GORILLA TREKKING TOURS

Gorilla trekking refers to walking in the thick and dense montane and mixed vegetation for a chance to view the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. Gorilla trekking is a very popular activity that is highly anticipated by many tourists. Mountain gorillas are considered endangered as they are only located in the Virunga Conservation Area.

This area stretches between countries of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. The national parks located in this area include Virunga National Park in Congo, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. Taking on a gorilla experience in these countries will expose you to the endangered primate species.

Where can one do gorilla trekking tours in Africa?

Gorilla trekking tours in Africa can only be done in the Virunga Conservation Area which is located in East Africa. The Virunga Conservation Area contains a montane and mixed vegetation zones covering national parks in three East African countries namely Virunga National Park in Congo, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park both in Uganda.

Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Virunga Conservation Area begins from Virunga National Park in the DRC. The park is known for being home to the endangered mountain gorillas. Virunga National Park is located in the eastern region of Congo bordering Uganda. The park is in the Albertine region of the Rift Valley covering an area of about 7, 800 square kilometers. The park was established in 1925 to protect the wildlife species and primates in the area.

Virunga National Park not only harbors mountain gorillas but also other primate species like monkeys, chimpanzees and more. The endangered golden monkey is also present in the park and can be trekked alongside the gorillas. Political unrest in the park area and the forests in Virunga harboring rebels led to the poaching and killing of these wildlife species and thus hindered tourism in the area for some years. However, the area around and in Virunga National Park has regained peace and stability and tourism and gorilla trekking in the park has been restored.

What are the costs for gorilla trekking tours in the Democratic Republic of Congo?

Gorilla Trekking in Congo costs range differently between nationalities and regions. This means that a citizen of Congo and an East African citizen are charged differently from a resident foreigner and a non-resident foreigner. A citizen of the Democratic Republic of Congo will pay a cost of US dollars 20, East African citizens and resident foreigners will pay 200 US dollars and lastly 400 US dollars for non-resident foreigners.

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park is also located in the Virunga Conservation Area and is famous for being a shelter to endangered mountain gorillas. The park is home to the five of the volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains. These mountains harbor the endangered mountain gorillas.

Mountain gorillas are the main tourist attraction in Volcanoes National Park and these gorillas can be spotted roaming in the mixed vegetation habitats of the park of montane and bamboo forests. Volcanoes National Park is about 160 square kilometers in size and was established in 1925 making it one of the oldest parks in Africa and the oldest in Rwanda.

The park was gazetted by the then Belgian colonial government to protect the mountain gorillas from poaching. The five volcanic mountains of the eight are in the park and these include Gahinga, Sabyinyo, Muhabura, Karisimbi and Bisoke.

The park also hosted the renowned primatologist Dian Fossey who advocated for conservation and protection of the endangered mountain gorillas. Before coming to Rwanda, Dian Fossey was in Congo doing research and other conservation plans. But because of political unrest in the Virunga National Park and the availability of rebels, she fled to Rwanda and established the Karisoke Research Center. Later during the 1992 civil war in Rwanda, the research center was attacked and Dian Fossey was killed.

The Karisoke Research Center was then declared unsafe for visiting and also the gorillas until a new government was established and restored safety to the area in 1999 and it was later opened for visits.

Mountain gorilla trekking is the main activity in the area and it refers to hiking through the Volcanoes National Park forests in search of the endangered mountain gorillas. Visitors are given an hour after they allocate the mountain gorillas. Mountain gorilla trekking is an exciting adventure of encountering not only mountain gorillas but also other smaller primates.

Your trekking experience will begin with a briefing from the park offices, where the park officials will take you through the expected code of conduct as well as the rules and regulations of mountain gorilla trekking. After the briefing, you will be grouped in groups of 8 and a professional ranger will guide you to the forests of Volcanoes National Park on a search for mountain gorillas.

You can also hire porters to carry your luggage as you trek in the forest for the mountain gorillas. After you have allocated the mountain gorillas, you will be given an hour with them in their natural habitats.

What are the costs for gorilla trekking tours in Rwanda?

Just like the other gorilla trekking countries, Rwanda categorizes costs for gorilla trekking according to non-foreigner residents, foreigner residents and East African citizens.

However, Rwanda has the highest gorilla trekking permits among Uganda and Congo with non-foreigner residents paying US dollar 1,500, foreigner residents US dollar 1,000 and East African citizens paying 500 US dollars. Much of the money gotten from the permits is diverted to conservation campaigns.

Gorilla trekking tours in Uganda

Uganda is located in the Virunga Conservation Area with two national parks, Bwindi and Mgahinga. These national parks harbor over half of the entire world’s population of mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking is the main tourist activity in Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to over 400 mountain gorillas that live in about 50 gorilla families but only 18 families in the park are habituated. These primates live in the different sectors of the park, these include Buhoma, Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Ruhija.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park begins with a pre-trekking briefing at the sector offices from where the ranger will guide you to the jungles of Bwindi searching for the mountain gorillas. The trekking experience will introduce you to the hidden gems in the park like the smaller primates that you encounter on your way such as the blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and many others.

After the mountain gorillas have been found, you will spend an hour in their presence and observe them as they feed and roam in the montane jungles.

Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has over 100 mountain gorillas and just like other gorillas, they stay in families. Mgahinga has one gorilla family. These families are available for gorilla trekking and habituation. Gorilla trekking in Mgahinga begins with a briefing from the park offices and after grouping the visitors in groups of 8, a guide will thereafter lead them into the forests to the steep bamboo trees where you will spot the endangered primates.

With the help of a professional ranger, it will not take you a while before tracking the gorillas down and after you have located them spend an hour with them in their natural habitats.

What are the costs of a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda?

The cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda varies according to which country and continent you come from. To shed more light on this, it means that costs vary for Non-resident foreigners, resident foreigners, and East African citizens. Non-resident foreigners will pay US dollars 800, resident foreigners will pay 700 US dollars and then East African citizens will pay UGX 300,000.

Half of the money collected on the permits goes directly to the conservation and protection efforts as well as developing the communities around the park for them to see the importance of the wild animals in their lives.

What to pack on a gorilla trekking tour?

When trekking in the forests in search of mountain gorillas, it is important to have some essential things that will help you in your trekking experience. Trekking is not a simple task as you maneuver through tough and slippery terrain and for long distances and if you are not well equipped with some essential things it may prove to be quite challenging. Some of the items to pack while on a gorilla trekking tour.

Reusable Water bottle: As you are aware water is an essential part of life and since trekking is a draining energy activity you need to keep hydrated.

Energy-giving snacks: Trekking is an activity that usually takes time so it is important to carry some snacks that you can devour on your way so that you can recharge as you search for the mountain gorillas.

Hiking boots: The terrain in the parks is usually steep and muddy as well as slippery so it is important to have hiking boots that are specifically designed for tough outdoor activities.

Rain jacket: The weather in the parks can usually be unpredictable to the extent of raining during the dry season so it is casual to always be prepared for any weather change especially the rainy one as it can make you wet if you don’t have a rain jacket.

Long sleeved shirts: The forests harbor countless bugs and insects that fly around so it is important to wear a long sleeved shirt that will protect you from the thick vegetation that has thrones and also the bugs and flying insects in the park.

What is the best time to do Gorilla Trekking tours?

Gorilla trekking is an all-around activity that can be done any time of the year depending on your schedule and the category of your travel package. The dry season is considered the best time to have a gorilla trekking tour as the parks have a thin and not dense vegetation cover hence giving a clear view of the mountain gorilla by the visitors.

The terrain is also dry and navigable since easing the process of gorilla trekking in the parks. June to September and December to February are the dry months of the year and the best time to have a gorilla trekking tour. However, for visitors who would like to travel, the wet season is the season for you to have a gorilla trekking tour since it is a low season in business and the prices on accommodation facilities tend to go down.