How To Behave before Finding Mountain Gorillas During Gorilla trekking

The way to behave before finding the mountain gorillas during gorilla trekking starts with attending briefing. The mountain gorillas are very sensitive primates that are very keen with intruders in the wilderness.

Having a gorilla permit is number one requirement before confirming any gorilla safari. The gorilla permit is a document or card with some personal details that allow you chance to meet the mountain gorillas. In Uganda, the gorilla permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and in Rwanda Rwanda Development Board have the mandate to sell and regulate these permits.

On gorilla trekking day, tourists are expected to report to the ranger station earlier so that all necessary documents can be verified. Ranger guides take you through a session of briefing where details about what to expect when with the mountain gorillas are given, how to behave before seeing these primates and others are given in details.

Gorilla family allocating is then done but even though the criteria to be used is not known, sometimes gorilla permit allocating is based on age bracket, physical capability and others. Note that determining the easiest gorilla family to trek is hard because the family that was considered the easiest to find the previous day may be the furthest another day. It is advisable to hire a porter at this point before starting the gorilla trekking safari.  A porter is a person who assists with carrying your belongings during gorilla trekking in order to lift off your shoulders the burden of this weight. The porters are from the local community and many of them are reformed poachers who turn their life around for better and now benefit from the existence of the forests where they used to set traps and catch the inhabitants.

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On the way To the Mountain Gorillas During Gorilla trekking

Only maximum 8 tourists are allowed to visit the mountain gorillas per fully habituated gorilla family per day. This measure is used to minimize the behavioral disturbance to the mountain gorillas. The mountain gorillas are habituated to be with atleast this number or less. The presence of big crowds during gorilla trekking may intimidate cowardly mountain gorillas.

Sanitizing before starting the gorilla trekking is compulsory for every tourists as a measure taken to minimize the chances of spreading infections to these vulnerable primates. The mountain gorillas are highly susceptible to human infection as they have a DNA that is about 96% to that of humans.

Donot forget to carry packed lunch before heading to the ranger station because you are not sure of return time after finding the mountain gorillas. This is because the mountain gorillas move freely in the wilderness and so locating them may take a longer time depending on where they are to spend the day.

Avoid dumping garbage in the park because this alters the nature of the environment where the mountain gorillas and other forest inhabitants thrive. The mountain gorillas depend on the forest to survive as foliage especially bamboo is there favorite delicacy so when you leave rubbish, it leads to environmental distraction.

On starting the gorilla trekking tour, tourists follow the trail leading to where the mountain gorillas were last seen the previous day. The ranger guides also use the clues provided by early trackers who wake up to search for where the mountain gorillas may have spent the night. Mountain gorillas donot normally move very fast far away from these locations because of there bulky bodies.  Having some level of patience is very important.

Assists the ranger guides trace the mountain gorillas as part of the adventure by following the clues they leave behind including fresh dung, freshly chewed vegetation, foot prints, listen to there murmurs and others. Look out for the mountain gorillas’ overnight nesting sites along the way and others. The ranger guides follow the pace of the slowest trekker so that none of the tourists is forgotten in the forest.

In case you wish to take a long call during gorilla trekking, request the ranger guide to dig a hole for you at about 30 centimeters deep and cover well beyond recognition. This is avoid having to tempt the mountain gorillas and other forest dwellers from trying to exhume anything.

When finally you find the mountain gorillas, the ranger guide will request you not to show up with any eats before these primates. Anyone who wishes to smoke or eat is advised to do it in atleast 200 meters from the location where the mountain gorilla are. One of the tourists may be requested to represent the rest of the group during the introduction to the gorilla family before the rest of you finally meet the mountain gorillas

Enjoy the presence of the mountain gorilla family the guides will inform you when to take out your cameras but use those that are soundproof and no flashlight. This is because mountain gorillas are intimidated by unfamiliar sounds in there environment.

Lower your voices prior to finding the mountain gorillas and this may offer a better environment to find other primates, different bird species and wildlife in the forest.

Can mountain gorillas turn violent during gorilla trekking

By nature mountain gorillas are not violent primates but can charge when provoked. When with the mountain gorillas, they normal keep calm and chew foliage as though not minding about your presence. Donot be fooled by this behavior to try and engage in provocative behavior because the mountain gorillas have a spy network that keeps alerts and updated with every event that unfolds.

When agitated, the mountain gorillas may react by pulling grass around, thump hard there chests, walk on one leg, hoot and much more. It is not all the time that you observe this behavior that the cause of this mood is by you so wait for the ranger guide to establish the cause of the matter. Ensure to abide by the new guidelines from the ranger guides that may include submissions, pretending to chew foliage and more.         

Follow the ranger guide’s example  by crouching down slowly , avoid staring in the eyes of the mountain gorillas, give way for the mountain gorillas to pass, donot attempt running away as this may increase risk of  attack.

What To Expect When With The Mountain Gorillas During Gorilla Trekking

The gorilla family will pretend not to mind your presence when you locate them and will keep chewing foliage as they have to satisfy there bellies for the day and throughout the night.

Even though tourists are expected to be about 8 meters from the mountain gorillas upon finding them, there curiosity may pushes them to bridge that gap and reach out to touch you or the gadgets. It may be an exciting moment but intimidating too however you need to hold back and not show signs of being frightened.

Watch the gorilla family members go about there activities including feeding, grooming, playing, napping and others. Enjoy the surprises as they happen during gorilla trekking because some are once in a lifetime experiences and unfold in the moment.

Sometimes tourists are required to show submission the dominant silverback as a way to show that you are not a threat to the gorilla family. 

Stay in a tight group when you find the mountain gorillas so that you donot appear to ambush them when you surround them.

Only one hour is allowed with the gorilla family when you locate it as a measure taken to minimize after chances of changing the mood of the mountain gorillas by overstaying.

When Is The Best Time To Go On Gorilla Trekking Safari

The best time to do gorilla trekking safari is the dry season when less precipitation is expected in the wilderness. The gorilla trekking adventure is exciting in the dry season when the mountain gorillas are more active

In the dry season, the mountain gorillas and other primates are in an exciting mood as they search to find sufficient food to take them through the night and day. The environment in the wilderness is lovely as flowers blossom and the forest smells of nature aromas. Along the way, the creepers and vines that drape down the plateaus and ridges may obstruct the trails.

On the way, you have chance to meet other wild animals and flora that form part of eco-system of these destinations. You may have the chance of crossing paths with other inhabitants including forest elephants, more than 9 other primates, over 350 bird species including Albertine rift endemics and others.

The dry season which is normally June to September and December to early February is recognized as the peak tourism season. More tourists are expected on Uganda safari or Rwanda safari in this season creating heavy competition for the limited logistics that support tourism. It requires, advance booking to as you prepare the gorilla safaris especially the cardinal requirements that is the gorilla permits. Most tourists book the gorilla permits in as advance as 6 months to a year prior.

The wet season which is March to May and November is regarded as the low tourism season when fewer tourists are expected to visit Uganda or Rwanda. Even though it is possible to find last minute gorilla permits in the low season, finding availability may also get challenging as demand may rise.

Chances of finding yourself on solo gorilla trekking safari are more open in the wet season when fewer tourists are in your accompany.

Can The Mountain Gorillas Turn Violent During Gorilla Trekking

In general, the mountain gorillas are known to be calmand serene but they can charge when you provoke them. Before opening the mountain gorilla family to the public, they are first habituated for a period until proved ready to be opened to the public. These mountain gorilla families may pretend not to notice you when you show up as they keep munching on the foliage around them.

The silverback mountain gorillas keep the entire gorilla family in check and so even the visitors. The gorilla trekking family operates a spy network which watches every move of the strangers in there presence. Sometimes before showing up, one of the tourists may be requested by the ranger guide to make the introduction to the gorilla family as a gesture to show that your visit is for a good cause.

When with the mountain gorillas, you may notice some odd behavior but no need to panic but wait for the ranger guide to establish the cause of this behavior. To know that the mood of the mountain gorillas has changed, they may do chest thumping, hoot, pull grass around they, communicate to each other and move into hiding.

Try not to panic but compose yourself and follow the new instructions given by the ranger guide including including showing signs of being submissive, trying to chewing vegetation and others.

What Is Included In The Cost Of The Gorilla Trekking Safari Package In Uganda

The cost of the gorilla trekking packages in Uganda is categorised into luxury, mid-range and basic. The gorilla permit cost is the universal cost as this is like the entry ticket to this adventure. At the moment the cost of the Uganda gorilla permit is $800 for International nonresidents, $700 for international resident, $500 for other Africans and 300,000shs for East Africans

In addition to the cost of the Uganda Gorilla permit, other additional safari costs likely to incur on Uganda safari include accommodation costs. Within the cost of the accommodation to use during the gorilla trekking safari some may include bed, meals, laundry, housekeeping and others. Some facilities have shared items so you need to know this before finalizing payments.

Transport reservation to use during gorilla safari is very important and transport costs may include gas or fuel, driver guide hire, vehicle hire, maintenance and other possible expenses. Most of the expense to incur on gorilla trekking safari are charged per day. In case you have additional costs to incur during gorilla safari you may include them on your total cost. Donot forget to pack some hard cash to use for on ground purchase. The cost of the gorilla trekking safari may also vary with the number of people travelling with because when charging the entire gorillas safari cost it is per person. The time to take on gorilla trekking tour in Uganda also contributes to the total cost of this safari

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