Essential Questions about Gorilla Trekking
All about Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla Trekking is a very exceptional safari adventure Tour to experience by all kinds of travelers from all over the globe interested in watching the mighty gigantic primates in their natural forest vegetation habitat. The Trekking process involves transferring to the Park headquarters for briefing on the Dos and Don’ts around the Gorillas then later in groups of 8 with a skilled ranger guide to inform you all about the Gorillas, their habitat, food etc penetrate the forest to track the Gorillas for a period of 3-5 hours from one point to another in the forest.
En-route, have views of the green forest vegetation, birds and other primates can be enjoyed then later after finding the Gorillas, an hour is allowed to stay in their presence taking numerous photos to keep for memories.
Gorillas are subdivided into groups and these include the Mountain Gorillas that are prominently found in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eastern Lowland Gorillas that are common in the DR Congo at Kahuzi Biega National Park, Western Lowland Gorillas in DR Congo at Maiko National Park and other safari destinations in Angola, Cameroon and Central African Republic.
The Gorilla Trekking Booking Process
Planning to transfer to Africa to experience amazing Gorilla Trekking Adventures, we recommend you to Book your safari Adventure through contacting a valid Tour Operator Agency or direct through the authentic Tourism Organizations.
For example, in Uganda the Permits can be obtained through contacting/ emailing the Uganda Wildlife Authority where as in Rwanda the Rwanda Development Board and in DR Congo the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature. These make your booking so flexible and easy enabling you enjoy your tracking Adventure on Tour.
Procedures followed to obtain your Gorilla Trekking permit in Uganda
- You contact a valid Tour Operator Agency to Book you a Gorilla Trekking Permit
- They will contact UWA (Uganda Wildlife Authority) and send your permit money/ payment to UWA.
- You are offered a receipt with evidence that you have paid for the Gorilla Trekking Permit.
- After payment, the Gorilla Trekking Permits are availed/ printed a week before the Gorilla Trekking Date in the Park.
Note: The Permits are printed a week before to enable flexibility in case of re-scheduling where a Client/ traveler is no longer interested in trekking the Gorillas, or has postponed their adventure. This makes it easier to re-schedule hence preventing losses and inconveniences to be made by the Uganda Wildlife Authority as well as the Tour Operator Agency.
- After receiving your Gorilla Trekking Permit, you transfer to the Park headquarters for briefing on the Dos and Don’ts around the Mountain Gorillas. After briefing, travelers are distributed to track a Gorilla group depending on their Physical fitness by a skilled Park Ranger. Older and not physically fit hikers are allocated a less challenging Gorilla Group to track.
- After allocation of a Gorilla Group, transfer with a skilled Park Ranger into the Forest with walking sticks, Porters to track your allocated Gorilla Group for a period of 3-5 hours depending on the Gorillas current location and when your meet them, only an hour is allowed in their presence taking numerous photos to keep for memories.
- After tracking the Mountain Gorillas, proceed back to the Park headquarters to take a nap then later you are provided with your Gorilla Trekking Certificate to keep for memories about your Gorilla Adventure Tour in Uganda.
Hints to follow as you Track the Gorillas in their Habitat
To enjoy Gorilla Trekking in Uganda, there are hints that trackers follow to make the whole process very flexible and enjoyable. These are left behind by the Gorillas as they transfer through the forest hence making the trackers; job very easy. Hints Include;
- Gorilla Poo that is dropped along their trails.
- They leave foot prints in the ground due to the fact that they transfer on land.
- They can be tracked by following the bugs that usually stay along their bodies in the fur. These are dropped along the trail making it easier to track them.
- They can also be tracked following their initially built nests to spend the nights.
Gorilla Habituation Experience.
Gorilla Habituation is another prominent safari activity travelers interested in watching the Gorillas can take on. This is prominently done in Uganda, Rwanda as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo. The experience requires visitors to stay in the presence of the Gorillas for a period of 4 hours compared to the one hour allowed to those tracking the Gorillas. This offers you a longer time with the Gorillas getting to learn and know about them as well as their natural habitat from the researchers.
In Uganda, this occurs at the thick Bwindi Forest National Park taking a period of 4 hours to stay around the habituated Mountain Gorilla Groups. These are habituated to be approached by the visitors offering remarkable adventures to all interested as they watch them play, copulate, lead, feed, breast feed and communicate with each other.
Gorilla Habituation in Bwindi Forest is carried out in the Southern Region of Rushaga and only 4 Permits are provided daily for those interested due to the existence of only one Gorilla Group undergoing the Habituation experience. The Gorilla Habituation Experience Permit costs US $1500 per person interested in staying longer with the Gorillas.
To enjoy the Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Forest National park at Rushaga, you are required to register for your habituation experience the Day before in the evening then wake up very early the next morning to transfer to the headquarters for briefing then with an experienced Park ranger penetrate the forest to enjoy habituating the Mountain Gorillas.
Why Go for the Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda.
- Gorilla Habituation Experience offers you more time with the Mountain Gorillas i.e 4 hours compared to 1 for tracking.
- The Experience takes the whole day in the forest.
- You are involved in the habituation experience compared to Gorilla Trekking where you track and view the Mountain Gorillas.
- You are fewer i.e 4 as you go for the experience compared to Gorilla Trekking where you are 8 in number.
- It offers you an opportunity to learn the habits of the Mountain Gorillas as you are informed by the Rangers and Researchers.
- The Rushaga Sector of the Park is close to Rwanda making accessibility to the Park easier.