorilla destination you wish to visit for example a gorilla trekking permit in Volcanoes national park costs 1,500 USD per person for all nationalities, a gorilla trekking permit in Kahuzi Biega national park and Virunga national park costs 400 USD per person for foreign non residents and a gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park costs 700 USD per person for foreign non residents, 600 USD per person for foreign residents and 250,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
How to book a gorilla trekking permit
Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo can be booked through a trusted tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris where you will contact us with the date, month, year and gorilla destination that you wish to visit. After contacting us we will check for permit availability on your preferred dates and if there are permits available on your dates, you will be asked to make a deposit for the permit. Once the payment has been made, we will be able to purchase the permit on your behalf.
When to book the gorilla trekking permits
Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo should be booked 3 to 6 months in advance before the trekking date because they are competitive and usually get sold out quickly especially during the peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. Therefore in order to avoid last minute disappointments, you are advised to book in advance, Frequently asked questions about gorilla trekking
What is included in the gorilla trekking permit?
The gorilla trekking permit includes the one hour in the presence of the mountain gorillas, services of an experienced park guide and armed park rangers and park entrance fees for Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park.
What are the chances of seeing the mountain gorillas?
The chances of seeing the mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo are 99% and the one percent is for the tourist to trek to where the gorillas are located.
How many people are allowed to trek a gorilla family
8 people are allowed to visit each habituated gorilla family daily and allocation of gorilla families is done according to age, physical fitness and personal preference therefore if you are not physically fit, you should communicate with your driver guide so that they allocate you a gorilla family that is easy to trek.
Gorilla trekking rules and regulations
There are various gorilla trekking rules and regulations that travelers should follow when going for gorilla trekking and while in the presence of the mountain gorillas and they include,
- Keep your voices low during trekking and while in the presence of the mountain gorillas
- Listen to the guides instructions
- Wear face masks during while in the presence of the mountain gorillas
- Do not leave rubbish in the forest
- Keep a distance of 7 meters away from the mountain gorillas
- Do not smoke, drink or eat anything while in the presence of the mountain gorillas
- Do not touch the mountain gorillas as they are wild animals
- You are allowed to spend one hour in the presence of the gorillas
- Use flash less cameras when taking photos of the gorillas so as not to agitate them.
- In case you are having flue or a cold, you are not allowed to visit the gorillas as they are vulnerable to human diseases.
- In case the mountain gorillas charge, do not run away, crunch down slowly, avoid staring directly into their eyes.
What other activities can travelers engage in after gorilla trekking?
Apart from gorilla trekking, there are other safari activities that you can engage in during your safari including guided nature walks, bird watching, cultural tours, gorilla habituation experience, golden monkey trekking, mountain climbing, wildlife viewing, boat cruise among others.
For more information about the frequently asked questions about gorilla trekking, you can reach out to us at Achieve Global Safaris.
