Frequently asked questions about Gorilla Trekking
Frequently asked questions about Gorilla Trekking: Mountain gorilla trekking is only available in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but despite high demand, only eight permits are issued per family each day. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Volcanoes National Park, and Virunga National Park are home to the last few mountain gorillas. A briefing is required before undertaking any gorilla hike, whether in Uganda, Rwanda, or the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rangers at the park headquarters at Buhoma, NKuringo, Ntebeko, ORTPN, and Bukima Patrol teach visitors the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking. There are various requirements for gorilla trekking, including not feeding the gorillas and maintaining an 8-meter distance from them. You should also devote an hour to these gentle giants after tracking their location
After approximately 250 mountain gorillas were on the verge of extinction, all of this was done to protect the mountain gorilla conservation effort, which has thus far proven effective. International organisations like Gorilla Fund, IUCN, and the governments of the countries where the gorillas are situated are striving to raise funds from gorilla trekking to support gorilla conservation.
What is gorilla Trekking?
Gorilla trekking is the action of tracking down and spending an hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family. A team of rangers who accompany the gorillas in the early morning hours inform park authorities of the feeding locations of each mountain gorilla family. Trophies and their sale as mementoes were one of the primary drivers of gorilla poaching. The mountain gorilla conservation group continues to seek to incorporate local communities in its gorilla conservation effort by hiring locals as rangers and porters, as well as supporting neighbourhood projects such as community walks.
The only financial source for this is the proceeds from the sale of gorilla trekking licences. Every day, tourists gather at the ranger station for a briefing before a ranger guide leads a group of no more than eight people to the trail where the gorillas were last seen. This one of the Frequently asked questions about Gorilla Trekking
Where can I buy a gorilla trekking permit?
This is another Frequently asked questions about Gorilla Trekking. The Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Rwanda Development Board, and the Goma Virunga Park offices in the Democratic Republic of the Congo all offer gorilla trekking permits. Before purchasing a gorilla permit, make sure it is still available, as they periodically sell out. You must persist even if the service phone lines at gorilla permit sales places are crowded. The current scenario will not necessarily change simply because a gorilla permit has been confirmed as accessible. Once you’ve determined the availability of your preferred gorilla trekking dates, completely pay for your permit because first come, first served policies apply. Someone may come and purchase everything for your date.
To reserve a permit, payment is necessary. To protect our client’s interests, Journeys Uganda reserves gorilla permits; however, you must select which day you wish to embark on a gorilla trekking safari. We will later request that you provide us with some personal information, such as your full name as it appears on your passport, expiration date, birthdate, and country of citizenship. Following a successful gorilla trek, we will use this information to get a gorilla trekking card from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, which we will add to your certificate.
How long does going gorilla trekking take?
Gorilla trekking in Africa might take between two and seven hours, depending on where the gorillas are. Once you’ve discovered the gorillas, you’ll spend an hour with them in their natural habitat, photographing them, documenting the experience, and learning about their way of life, behaviours, and habits.
How much does a gorilla trekking permit cost?
Foreign nonresidents must pay $800 for a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda, while East African residents must pay $600 and 250000 Shillings, respectively. A gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda costs $1500 for non-resident foreigners, $450 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, $200 for SADC members, and $150 per trekker for Congolese citizens. this is another useful Frequently asked questions about Gorilla Trekking.
What should I wear for gorilla trekking?
Due to the unpredictable weather in gorilla destinations, visitors should pack the necessary gorilla trekking gear, which includes a long-sleeved shirt and pants, gardening gloves, long socks, energy snacks, insect repellent, a warm sweater, a walking stick, a camera and extra batteries, a backpack, and a rain jacket, among other items. this is also an important Frequently asked questions about Gorilla Trekking.
Can a disabled person participate in gorilla trekking?
Disabled travellers can go gorilla trekking. To make travelling easier, they will be carried in a modern sedan chair with a steel base, seat belts and handles, or in a traditional bamboo stretcher. Since gorilla trekking is a pastime for people of all ages, even the disabled, as long as they can get to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
What is the minimum age for gorilla trekking?
Gorilla trekking requires a minimum age of 15 years in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
What is included in the gorilla trekking permit?
The primary purpose of selling gorilla permits, whether for trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, or the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is to raise funds for conservation. The cost includes park admission, health care, ranger guide fees, and community support charges. When hiring a porter for gorilla trekking, both permit costs and tipping are not included.
What is the maximum number of people to trek with a gorilla family?
In Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, only eight people are permitted to go gorilla trekking. This is another important Frequently asked questions about Gorilla Trekking.
What is the best time to go gorilla trekking?
The Virunga area, where gorilla treks are done, has nearly identical weather patterns to Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rainy seasons cause the soft volcanic soils to appear sloppy and swampy, which influences gorilla trekking booking times. The drier months of June, September, and December are ideal for gorilla trekking since the trails are simpler to walk and there is less overgrown vegetation on tracking routes. Even during the severe rainy seasons of March to May and November, you can still go gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Volcanoes National Park, and Virunga National Park.
What is the best destination to see gorillas?
Gorilla trekking on an African safari is an unforgettable experience, but you also want to make memories while you’re there. Choosing the best park for gorilla trekking is a personal choice based on your day’s goals. Here are details about Frequently asked questions about Gorilla Trekking.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to around half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. The journey from Kampala or Entebbe Airport may take up to 8 hours due to the distance of around 540 km. A gorilla trekking programme in Bwindi takes at least three days. Uganda’s gorilla permit costs $700 per person, which is less than Rwanda’s. Gorilla trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi Forest allows you to easily connect for amazing game drives, chimp trekking, launch expeditions, birding, and much more.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda
Features a two-day gorilla trekking programme, the lowest amount of time you may spend on an African gorilla safari. The Rwanda gorilla trekking permit, on the other hand, costs the most ($1500) among its competitors. It is most easily accessible via a 2-and-a-half-hour drive from Kigali Airport to Volcanoes National Park, which is nearby.
Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park, Congo
The country has suffered from war and turmoil. The Virunga conservation team is putting a lot of effort into protecting the gorillas from these attacks; therefore, gorilla trekking is also happening. The Virunga National Park permit is $450, making it the least expensive of the three mountain gorilla habitats. The quickest route to Virunga National Park departs from Kigali Airport.
Is gorilla trekking worth its price?
A lot of travellers from all over the world prepare their entire paychecks to spend an hour with mountain gorillas, but the question remains: is it worth the price? Mountain gorillas were fortunate survivors of the ice period, and they can still be found only in Bwindi Forest, Volcanoes National Park, Virunga National Park, and Mgahinga National Park. Finding mountain gorillas is a unique experience. As you stare into those dark brown eyes and consider their sheer enormity, a chilly chill runs through your body. Knowing that mountain gorillas are peaceful creatures is amazing, considering the contradicting emotions this circumstance creates.
In the Virunga gorilla trekking area, which is a rich biosphere reserve, you can also encounter golden monkeys, blue monkeys, l’Hoest, chimpanzees, and other primates. This Virunga region, which includes Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is home to a rich bird population. Even Albertine endemics, such as Shelley’s Crimsonwings, magnificent Francolins, Rwenzori Turacos, white-bellied Robin-Chats, Blue Flycatchers, and Lagden’s Bush Shrikes, can be seen cruising through this area. This is another questions about Gorilla Trekking
How many times can someone go gorilla trekking?
Depending on your budget and desire to see mountain gorillas, you can go gorilla trekking as many times as you want to. Each gorilla permit purchased is valid for one person per day and per trip.
How Safe Is Gorilla Trekking?
Volcanoes National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park have rigorous safety standards for gorilla trekking. Although rebel action in the DRC’s Virunga National Park is causing concern, tourist safety is a primary focus. A squad of armed rangers leads tourists into the jungle every morning to begin their search for mountain gorillas. To ensure the safety of visitors comes first, the rangers constantly engage with the park’s administrative offices via radio calls and telephones.
The ranger will request assistance if any unusual behaviour is detected in the forest, which is uncommon yet has not occurred recently. Security is critical since gorilla trekking is Rwanda’s finest foreign exchange achievement. Despite its location in Uganda, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is guarded by the military. Another important Frequently asked questions about Gorilla Trekking.
How strenuous is Gorilla Trekking?
The diversity of vegetation zones can be attributed to widespread volcanic activity in the gorilla trekking region. Mountain gorillas rely heavily on several of these vegetation zones for food. To find mountain gorillas, gorilla trekkers hike the slopes, particularly during the wet season, when they are more likely to eat from the slopes. Due to limited sunlight penetration, the vegetation cover is less dense below than it is above. As a result, the routes are easier to follow, and the ranger guide always has a panga on hand to clip any spreading tendrils that appear. The speed and difficulty of gorilla trekking are determined by your degree of fitness.
How do you prepare for gorilla trekking?
Purchasing a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda, Rwanda, or the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the final confirmation of any gorilla trekking adventure. To verify the availability of a gorilla permit for your specific day, you must know the dates you want to go gorilla trekking and the number of people you will be going with. Before going gorilla trekking, get in condition so that you can climb the slopes of the hills and plateaus along the way. Make a list of your gorilla trekking supplies so you don’t forget anything important.
As you journey further into rural regions, some of the necessary equipment is usually unavailable locally, and there are fewer outlets to pick from. In Uganda, where gorilla permits are offered by area, reserve lodging as soon as you get your permits. Because it can be difficult to go gorilla trekking in one location and spend the night in another, particularly during peak seasons, you should secure lodging ahead of time.
Where can I stay during the gorilla trekking?
For ease of access, visitors are suggested to stay in lodges near the sites where they will trek. There is a wide range of upscale, midrange, and budget accommodations that provide quality services and amenities such as comfortable beds, en-suite bathrooms with cold and hot water, restaurants that serve local and international cuisine, free Wi-Fi in public areas, gardens for relaxing after a visit to the gorillas, and beautiful scenery.