Tips for gorilla trekking

Tips for gorilla trekking; Gorilla trekking is an interesting and exceptional activity that involves travelers moving 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. Gorilla trekking is done in different areas 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 Democratic Republic of Congo. This article will highlight different tips for gorilla trekking so as to plan a successful gorilla trekking adventure.

Book gorilla trekking permits in advance

When planning a gorilla trekking safari to Uganda, Rwanda or Congo, gorilla trekking permits 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 las minute disappointments you are advised to book in advance.

Rules and regulations during trekking

·When going on a gorilla trekking adventure, there are a number of rules and regulations to travelers should follow during trekking and they include,

·Washing hands before heading out in the jungle to see the gorillas

·Keeping the voices low during trekking and while in the presence of the gorillas

·Not leaving rubbish in the park during trekking

·Only 8 people will be allowed to visit a habituated gorilla family daily

·Keep a minimum distance of 7 meters away from the gorillas so as to minimize the risk of disease transmission

·Do not eat, drink, smoke while in the presence of the mountain gorillas

·Do not touch the mountain gorillas as they are wild animals

·Do not use flash light cameras when taking photos

·While in the presence of the mountain gorillas, you are allowed to spend one hour with them

·In case you are not feeling well, you are not allowed to trek the gorillas as they are vulnerable to human diseases.

·If you feel the urge to sneeze or cough when in the presence of the gorillas, you can turn your head away and cover your nose and mouth so as to minimize the spread of bacteria.

·In case you need to use a toilet while in the forest, you ask the guide to dig for you a hole which you will fill with sand when you finish.

Tips for gorilla trekking : Cost of gorilla trekking permits.

Gorilla trekking permits are legal documents that are issued to visitors above the age of 15 years allowing them to visit habituated gorilla families and spend one hour with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

A gorilla trekking permit in Volcanoes national park in Rwanda costs 1,500 USD per person for all nationalities, a gorilla trekking permit in Virunga national park and Kahuzi Biega 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.

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 all year round 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 gorilla trekking trails will be dry and passable which makes trekking easy compared to the rainy season when the trails are muddy and slippery which make gorilla trekking difficult.

What to pack for your gorilla trekking safari

There are essential items that tourist should pack or carry when going on a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda, Rwanda or Congo including hiking shoes to support your ankles and keep your feet dry, insect repellent to protect you from biting insects, long sleeved shirt and trouser to keep you warm, energy snacks and drinking water to keep you hydrated, camera and extra batteries to take photos, a pair of binoculars, waterproof rain jacket to protect you from rainfall, walking stick to give you support during trekking, back pack to carry your trekking items among others.

Gorilla trekking experience

Gorilla trekking is one of the major activities that attracts big numbers of tourists to travel to Africa and trekking starts very early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing, you will be sub divided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and an experienced park guide who is conversant with different trekking trails and start trekking in the jungle. Gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo takes about 2 hours to 7 hours depending on where the mountain gorillas are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to view different wildlife species and once the gorillas are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their habitat which gives you an opportunity to watch them carry out their daily activities, learn more about their behaviors, habits, take photos and record videos with a flash less camera.

Other activities to engage in during the safari

After the adventurous gorilla trekking experience there are other safari activities that travelers can engage in during the safari including bird watching, cultural experiences, guided nature walks, mountain climbing, golden monkey trekking, chimpanzee trekking, wildlife viewing among others.

How to book gorilla trekking permits

Gorilla trekking permits can either be booked directly though Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) a government body in charge of tourism in Uganda, Virunga offices in Congo and Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in Rwanda where you will contact the park headquarters on email or telephone calls. Gorilla trekking permits in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo can also be booked through a trusted tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris where you will contact us with the date, month, year and gorilla destination you wish to visit.

For more information about tips for gorilla trekking, kindly reach out to us at Achieve Global Safaris.