Things No One Ever Tells You About Gorilla Tracking In Africa

Getting the best knowledge about gorilla tracking in Africa gives you the ultimate satisfaction.

Some of the information hidden about gorilla tracking you may not get the chance to know. Here are some of the things that you never get to know about gorilla tracking in Africa.

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 Mountain Gorillas Are Habituated To Adopt to Human Presence

 Mountain gorillas are wild animals that live in the forests. In order for tourists to have a chance of seeing them, they are habituated to be in human presence.

After the authority discovering a potential family of Wild mountain gorillas, it is studied and followed by a group of researchers for some time.

Later after the family of mountain gorillas has fully been confirmed that it has adopted to human presence, it is added to the families to be trekked.
In Uganda, about 17 gorilla families have been confirmed to be suitable for tourist viewing.

The highest Chance of Seeing Many Mountain Gorillas is In Uganda

Uganda has the biggest number of mountain gorillas in the world about half the total number. The other half is shared between Rwanda and D.R. Congo

Bwindi Forest National Park which is a prehistoric forest is the biggest habitat of Mountain Gorillas in the World.

Mgahinga National Park in Uganda is also the other home of Mountain Gorillas.

Why Gorilla Tracking Permits Are Booked According to Area as opposed to Gorilla families

Gorilla tracking was initially booked according to gorilla families but later changed to areas. This is because some of the gorillas living in certain areas were less visited. This would distort the habituation purpose.

Some of the families were visited so often leading to over trampling on there food. Other families would in the long run lose sight of human presence pushing them back to wild behavior.

What is the Actual Amount of time Taken to Find the Mountain Gorillas

Gorillas are mobile animals that have to search for there own meal for the day. This makes it quite difficult to confine them in one location. This also makes it quite challenging to determine the exact time of seeing them.

Gorilla tracking time varies from about 30 minutes after the start of the trek to over 5 hours of the day.

Whichever time you take in the forest to find the gorillas, you are allowed only one hour in there presence.

Do Mountain Gorillas Eat Flesh?

Physically, mountain gorillas are huge and at a glance are fierce. One would think they eat flesh to satisfy there huge size however, they are entirely vegetarian.

There delicacy is bamboo but also feed on wild fruits, soft stems, ants, and other vegetables they find.

 Mountain Gorillas Are Emotional

 When mountain gorillas have an achievement like birth of a new baby, win a battle, get a new feeding ground they celebrate. When they lose a member of the family, they somber. They have about 96% human genes that make them behave like humans.

Gorilla Tracking Has Special Dress Code

When on holiday in Africa, people park designer wear for the trip which is not the case with gorilla tracking.

Being fully a wilderness activity that involves walking over muddy, slippery and wet ground, you need special wear.

As you pack for your Africa holiday, you need a special list of what to wear during gorilla tracking.

Some of what to pack for gorilla tracking involves tracking boots, long sleeved shirt and long trousers, insect repellant, light water proof bag, garden gloves READ MORE DETAILS

Gorilla Track Has Age Limit

Most holiday activities in Africa universally involve all ages but gorilla tracking has an age limit.

Tourists aged 15 and above are allowed to do gorilla tracking. This is because of the nature of the terrain in the area where mountain gorillas live.

Gorillas live at the bottom of ridges during the dry seasons and during the wet seasons, they may be found on the slopes.

You need to have some fitness in order to endure the time you may take searching for the mountain gorillas. Children below this age may not be in position to hang-on.

It also takes a mature mind to control your adrenaline at the first sight of the mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas get scared of noise in case one is frightened by there presence. This may push them into hiding which disrupts the gorilla tracking moments.

How To Combine Gorilla tracking Safari with other Holidays In Africa

Whether you are travelling to Africa for the great migration Experience in Tanzania or Kenya Safari, you can do gorilla tracking too.

The East African Tourist Visa gives you a chance to traverse any of the East African countries with ease.

You may connect from Tanzania or Kenya by road into Uganda or Fly from Tanzania or Kenya into Uganda.

When you use the road, it is cheaper but very tiresome however flying into Entebbe in Uganda you feel more comfortable and relaxed to do gorilla tracking.

You can also drive from Rwanda into Uganda to do gorilla tracking which is fur cheaper as you save on the gorilla permit. In Rwanda the gorilla permit is sold at $1500 in Uganda, the gorilla permit is sold at $700.

What Is The Simplest Gorilla Tracking Itinerary

Gorilla tracking being most people’s dream come true African Holiday requires ample time.

You need to have atleast 3 days ready for the Gorilla tracking safari.

3 Day Africa Gorilla Tracking In Uganda

Day1 Drive To Bwindi forest Park

The driver guide will pick you from your hotel and take you to Bwindi Forest. The drive is full of fun and has wonderful stops like at the Equator.

The highlands, water bodies, vegetation cover, animals that you pass by make the trip memorable.

Although the roads are bumpy, the moment you get closer to the park you feel the freshness of a virgin countryside.

Check in

 Day 2 Gorilla Tracking in Uganda

Having packed and won the right gorilla tracking gear, head to the ranger guide station.

Searching for the gorillas starts from the trail leading to where they were last seen the previous day.

When you finally find them, wait watch the family for an hour taking pictures for memories.

Return home.

Day 3 Drive back To Entebbe Airport

Having spent your days on holiday in Africa, get back to the road to catch up with your flight out.