Gorilla trekking in Uganda is once a day a measure used to minimize interrupting the mountain gorillas’ daily routine. Mountain gorillas are very sensitive primates to intruders in their vicinity so even when around them tourists are encouraged to adhere to rules of gorilla trekking.
In Uganda, gorilla trekking happens in moist Bwindi impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park which are the sole provider of these primates. Bwindi and Mgahinga forests are naturally dense rain forests with a rugged terrain. Sometimes the mountain gorillas spend time on the slopes or deep in the valleys necessitating you to hike.
At times the mountain gorillas move deeper in Bwindi forest or Mgahinga forest which may take sometime to locate them but tourists are encouraged to maintain some level of patience.
Gorilla trekking starts early morning at around 0730 hours with briefing from the ranger guide then follow the trail network around the forest using the clues the mountain gorillas leave behind. Incase the search for mountain gorillas prolongs, do not loose morale but shift your focus on other interesting forest dwellers like black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, olive baboons and others.
To minimize on the effects of mass tourism to the environment where the mountain gorillas live, gorilla trekking is restricted to maximum 8 tourists who visit each gorilla family per day.
Human presence interjects the mountain gorillas’ day life that is why only one hour of viewing is allowed per day. Mountain gorillas routinely feed, groom, procreate, play, nap and much more yet humans may be an obstruction.
What Happens On Gorilla Trekking Day
Before Meeting the mountain gorillas
Early morning, tourists booked for gorilla trekking gather at the ranger station for briefing and document verification. Ensure to attend briefing in the area where your gorilla permit is booked to avoid getting confused.
Hire a porter to assist with carrying your gorilla trekking gears because this may slow you. Porters are from the local community, some are reformer poachers who resort to utilizing the forest in the more productive means.
After allocating each tourists a gorilla family, the ranger guide leads the way following the trail heading where the gorilla family allocated to you was last seen. Tourists are encouraged to stay closer to the rest of the trekkers so that none is forgotten in the tick jungle.
Do not shift your focus from locating the mountain gorillas no matter how much time this may take. Look out for other forest dwellers like the olive baboons, black and white colobus, grey cheeked mangabey and others.
What Happens When With The Mountain Gorillas
You may hear the murmurs from the mountain gorillas before facing them as they try to alert with one another about your presence. The ranger guide will prepare you to face these massive gorillas as you approach them.
Upon facing the mountain gorillas, tourists are encouraged to maintain approximately 8 meters from the mountain gorillas and even when they curiously ridge it, stealthily retreat without causing suspensions.
Only one hour is allowed around the mountain gorillas as they are habituated to be around humans for that time.
Can Mountain Gorillas Turn Violent During Gorilla Trekking
Mountain gorillas can also loose their cool although they are generally known to have a gentle character. Do not panic upon noticing something odd amongst the mountain gorillas but follow the new instructions from the ranger guides on how to go about the situation.
Avoid staring in the eyes of the mountain gorillas as this makes them shy and may retire into the deeper forest. At times you may be required to show submission, pretend to chew foliage and more so adhere to the new directions to control the situation.
What To Expect During Gorilla Trekking In Uganda
Expect to walk in a dense misty forest because both Bwindi and Mgahinga forests receive high humidity almost the entire day with limited sunlight expected throughout the day.
Rain around Bwindi forest and Mgahinga forest falls anytime without warning no matter the season. Do carry some rain proof gears like a poncho, rain coat, sturdy safari boots and more.
No toilet structure in the forest during gorilla trekking however you can request the ranger guide to dig a hole for you then cover well beyond recognition.
Expect to spot a range of other forests dwellers like black and white colobus, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, a plethora of birds, different tree species and more.
Hiking during gorilla trekking in Uganda is expected because of the several highlands that make up the terrain of the Virunga area resulting from severe volcanic activities that affected this area.
Bwindi and Mgahinga forests are a water catchment area for the close by areas with a dense network of rivers, streams and other water sources which leaves the ground soft, slippery and soggy.
Time of finding the mountain gorillas is still hard to predict however some tourists have reported finding mountain gorillas in thirty minutes while others take more time. Maintain some level of patience during gorilla trekking in order not to antagonize the entire adventure because no retreating.
How Sure Can I Be To See The Mountain Gorillas During Gorilla Trekking In Uganda
Seeing the mountain gorillas is guaranteed during gorilla trekking even though they live in the jungle with no barrier to stop their movements.
Mountain gorillas are first habituated a process that helps partially get accustomed to humans presence as long as humans abide by the rules of gorilla trekking.
As a gorilla family, they stage their feeding location in a particular spot for sometime until food becomes insufficient for the rest of the family. Even when the gorilla family relocates, they normally move to a close by locality.
When mountain gorillas are relocating, they leave behind some clues which tourists can use to trace them like freshly chewed foliage, fresh foot prints and more. Mountain gorillas can never be numb because they keep murmuring most of the day as through to check out on each other so you can trace them.
How Long Is Gorilla Trekking In Uganda
Time on gorilla trekking in Uganda varies with factors prevailing in the forest like food proximity, weather conditions of the day and more. Some tourists have reported seeing the mountain gorillas in 30 minutes while others take about three quarters of the day. No matter when you find the mountain gorillas the feeling of being a few meters from them is unmatched and unforgettable. Finally, when you see the mountain one hour is allowed around them so that you can let them so about their daily life.
