The forest is their home, and trekkers are its family; go gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and D.R. Congo. East Africa is home of the Republic of Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, D.R. Congo and Burundi. But when it comes to incredible gorilla trekking safaris; head to Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Gorillas are only found in the continent of Africa where they reside in the lush tropical forests and high-altitude places. There are two species; The eastern Gorillas (mountain gorillas and the eastern lowland gorillas) which are more famous and residing around the vast Virunga chain of Mountains, which runs through Uganda, Rwanda, and Democratic Republic of Congo.
The western Gorillas (the western lowland Gorillas) are the other ones, found in the central and other parts of the African continent. On the East African Gorilla safari; one is privileged to come face to face with the giant mountain gorillas. What differentiates the two species Is the layer of Thickness of their fur and body size. The eastern gorillas are bigger in size, and have more fur on their bodies. Researchers suggest there are about 5000 eastern Gorillas in the world; of which the Mountain Gorillas number about 1060 as of the recent census. Man, and gorillas are believed to have a common ancestry; as they resemble though live in different environments. 98% of the Gorilla DNA resemble that of human beings.
Gorillas are the world’s strongest primate species. They are social creatures, that live in groups called troop. Each troop is led by a dominant Male, with a silver like lining at the Back “a silverback”. Female Gorillas are the dominant in a group, and have the responsibility of nursing the young ones. The silverback ensures the entire troop is safe, and finds a new territory in each day of their movement. The forest is theirs and so they shift from one territory to another each day.
Feeding is on vegetable, fruits, stems, and insects on some occasions. The water is got from the morning dew or the leaves and fruits they eat. The mothers nurse their young ones, breast feed, and help to remove the ticks and lies on the fur. The infants spend the day moving, feeding and engaging in other games such as tree climbing, fruit selection and more. in a space of two days Gorillas will have settled in a different territory, with the nests set in the evening hours.
What is involved in Gorilla safari is Gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking is an act of walking on foot in search for the Gorillas. For the fact that it is in fact, the disabled aren’t ruled out. They too can get the same experience of encountering the Gorillas in their natural Habitat. The exercise starts very early in the morning, with an approximately 30 minutes of registration and pretrekking briefing, where the ranger guides will highlight to you the rules such as No littering the park, no making noise, stand about 7 meters off the Gorillas, N use of flashlights when taking photos, no looking straight to the eyes of the Gorillas, proper dumping of human waste, and more.
The trekking documents will be verified before being cleared to your relatives the apes. Depending on your hiking speed and the direction the Gorillas have taken, the trekking activity runs for About 2-8 hours, with chances of identifying the different plant species, birds, forest mammals and primates. These the ranger guide will guide you through, that upon encountering the Gorillas where they are feeding and playing, you will be given a two-hour allowance for photograph, and to watch the Apes at a close range as the ranger guide answers the questions.
Cost of Gorilla trekking is East Africa
Depending on the nation you select, a gorilla expedition can be expensive. 400 USD for the Democratic Republic of Congo, 700 USD for Uganda and 1500 USD, respectively, per person per day. The age requirement to participate is fifteen. The funds cover the cost of park entrance fees, ranger guide wages and other costs, excluding transport, food, accommodation, and other activities.
Gorilla trekking destinations in East Africa
Bwindi Impenetrable national park
One of the 10 national parks in Uganda is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Due to its topography, it has a particularly unique nature and exceptionally gorgeous scenery.
It is the most expensive park to visit in Uganda because it is home to many rare and expensive kinds of wild animals, plants, birds, and butterflies, not to mention the stunning mountain gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which encompasses a large portion of the Kigezi and Rukiga highlands, is situated in southwest Uganda at the intersection of plain and mountain forests on the edge of the western arm of the east African rift valley. It is shared by the three districts of Kanungu, Kisoro, and Rubanda.
In 1932, Kasatora and Kayonza Crown Forest Reserve was the name given to Bwindi. The central crown forest, which was eventually designated as an animal sanctuary in 1964, was created by combining the two. It was elevated into a national park in 1991 to save the mountain gorillas, which are in grave danger. It was later designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994 as a result of its significant national and global high and unique bio diversity. In a nutshell, since gorilla trekking is the primary activity carried out in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you cannot discuss this park without discussing mountain gorillas.
In Bwindi, there are about 21 habituated groups and are spread in the four sectors of the park as shown below; Buhoma – 5 groups, Ruhija – 4, Rushaga – 8, Nkuringo – 4 groups.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
The critically endangered mountain gorillas might find true sanctuary in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Here, tourists can go on a trek to track down the only habituated gorilla family and learn about their daily lives. One of Uganda’s most visited national parks, it is situated in the country’s south-western region. Visitors can view the Nyakagezi Gorilla Family starting at 7:00 am.
Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is a gorilla trekking destination in the Republic of Rwanda and is situated in the country’s northeast. With a quarter of all mountain gorillas in the world, it is a top tourist destination. Visitors may enter the park beginning at 7:00 am, when there will be a pre-trek briefing. The park or the lodging nearby are a 2- to 3-hour picturesque trip from Kigali city.
Virunga National Park
The mountain gorillas’ home is the Virunga National Park, which welcomes visitors at seven in the morning. It is in the eastern part of Congo, and many tourists travel there to enjoy a less crowded location at a reasonable price. To protect the habituated gorilla families and the overall echo system, numerous conservation initiatives have been implemented.
Kahuzi-Biega National Park
One of the best places in the world for lowland gorilla trekking is Kahuzi-Biega national park, which is situated at the base of Biega and Kahuzi mountains. A separate species from the well-known Mountain Gorillas, this park is home to the eastern lowland gorillas. You will like the warm and friendly greeting from the rangers and the forest.
Best time to do gorilla trekking in East Africa
Gorilla trekking is best done in the dry season- June to early September and December to March. In the wet season – discounts are offered on accommodation, transport, flight tickets and more.
What you need to pack for a gorilla trekking trip?
Gorilla trekking requires planning just like any other excursion does in order to be effective and fun. Consequently, an individual will require the following items for the activity: clothing with long sleeves. This aids in defending you against mosquitoes and other biting insects that are encountered in the forest and could harm your health. Since there are no structures for cover in the forest and the weather is unpredictable, rain gear includes waterproof coats and umbrellas that can shield you from the rain as well as your belongings, including cameras. enough water for drinking.
Water is said to be essential for life, and as walking and hiking might often require significant energy expenditure due to the terrain, one should bring at least two liters of water to avoid dehydration. a lunchbox. When trekking, we begin at 8 a.m. and set out on the journey without knowing how long it will take. Sometimes a day is needed for the walk.
Therefore, it is suggested that we bring a packed lunch in order to prevent hassles. face covering Since mountain gorillas are 98.4% human, they are believed to be susceptible to practically every disease that affects humans. In order to protect ourselves and the gorillas’ life because we are protecting them for future generations, each person much wear a fair mask that is correctly worn.
Accommodation
These locations provide a variety of lodging alternatives, including hotels, campsites, and more, all with excellent security and serene surroundings. You can conveniently catch up with the briefing time by finding lodging in or near the park. In contrast to high season, which has higher prices, low season typically has lower prices and less crowding.
A safari in Uganda is worthwhile. Take the road to the gorilla kingdom, which is home to the largest ape species in the world. They are 98% genetically similar to humans.
