What Must Not Shock You On Gorilla Trekking Safari In Africa

During gorilla trekking in Africa you may find some shocking incidents that may not go well with you but knowing something upfront may give you opportunity of how to get over it. Africa safaris are some of the interesting and charming holiday destinations that require advance preparation.

In Africa gorilla trekking is only in three countries that is Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park plus Mgahinga National Park, Rwanda in volcanoes National park and D.R.Congo in Virunga National Park. Just feel comfortable, look forward to the incredible time with the mountain gorillas and relax on your Africa holiday.

Highlight of What must not shock you during gorilla trekking in Africa

Driving through remote areas to go gorilla trekking

Finding People Everywhere during gorilla trekking

Limited or no wireless services

Unstable electricity supply

Limited use of credit cards during gorilla trekking

Long driving to the Gorilla trekking Parks

Prepare to Shower cold water during gorilla trekking

Amazing wilderness with cool breeze

Passabys waving at you on the way to do gorilla trekking

Un familiar local Cuisines you may taste during gorilla trekking

Bumpy roads to the gorilla trekking Parks

Slow service during gorilla trekking

Driving through remote areas to go gorilla trekking

Gorilla trekking in Africa is done in remote area as the forests are untamed and gorillas have enough space where to feed from. The jungle environment is far from modernity and to keep its authenticity even the accommodations to stay at during gorilla trekking are built out of natural materials that are eco-friendly.

As you drive through the deeper ends of these destinations, you release that there are large unoccupied expanses of land occupied by farmlands and beautiful highlands.

Finding People Everywhere during gorilla trekking

On your way to do gorilla trekking, prepare to find people everywhere as most locals are farmers. They work in there gardens all day and others in the markets that you pass-by on your way. They are friendly people and love waving at new people in their environment so don’t get scared if some children cheer or wave at you.

Most locals move on foot or cycle so in most cases you may find them walking even in the most hidden spots. Do not be afraid because they are going about their own way

Limited or no wireless services during gorilla trekking

The more remote areas in the gorilla trekking destinations are not well connected to internet services so expect unstable internet services or no wireless internet. The lodges that provide Wi-Fi are few and majority are up-market lodges. Even some social media platforms in some gorilla trekking destinations like Uganda are restricted so you must have VPN to access them. Sometimes expect to be in an internet black out during your Gorilla trekking tour.

  Unstable electric supply to your Lodges During Gorilla trekking

Most accommodation facilities in the gorilla trekking destinations use solar serves for electricity provision. This is in the bid to maintain a natural environment but sometimes the sun may not shine brightly for solar panels to store enough energy. This areareceives unpredictable rains that fall without warning at times may drizzle for the entire day dropping temperatures to below 7 degrees centigrade. If the solar panels have not stored enough energy, electricity supply may be cut off.

In case you need to charge anything, ask the lodge staff to advise you about how to do it and when to do it. Carry your own travel adapter because the electric plug differ ensure you ask about the plugs of the accommodation facility where you are overnighting in advance. This is for those who must charge there gadgets at all cost like safari filming crews, photographers and others.

Limited use of credit cards during gorilla trekking

Credit cards are not commonly used for transactions in Africa so prepare to carry some hard cash to use in case of any local purchases or payments. Sometimes you have to pay your gorilla safari balance upon landing but accidents like credit card failure may occur so you must be ready for such accidents too. Having no money during your Africa safari may frustrate your long time prepared for gorilla trekking experience.

You may change the hard cash into local currency on arrival and then do transactions like buying souvenirs, tipping and so much more as you wish. Some accommodations in the gorilla trekking destinations are Bed and Breakfast so to pay for other meals, you may need cash. The lengthy procedures of getting money off credit cards makes it difficult to use them everywhere in Africa.

Long driving to the Gorilla trekking Packs

The way to the mountain gorillas especially in Uganda and D.R.Congo is long. In Uganda the distance of Bwindi Impenetrable National park is 540 km from Entebbe Airport or Kampala which may take about 8 hour to 9m hours on the road without stops. In D.R.Congo the drive from any of the International airport in Congo may take even two days.  The roads are bumpy providing the true African massage parlor.

The alternative means of transport to Bwindi Impenetrable National park is scheduled domestic flights from Entebbe or Kajjansi Air strip to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip which lasts about 2 and half Hours. You need a transfer vehicle from the airstrip to the Bwindi Impenetrable National park or Mgahinga National park.

In D.R.Congo, you can take an alternative shorter drive from Kigali Airport Rwanda to Virunga National Park but remember when you cross, your visa expires so you need another one when you cross into Rwanda again.

Driving for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda from Kigali Airstrip takes about 3 hours but expect to drive on tarmac up to Musaze then continue with murram road to Ruhengeri.

Prepare to Shower cold water during gorilla trekking

Sometimes the water heaters may not be in position to heat enough and provide warm water for everybody to shower during your stay. This doesn’t mean that you are not to clean up and prepare for your gorilla trekking safari day. Some lodges provide other alternatives like boiling water from the kitchen while others may not. So get ready to take a cold shower at any time during your gorilla trekking safari.

 This should not frustrate you and take away the high moods you carry for doing gorilla trekking.

Watch out For Amazing wilderness with cool breeze in the gorilla trekking parks

Being a tropical forest surrounded by a number of highlands, the gorilla trekking areas experience a cool breeze. This is most felt early morning and late evening. Carry your warmers like fleece, warn jackets as you wish. Pack light gorilla trekking gears for your comfort.

A rain coat to wear when it rains while in the forest because this area received rain without warning.

Passerbys waving at you on the way to do gorilla trekking

Do not be scared by waving passerbys because that is a good gesture from locals.  They love looking out for new people in their environment and greeting in Africa is a way of creating a relationship with strangers. The children may shout at you in the local language but it’s for a good cause.  Them seeing a different person in there environment is exciting. They call you Muzungu  

Unfamiliar local Cuisines you may taste during gorilla trekking

 Most local Restaurants provide at the gorilla trekking destinations provide local food so in case you wish to taste some local cuisines like the famous Luwombo, ask your driver guide for advice. They have knowledge of the most hygienic restaurants where you can enjoy a taste of the local food.

Some restaurants also provide a rich menu so you can press your order and may be delivered at your door step. Some accommodations at the gorilla trekking destinations provide bed and breakfast services so you either have to eat at there Restaurant or out.

This is when you need to use advise from the driver guide of where to eat. The street food may not go well with you at times.

Bumpy roads to the gorilla trekking Parks

On the way, expect to drive on bumpy roads especially as you drive outside the capital. After tarmac you use murram roads to the destination like Volcanoes National park, Bwindi Impenetrable National park and Virunga National Park.

The roads are still under construction while others are not well made with potholes. In case you have trip nausea carry some pills to put it down.

Slower Service During Gorilla Trekking

Service sometimes is slow right from the lodge to most activities but your patience is required. Do not let this ruin your mood for a great safari. Look forward to better moments while trekking to find the mountain gorilla.

How To Book Gorilla Permits

Having a tentative date when you wish to do gorilla trekking is a good start to finding a gorilla permit. The number of people travelling with to do gorilla trekking helps in securing the right amount of permits in one area or family.

In Rwanda gorilla permits are sold by Rwanda Development Board while in Uganda the permits are sold by Uganda Wildlife Authority.  .

When you pay for your gorilla permit, then it is secured. This is the only way to show interest in taking the gorilla safari. You need to provide some personal details like the full name on the passport, nationality, expiry date for your passport, date of birth and so much more.

Gorilla trekking Itineraries to Choose from

3 day gorilla trekking in Uganda

6 day gorilla and wildlife safari

3 day gorilla trekking Rwanda

7 day gorilla, chimpanzee and wildlife safari

8 day gorilla trekking, chimpanzee and Wildlife tour

How safe is Gorilla trekking in Africa

A part from D.R. Congo gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda is safe because of the joint security operations between Uganda and Rwanda. Even security departments like the tourism police that support the smooth operation of all tourism activities in the jungle and beyond.

What Is The cost Of A Gorilla Trekking Safari in Africa

Other than from the gorilla trekking permit cost that cuts across all packages whether luxury, midrange or Budget gorilla trekking packages, the rest vary in pricing. In Uganda the cost of a gorilla permit is $700 per person per trek, in Rwanda the price of a gorilla permit is $1500 per person and D.R.Congo the cost is currently $450 per person.

How difficult is Gorilla Trekking

Depending on where the gorillas may be feeding from, gorilla trekking is at times tedious. The topography of where they live is mountainous and so some starting points of trekking requires you to slope into the valley to get going.

Climbing the slopes especially during rainy seasons is quite slippery as gorillas feed from the slopes. Wearing tracking boots that can with stand such conditions makes trekking to find the mountain gorillas very interesting pack the right gorilla trekking gears.

Are mountain gorillas Dangerous

Despite there sheer size, mountain gorillas are some of the serene animals in the wild. They are shy and when angry, they thump there chests, pull close by vines, hoot, walk on one leg. The silverback is always on the watch to see who is provoking the family especially the wild gorillas. He fights to the last to defend his family and honor.

They are vegetarian in nature so don’t expect them to bite you. Just respect instruction from the ranger guide about how to behave while infront of the mountain gorillas.

Which is the best country for gorilla trekking

Mountain Gorillas are exciting to see in the jungle and so every family you visit gives you a different perception. Whether trekking gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda or D,R Congo, just like humans there behaviors differ. Some have exciting juveniles, others many family members, others autocratic silver back, many babies, caring females the list is endless.

You have to keep your excitement on but also be open minded to other beauties in the forest like monkeys, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, golden monkeys, blue monkeys, rich avian life, exciting butterflies to mention but a few

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