Gorilla Trekking Frequently Asked Questions

Gorilla Trekking Frequently Asked Questions

Gorilla Trekking Frequently Asked Questions: several travelers normally ask different questions regarding gorilla trekking both in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. Here I am today to explain some of the frequently asked gorilla trekking questions and they include

What is gorilla trekking?

“What is gorilla trekking?” is the most frequently asked question about gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking is a process whereby a group of trekkers alongside armed rangers and guides, are in position to follow up on the mountain gorillas that have already been habituated and used to humans as they go on with their daily life of roaming in the forest. The art of trekking gorillas includes searching for the allocated gorilla family via different trails within the forest until trekkers finally spot them.

Where can one trek to see mountain gorillas?

After knowing what gorilla trekking is, travelers would like to know where to trek gorillas; thus, where one treks gorillas is included in the frequently asked questions about mountain gorilla trekking.

Gorilla trekking is carried out in 3 best countries, including Uganda, which harbors the largest population of mountain gorillas in the entire world; Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda: In Uganda, mountain gorilla trekking is done in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, both in the southwestern part of Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has over 15 habituated mountain gorillas that are trekked all year round within four sectors, including Rushaga sector, Ruhija sector, Buhoma sector and Nkuringo sector. However, the Rushaga sector is also the best sector where the mountain gorilla habituation experience is also carried out.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda: In Rwanda, mountain gorilla trekking is done in Volcanoes National Park, which is the second best destination for gorilla trekking after Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda.

Gorilla trekking in DRCongo: In DRC, mountain gorilla trekking is done in Virunga national park and this is the third destination for gorilla trekking in Africa after Uganda and Rwanda.

How much is a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda, Rwanda & the DRC?

“What is the cost of gorilla trekking?” is another frequently asked question when it comes to gorilla trekking. Different countries set their own cost of a gorilla trekking permit; thus, it’s up to the trekker to choose which destination to trek gorillas in relation to the gorilla trekking permit.

The cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda as of now is $700 per person for foreign nonresidents, $600 per person for foreign residents and UgX.250,000 for Ugandans and East African citizens.

In Rwanda, a gorilla trekking permit costs $1500 per person, which is equivalent to a gorilla habituation experience in Uganda.

In the DRC, a gorilla trekking permit costs $400 per person during peak or high season and $200 per person during low season. This implies that the DRC offers the cheapest gorilla trekking permits all year round, enabling budget trekkers to also spend an hour with mountain gorillas in their natural habitats.

These gorilla trekking permits can be obtained either directly from the boards managing the parks or For instance, in Uganda, gorilla trekking permits can be obtained from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) that enable travelers to trek in either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla national park or both.

In Rwanda, gorilla trekking permits are obtained from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). This Rwanda permit enables a trekker to trek with gorillas within Volcanoes National Park. While in the DRC, gorilla trekking permits are obtained from Virunga Park management to trek gorillas in Virunga National Park. However, these permits can be obtained through a trusted tour operator such as Achieve Global Safari, which can be in a position to arrange for the entire gorilla trekking safari in Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC.

What should I expect to be inclusive and exclusive in a gorilla trekking permit?

A gorilla trekking permit comes with a lot of benefits, including the park entrance fees. This implies that once you book a gorilla trekking permit, there is no need to pay park entrance fees. This is applicable in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Volcanoes national park and Virunga National Park. A gorilla trekking permit also includes ranger fees, a full hour of close contact with gorillas, park security and police patrol fees and other benefits as communicated during the briefing on a gorilla trekking day.

However, gorilla trekking permit excludes visa fees, porter hire fees, snacks, drinking water gorilla trekking attire, etc.

How long does gorilla trekking last in Uganda, Rwanda & the Congo?

The duration of gorilla trekking is a frequently asked question about gorilla trekking. Well, there is no specific time fixed for gorilla trekking since trekkers end up with different experiences while in the jungle trekking gorillas. However, gorilla trekking is usually taken as a full-day activity ranging between 2 and 7 hours or even a full day depending on several factors, such as the movement of mountain gorillas, since we are never sure of how far they will move on the trekking day, as sometimes gorillas tend to spend their day up in the hill while sometimes they be nearby so this also determines the length of gorilla trekking. Also, the movement of trekkers will determine the duration of gorilla trekking since all trekkers must move at the pace of the slowest trekker.

However much the gorilla trekking is considered a full-day activity, when travelers finally come closer to gorillas, they are allowed to spend only one hour taking photographs and learning different gorilla behaviors. Therefore, the maximum duration offered to trekkers in close contact with the mountain gorillas is ONE hour and after this one hour, trekkers have to leave the gorillas since they don’t need to be interrupted.

What is the gorilla trekking fitness level in Uganda, Rwanda & the Congo?

Among the frequently asked questions about gorillas is the fitness level for gorilla trekking. Several travelers actually fear taking part in gorilla trekking, thinking that it’s a hard and tiring activity, but the good news is that gorilla trekking isn’t a scary activity but rather a fascinating activity as travelers thrill through the forest, hills, and valleys in search of mountain gorillas for trekking.

Yes, trekkers might need some level of fitness to enable them to spend a long time on the move. But also park management always knows some gorilla families that do not overmove; thus, trekkers who are less fit are offered the nearby gorilla families for trekking. And the adventurous trekkers are offered the gorilla families, which do move over and are always found up in the hills and mountains where trekkers really need to be fit in order to trek them.

When is the best time/season to trek mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda & Congo?

The best time for gorilla trekking is another frequently asked question when it comes to gorilla trekking. The best time / season for gorilla trekking is usually the dry months from June to September and from December to February. In these months the parks are dry and passable, thus making gorilla trekking more enjoyable, unlike in rainy months when parks tend to be slippery, Muddy and with thick brush that sometimes makes gorilla trekking a bit tiresome. All in all, gorilla trekking can be enjoyed all year round whether during high or low season but the nature and condition of the park tend to be harsher during rainy months than in dry months.

Choose the best month to have an adventurous and memories experience but keep in mind that during high season, gorilla permits tend to get sold off very fast as compared to low seasons. Also, during low season, the parks are less congested as compared to high season when several travelers are on safari, thus congesting the parks, but the overall condition of the park is good for trekkers and other travelers on other safaris such as wildlife viewing safaris, birding safaris and nature walks.

What is the gorilla trekking minimum age in Uganda, Rwanda & the Congo?

15 years is the minimum age limit when it comes to gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC. A person aged 15 years is considered to be mature and able to manage and handle the straining trails while trekking with gorillas. Also, a person of 15 years can understand the dos and don’ts and even try to follow all instructions given by the rangers and guides during gorilla trekking, including minimizing the noise level while in the jungle and many other regulations that are put up to ensure the security and safety of both gorillas and trekkers and that’s the reason as to why the minimum gorilla trekking age limit was set at 15 years.

What are the chances of seeing the mountain gorillas during the gorilla trekking safari?

Travelers should be informed that the probability of encountering mountain gorillas during trekking is as high as 99%. This is possible due to the fact that before embarking on a gorilla trekking adventure, rangers already know where the particular gorilla families are and it’s a matter of trekking through the forest to get to where they are, and I am pretty sure that no one has ever missed out on a chance of encountering gorillas during the trekking safari.

Is it possible to trek gorillas in Uganda via Kigali, Rwanda?

A good number of travelers have asked this question frequently: How best can one trek to Uganda’s gorillas from Rwanda? And the answer is yes, this is the best way for travelers to arrive in Kigali and then cross into Uganda for a gorilla trekking safari at a cheaper gorilla permit. This is also very advantageous as it saves travelers time, as the journey from Kigali to Kisoro, where gorilla trekking is carried out is between 4 and 5 hours as compared to the 11-12-hour drive from Kampala to Kisoro.

Are there discounted gorilla trekking permits?

Yes, the Democratic Republic of Congo offers discounted gorilla trekking permits at $200 during the low season to trek the endangered mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park. Also, Rwanda has a discounted gorilla trekking permit at $1050 on the condition that a traveler must spend 3 more days in Nyungwe Forest National Park and 3 more days in Akagera National Park to qualify for a discounted permit; otherwise, it remains at $1500. However much Rwanda and the DRC offer discounted gorilla trekking permits, Uganda doesn’t have any discounted gorilla permits, whether during low season or high season.

How many people are allowed to trek mountain gorillas?

Several travelers who wish to book a group gorilla trekking safari frequently ask the question about how many people are allowed to trek mountain gorillas. Well, a maximum number of 8 persons are allowed to trek to a particular mountain gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Volcanoes national park and Virunga National Park. And this group of trekkers is limited to only one hour of close viewing.

Why are gorillas endangered?

Well, mountain gorillas are termed to be an endangered primate species due to some factors which include poaching, civil wars, and lack of habitats. In fact, in previous years, mountain gorillas were termed to be critically endangered to the extreme of extinction, but with the conservation levels, political stability and sensitization of the local communities near the national parks where the gorillas are harbored, there has been great improvement in the population of mountain gorillas from critically endangered to endangered with a rise in their population in their habitats.

What are the requirements for a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda, Rwanda & Congo?

Several trekkers usually would like to know the packing list for a gorilla trekking safari. Well, the packing list for gorilla trekking safari includes, but is not limited to, the following:

A gorilla trekking permit: once you are done booking your permit, the first thing to remember is to pack a gorilla permit since it’s the gate pass to access the home of mountain gorillas; thus, no permit, no trekking gorillas. As mentioned earlier, this gorilla trekking permit can be obtained directly from boards governing wildlife or from a tour operator.

A camera: like any other safari, travelers never miss out on a camera in their backpacks, and the same applies to mountain gorilla trekking safaris. Ensure that you pack a camera and well-charged batteries that can keep you throughout your gorilla safari in order not to miss out on capturing such awesome moments while in the jungle with the endangered mountain gorillas.

Appropriate gorilla trekking attire: After packing the camera and the gorilla trekking permit, the next thing is to pack the best gorilla trekking attire, which includes

• Lightweight but waterproof hiking shoes to help you walk through mud and thorns; the lightweight enables you to feel comfortable while trekking to see gorillas since it requires more hours on a walk.
• Long-sleeved trousers and shirt to protect both your legs and arms from injuries by thorns, and other itchy plants within in the forest during gorilla trekking
• A rain jacket to protect you from getting wet in case it rains while on a gorilla trekking safari since you won’t be able to find a house for shelter; therefore, a rain jacket will be your savior at that moment.
• A warm sweater to keep you warm during cold day in the jungle while trekking gorillas
• Sunglasses should also be included in your backpack for eye protection from foreign materials and even protect your eyes from direct sunlight.
• A cap for sun protection
• Garden gloves to ensure that your hands are safe since, during gorilla trekking, hands land on several things, including thorns.
• Insect repellent to repel insects, including tsetse flies, mosquitoes and other insects that might bite you while on a gorilla trekking adventure.
• Sunscreen is also crucial to protect the body parts exposed to the sun from sunburns.
• Snacks to keep you energetic during fascinating gorilla trekking safari
• A hiking stick is also necessary to offer support to the trekker but several trekkers obtain them from the park headquarters during the gorilla trekking briefing.

What is the cost of a gorilla trekking safari?

The cost of gorilla trekking safari tour varies from one trekker to another due to some factors, which include

• Accommodation facilities ranging from luxury, Mid-range and budget accommodation facilities determine the cost of the gorilla trekking permit.
• The destination of gorilla trekking safaris. For instance, the cost of a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda may be higher than that in Uganda and Congo due to the higher price of the gorilla permit, which is at $1500 as compared to $800 in Uganda and $200-$400 in Congo.
• Also, the number of people determines the cost of the gorilla permit since the more people, the lower the transportation fees, thus reducing the cost of the gorilla trekking safari unlike a trekker who travels alone, thus funding everything alone.
• Other activities may also affect the cost of the gorilla trekking safari since the more activities, the higher the cost of the safari and vice versa.

With the above factors and many more, one is able to come up with their safari budget in order to have the best experience while on a gorilla-trekking safari.

Conclusion: There are several frequently asked questions about gorilla trekking so feel free to contact us in case of any other question regarding gorilla trekking and also check out our well-designated itineraries gorilla trekking tours and safaris, such as the 3-day Bwindi gorilla trekking safari, 5-day gorilla trekking & wildlife safari and many more that suit your budget.