What Are The Challenges Of Gorilla Trekking Safari In Africa
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Gorilla trekking is one of Africa’s sought after activities most tourists on safari would wish to do this but doesn’t mean it has no problems. A few tourists who go gorilla trekking in Africa leave the forests without feeling unfathomable connection, which many find profoundly moving. The activity is rewarding at the end after standing face to face with the gentle giants the mountain gorillas but the tourist may face some challenges during the safari and preparations.
In Africa, only three countries support the survival of the mountain gorillas, these include Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, Rwanda in Volcanoes National Park and D.R.Congo in Virunga National Park.
From the time you decide to take part in gorilla trekking, you must be ready to face possible challenges that may face you along the way. Some of these may include
Highlights of Challenges Of Gorilla Trekking Safari In Africa
Before Gorilla Trekking Challenges
No Gorilla Permit Availability
Saving for gorilla trekking Safari
Congested Uganda Wildlife Authority Phone Call Que
Fully Immunizing Against Corona Virus Before gorilla trekking safari
Do Some Exercises For Fitness Before Gorilla Trekking
Packing For Gorilla Trekking Tour
During Gorilla Trekking Challenges
Losing gorilla trekking Permit
Catching a Communicable Infection before Gorilla Trekking
Staying in accommodation not in the Area For Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Variation in the Pace of Other Trekkers During Gorilla Trekking
Unpredictable Time For Finding the mountain Gorillas
Challenging way to the mountain gorillas
Only One Hour with the Mountain gorillas Is allowed
Irregular rains During Gorilla trekking
Obstruction from Other Trekker During Gorilla trekking
What Are Before Gorilla Trekking Challenges
When preparing to do gorilla trekking, its not always a smooth run but you just need to keep moving and trusting your tour operator. At Arch safaris and Tours, we value our client’s quest for doing gorilla trekking and are ready to support them in going through necessary preparations. We stand with our clients during challenges of gorilla trekking and offer assistance where we are able too.
No Gorilla Permit Availability
Selecting a date for gorilla trekking is one of the most important parts of starting this safari preparation but at times, the permits are sold out. In case you had a purpose for organizing the gorilla trekking safari like birthday commemoration, Christmas day rewards and others that are static dates, then it gets more challenging.
You may be requested to turn around your itinerary or select another date in case you have other Africa safari activities to do in that country. This may not feel great for you but instead of being waitlisted for that date where you are not sure if availability will open up or a no-show for one of the booked tourists on ground. Such speculation may not yield results at times. This is frustrating yet gorilla trekking may have been one of the top African activities you want to do.
Saving for gorilla trekking Safari
Gorilla trekking in Africa is one of the most expensive activities but worth every penny you spend. The unnegotiable cost price for gorilla trekking is the gorilla permit, which currently in Uganda costs $700, Rwanda $1500 and D.R.Congo costs $450 per person per trek. This hefty price is a pinch to some tourists’ pockets but they still go for what they desire to do in life.
You need to save your hard-earned money for some time to enjoy the entire gorilla trekking safari, which means foregoing some other desires. It takes a determined person to be part of gorilla trekking preparations and stay on committed.
Congested Uganda Wildlife Authority Phone Call Que
When you wish to check gorilla trekking permit availability directly from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the long que of waiting to get through may disappoint you. When you get though and get no positive answer, it gets frustrating. You have to go through the same struggle each time you change the dates or wish to get more details from the reservation office of Uganda Wildlife Authority or Rwanda Development Board.
As a registered Uganda Company, at Arch Safaris And Tours we have that chance of accessing the Uganda Wildlife Authority Permit or Rwanda Development Board Gorilla Permit Schedule although we cannot directly do the booking. We use this availability schedule to save our clients from getting frustrated by the congested phone at reservation office
Fully Immunizing Against Corona Virus Before gorilla trekking safari
Before travelling for gorilla trekking safari, you must immunize against Covid 19 and carry a supporting document. You may also present negative PCR tests for Corona Virus taken atleast 72 hours before gorilla trekking. Immunize against all other disease as listed on the travel document for that country.
During gorilla trekking, you must wear a clean facemask at least before coming face to face with the mountain gorillas to protect them from acquiring any communicable infection from humans.
Do Some Exercises For Fitness Before Gorilla Trekking
Take some physical exercise for fitness before gorilla trekking. This may not go well with those not interested in doing exercises. The topography of the gorilla trekking area is mountainous because of the volcanic walk in this area. You may be required to hike to get to the mountain gorillas especially when they are feeding from the slopes.
You may start with simple walks in your compound to stretch out your muscles a little more.
Packing For Gorilla Trekking Tour
When preparing to go gorilla trekking, you must pack the right gears. This safari is a jungle walk so you need to prepare accordingly. As you prepare for gorilla trekking, some of the gears you must not forget include tracking boots, convertible long trousers and shirt, insect repellant, camera, garden gloves, Read More About Gorilla Trekking Gears
You do not need to over pack as this is disturbing especially if you have to check out into another lodge in a different National Park. This is for those who have additional African activities to their itinerary. Even in the vehicle leg room is reduced by many bags yet you have a long drive especially to Bwindi Forest National Park which takes about 8 hour to 9 hours. Buying new items for gorilla trekking gears may widen your budget.
What Are During Gorilla Trekking Challenges
Losing gorilla trekking Permit
If you do personal booking for a gorilla trekking permit and use self-drive or public means to get to the gorilla trekking parks, you have to prepare for a possibility of losing your bags along the way. It is not always the case but if it happens and your gorilla permit card is within the bag then you may not be allowed to do gorilla trekking. This is so annoying since the gist for travelling to Africa for a safari may be gorilla trekking.
Catching a Communicable Infection before Gorilla Trekking
Before doing gorilla trekking, try to prevent catching any communicable infection. Sickness is inevitable at times but taking caution before this safari is very important. The mountain gorillas are highly susceptible to human infections and so every tourists is requested to volunteer to stay behind in case they catch one.
If you do this before the time of gorilla trekking, chances of refund according to Authority terms and conditions are high. Every tourist on gorilla trekking day is required to wear a facemask to further prevent chances of spreading these infections.
Mountain gorilla conservation has come a long way since 1980s when about 250 mountain gorillas existed in the entire world. The recent census show that the number has increased to about 1050 mountain gorillas in the world which is attributed to conservation efforts from both local and international organizations.
Staying in accommodation not in the Area For Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
The mountain gorillas in Uganda live in vast Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is currently, divided into 4 areas that Buhoma area, Ruhija area, Rushaga area and Nkuringo area for better administrative purpose.
Gorilla permits for this park are booked according to area and so you need to reserve accommodation close or with in the permit area. This is to prevent waking up early morning to drive and catch up with briefing.
In case you overnight in an area fur away from where your permit is booked, you have to rise up early to drive. There are many frustrating encounter on the road like slippery roads, obstructing logs and so much more. If you miss briefing, you may not be allowed to do gorilla trekking.
Variation in the Pace of Other Trekkers During Gorilla Trekking
After briefing , you are divided into groups of maximum 8 clients to go gorilla trekking per family. The pace of some group members may be annoyingly slow or very fast which may cause anarchy amongst the group. The ranger guide follows the pace of the slowest trekker. To prevent this in case you have slow movement, hire a porter to carry your bags and give you a push when tired. Carry a walking stick for extra support when in the forest.
Since you are not sure of the time to locate the mountain gorillas, a slow person may delay the entire group in the forest. Even the mountain gorillas keep moving fur away from the point where they fed the previous day as they feed as day goes by making the trip a nightmare.
The mountain gorillas have unrestricted movement in the forest so time of locating them is unpredictable. They are vegetarian and have to search in the forest for a daily meal that will keep there bodies energized through night and day. The mountain gorilla delicacy is bamboo, which is normally located at the slopes of the mountain so you need to hike to get there which is challenging in most cases. The way is quite slippery and the rangers at times have to use machetes to create a path through thick creepers.
Unpredictable Time For Finding the mountain Gorillas
To find the mountain gorillas, you may take about 2 hours to three quarters of the day depending on here they are feeding from and prevailing conditions in the forest. In case the gorillas have been attacked by a wild gorilla family and lost, there mood is not so welcoming causing them to move further into the forest. The ranger guide is able to explain the mood of the gorillas and how to go about it for you to do gorilla trekking safely. They are not violent creatures towards humans unless you tap there wrong button.
Challenging way to the mountain gorillas
The Virunga forests have trails created by the regular trekkers but at times the mountain gorillas feed from areas fur from the path. The ranger guides have machetes that they use to create a new path.
As you trek, you may be required to hike along the slope to locate the mountain gorillas which is challenging at times especially if you have no porter to give you a push. Since the area has a dense network of rivers, they over flow at times creating a boggy ground where your shoes may get stuck as you walk.
Be careful not to walk past stinging nettles that may cause skin irritation as you trek to locate the mountain gorillas.
Irregular rains During Gorilla trekking
The Virunga area receives rain without warning but also experiences dry seasons, which are June to September and December to January, but this doesn’t mean it won’t fall. What is disappointing is falling throughout the day
In case you forget to carry a raincoat or poncho thinking that its dry season, you may be disappointed when it falls. Getting wet while in the forest trekking gorillas may frustrate your quest to enjoy that moment of one hour with the gorillas.
Only One Hour With The Mountain Gorillas Is Allowed
When you locate the mountain gorillas, you have strictly one hour with them so use it profitably. You may take a long time to locate the gorillas but that is the only time allocated. The mountain gorillas are habituated to be in the presence of humans for just one hours then leave them to feed. As viewing the mountain gorillas goes on, it is difficult to conceive too.
Obstruction from Other Trekker During Gorilla trekking
Because you are trekking with other people, everyone wants to take every shot since the gorilla are not choreographed to show a certain pause, every minute of photographing is important. Some trekkers do not want to give away for others to take great photos, which is frustrating.
