How To Get Comfortable On Gorilla Trekking Tour in Africa

Even though gorilla trekking happens in the wilderness comfort is number one priority. The mountain gorillas live in prehistoric Virunga area in only three countries Uganda, Rwanda and D.R.Congo in the entire world. Open your mind to the adventure of walking in the jungle during gorilla trekking experience as there is plenty to see along the way.

The vegetation and existence of these thick forests where these mountain gorillas plus other primates reside dates back over 25000 years ago Request A Quote

To get comfortable during the gorilla trek you need to bear some level of patience before finding the gorillas. These are free animals that traverse the forest with no boundaries to stop there movements.

Tips on How To Get Comfortable on Gorilla Trekking Safari in Africa

Book The gorilla Trekking Permit in advance

Every person on gorilla safari needs to have a gorilla permit but during the peak season, the demand for gorilla permits increases creating scarcity. It is best to book he gorilla permit in advance whether travelling in Uganda, Rwanda or D.R.Congo.

The number of gorilla permits is limited to maximum 8 per gorilla family per day for conservation reasons. The number of gorilla families is generally still limited as habituation process is also on going.

There are high chance of getting frustrated at the last minute as the gorilla permits sell out fast. Without payment, there is no guarantee of getting the gorilla permit after finding availability. The status of the gorilla permits changes any time without warning.

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Book Accommodation For The Gorilla Safari Closer To Where Your Permit Is Booked

Gorilla Trekking starts early morning with briefing which is a must attend for every time you are to engage in this adventure whether you are a first timer or repeat client. It is best to spend your time within or closer to the gorilla trekking destination.

Each of the gorilla trekking destinations in Africa has accommodation in categories like luxury, mid-range and basic. Time of returning from the gorilla trek is hard to determine so you need to return to a comfortable home away from home on return.

 Note that in Uganda, gorilla trekking permits are allocated according to area so in case you are a DIY, you need to book accommodation closer or within the area where your gorilla permit is booked. This is because the drive from one area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to another area of the park is quite long and filled with obstacles that may not permit you to arrive in time for briefing.

Attend Briefing Before The Gorilla Trekking Safari

As a must briefing is necessary before gorilla trekking where details and guidelines of this adventure are explained in detail. Some of the guidelines of gorilla trekking include no walking in the forest without a ranger guide, dumping garbage along the way is forbidden.

Even though the information on gorilla safari rules is almost everywhere, the life of mountain gorillas is dynamic and so every gorilla family may have differing characteristics. Failure to attend briefing before the gorilla trek may amount to getting dismissed even though you have a gorilla permit.

Wear the Right Gorilla Trekking Gears

During the packing for the gorilla trek, you need to use the right list. On gorilla trekking day, you need to wear safari boots, long sleeved shirt, safari hat, insect repellant and others.

The wilderness has other occupants which may be quite tough on you in case you donot wear the right gears. For you to feel comfortable while on gorilla safari, check the list of items to pack during gorilla tour.

Get Ready To Share the gorilla trekking Adventure with strangers

The more the merrier so during the gorilla trekking safari, prepare your mind to do the gorilla trekking adventure with others. Allocating gorilla families after briefing is done randomly so the procedure used is quite hard to determine.

Donot be surprised to be allocated a different gorilla family from those you have travelled with but trust the process because you will all have fun. Maximum 8 tourists are allowed t visit each gorilla family per day.

Carry Packed Lunch Before The Gorilla Trek

Time of returning after the gorilla trek is hard to determine but you need to carry packed lunch since breakfast is taken too early to last the entire night. During the walk to find the mountain gorillas, ranger guides takes you through breaks so that you donot get tired.

Carry some snacks to munch on in case you are too  

Getting tired is inevitable during gorilla trekking but to keep moving, carry some snacks to munch on when hungry and to keep you glued to the trophy which is seeing the mountain gorillas. Donot dump garbage along the way as this alters he nature of the forest where the mountain gorillas thrive.

Hire A Porter To Help During The Gorilla Trek

The time you take during gorilla trekking is quite hard to determine but in order not get tired you may hire a porter. A porter is an accredited local person from the community who will help carry your gorilla trekking gears so that you are not let down by this weight. The cost of the porter is friendly and this is one of the direct ways to give back to the local community.

Follow Instructions From The Ranger Guide During Gorilla Trekking

Indeed the time you take on a gorilla trek may take some time but stick to the guidelines of the gorilla safari in order not to cause the mountain gorillas to get agitated. Try not to make loud noise that can cause the mountain gorillas to get suspicious or agitated.

Open Your Mind Beyond Seeing The Mountain Gorillas

Gorilla trekking  includes walking for unknown time yet along the way you may get to see other wild animals like the olive baboons, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys and others. An array of birds lives in the Virunga area including Albertine rift endemics.

In order to keep the excitement of meeting the mountain gorillas up to the moment when you find them, look out for other forest dwellers in order not to get bored.

Stay With The Mountain Gorillas For An Hour

During gorilla trekking, only one hour is allowed with them for conservation reasons. When gorilla trekking is conducted, it disrupts the life of the mountain gorillas where they have to feed, play, carry on with there daily life. This is why just an hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas.

While with the mountain gorillas, ensure you exhaust all that you need to do like take photos, watch them and much more. Try to keep with in guidelines of the gorilla trekking safari in order not to agitate the gorillas.

Where to do Gorilla Trekking in Africa?

Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable national park in southwestern part is the hot spot for gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda with so far over 20 gorilla trekking families. Gorilla habituation experience also happens in Uganda and this allows tourist four hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family.

Gorilla permits for Bwindi impenetrable National Park are booked according to areas and the park has four areas that is Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo. Before booking accommodation to any of these areas, you need to not in which area the gorilla permits is booked. This is to avoid having to wake up so early to drive to the ranger station in order to catch up with gorilla trekking.

Mgahinga National Park is another gorilla trekking destination in Uganda with so far one gorilla family open to the public called Nyakagezi. Other than the mountain gorillas, Mgahinga National Park also hosts golden monkey safaris.

Rwanda

Volcanoes national Park is the only home for gorilla trekking tours in Rwanda. At the moment, about 12 gorilla families are open for tourism in Rwanda some include Kwitonda, Susa, Amahoro, Sabyinyo and others.

One needs to book a gorilla trekking permit from Rwanda Development Board to be allowed to do Rwanda gorilla trekking.

Other than the mountain gorillas, Volcanoes national Park hosts the rare golden monkeys too.

D.R.Congo

The D.R.Congo is home for the mountain gorillas and these live in the Virunga National Park. At the moment about 5 gorilla families from Virunga National Park are open to the public but the process of gorilla habituation is still on going. Gorilla habituation is the process by which a gorilla family is helped to get used to human presence without altering there nature.

The unstable political environment in Eastern D.R.Congo is a big hindrance to the progress of gorilla trekking in D.R.Congo and gorilla trekking as an activity. Other than the mountain Gorillas, the eastern part of D.R.Congo also hosts the eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National.

Which country is best for gorilla trekking safari in Africa

The best country for doing gorilla trekking in Africa varies with you interests, budget and much more. below are some of the reasons why all these gorilla trekking destinations in Africa are interesting to visit

• The D.R.Congo has two gorilla species which other countries like Uganda and Rwanda only have one. D.R.Congo has the mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park and the Eastern Lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park.
• Rwanda has the shortest travel time that is about 3 hours from the city or Airport to the gorilla trekking destination that is Volcanoes National Park. Uganda and D.R.Congo require you to drive for a long time to get to the gorilla trekking destinations that is over 7 hours.
• Uganda has two gorilla trekking destinations for the mountain gorillas that is Bwindi Impenetrable National park and Mgahinga National Park. Rwanda and D.R.Congo each has one mountain gorilla trekking destination.
• The cost of gorilla trekking permit for D.R.Congo is currently $450 per person while the current Uganda gorilla permit cost is $800 per person and Rwanda gorilla permit cost is $1500 per person.
• Politically, Rwanda and Uganda enjoy a stable political environment so you are atleast safe during the gorilla safari while D.R.Congo there is sometimes instability which disrupts gorilla trekking.
• Uganda has more gorilla permits open to the public that is over 184 gorilla trekking permits and about 16 gorilla habituation experience permits while Rwanda has about 96 gorilla permits and D.R.Congo about 40 gorilla permits.
• Other than gorilla trekking, Uganda provides better chances to do other safari activities like game drives, white water rafting, birding, sports fishing and others. Rwanda and D.R.Congo are limited with choices of other Africa safari activities.

What To Pack For Gorilla Trekking Safari?

A camera to take photos and keep memories of this once in a lifetime adventure with the mountain gorillas.

Safari foldable hat with a large brim to protect your head from buzzing insects in the jungle.

Safari convertible trousers and log sleeved shirt in wilderness friendly colors like tan and Khaki to use while in the jungle. Camouflage is not accepted in Uganda as this is related to military wear.

Warmers as it gets so cold in the morning and late afternoons so you need to keep warm.

Foldable waterproof bottle to carry with water in order to quench thirst

Waterproof backpack on wilderness friendly colors that you are not afraid to get dirty.

Safari waterproof boot to use when walking through the jungle which is quite slippery and soggy from the decomposing matter.

Garden gloves to hold a tighter grip on to the vines while walking along the trails

A pair of binocular to capture a better vision of the far ranging features in the jungle.

Rain coat in case it falls as these tropical rain forest may receive rains the entire day

Hard cash to use as a means of exchange when purchasing on ground items like souvenirs as credit cards are not easy to use in Africa because of the lengthy process of obtaining money from them.

First aid kit with medication for emergency treatment.

Insect repellant to apply and keep away insects that may hurt you while in the jungle.

Sunglasses to protect your eyes from insects that buzz in the jungle.

Fully charged batteries to exchange with in case one run low.

Energy treats to munch on as breakfast is taken too early to last the entire time you are in the jungle.

An adopter and charger in case you need to recharge your gargets.

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