Best place for gorilla trekking
Best place for gorilla trekking ( uganda gorilla trekking, Rwanda gorilla trekking) looks at the most favorable location where gorillas can be trekked depending on different factors which the tourist assesses before choosing the gorilla trekking destination.
Gorilla trekking refers to the activity which engages tourists in looking for the gorillas in their natural habitat. Many tourists are interested in seeing these gorillas which can be seen found in different locations such as in Rwanda, Congo, and Uganda. The gorillas are an endangered species and therefore this Gorilla trekking experience is unique.
In Uganda gorilla trekking is done in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga national park. Bwindi national park is said to have half the world’s population of gorillas and the gorilla trek in this national park takes the tourists through the Bwindi forest which is referred to as impenetrable with tangled vegetation for experience in this rainforest.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park takes place in four sectors which include Rushaga, Buhoma, Ruhija and Nkuringo. These different sectors have different gorilla families which include Rushegura, Habiyanja, Mubare, Nkuringo, Bitukura, Oruzogo, Mishaya, Nshongi, Kahungye, Busingye, Bweza.
Mgahinga national park is located in south western Uganda and is another location for gorilla trekking in Uganda. The gorilla families in this national park include the Nyakagezi gorilla family.
In Uganda to trek gorillas in Bwindi and Mgahinga national park, a tourist has to pay for a gorilla permit which costs USD 600 for foreign nonresidents, 500 USD for foreign residents and 250, 000 UGX for East Africans. The gorilla permit is paid for in advance and it serves for one gorilla trekking experience.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is done in groups of a maximum number of 8 people per gorilla group and children aged 15 and below are not permitted to participate in gorilla trekking. Other rules and regulations are also put in place by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to be followed by the trekkers.
Rules and regulations for gorilla trekking in Uganda include; keeping voices low during trekking, avoid littering the park, flash photography is not permitted, the maximum time to spend with gorillas is one hour, do not touch the gorillas among others.
The best time to engage in gorilla trekking in Uganda is in the months from June to October. The rainy seasons do not favor the gorilla trekking experience since the vegetation tends to grow and the trails become slippery making it difficult to trek.
Other attractions and activities in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park include primates such as black and white colobus monkeys, nature trails, bird species, biking, Batwa experience.
Other destinations for gorilla trekking include Rwanda and Congo. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is done in Volcanoes national park and in Congo gorilla trekking is carried out from Virunga national park.
In Rwanda, gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park is a major tourist activity and gorillas are highly celebrated in Rwanda. Seeing gorillas in Rwanda can be referred to as seeing gorillas in the mist which is also a movie title describing the gorilla experience in Rwanda.
Gorilla families in Volcanoes national park include Titus, Susa, Karisimbi, Amahoro, Umubano, Sabyinyo, Agashya, Kwitonda, Hirwa, Ugenda, Bwenge. Gorillas in Rwanda are named during a festival known as “kwita izina” where names of baby gorillas are selected.
The gorilla permit in Rwanda is higher compared to gorilla permits in Uganda and Congo and it costs USD 1500. The gorilla trekking experience in this country also permits 8 people to spend time with one gorilla family which is similar to the gorilla trekking experience in Uganda.
In Rwanda, the best time to engage in gorilla trekking is in the months of mid-December to early February which favors hiking. However, gorilla trekking is an all-year activity despite the fact that the trekking conditions may be unfavorable during some months of the year.
Other attractions in Volcanoes national park include golden monkeys, twin lakes which includes Lake Burere and Ruhondo, Virunga volcanoes.
In Congo, gorilla trekking takes place in Virunga national park at a cost of USD 400. The price paid for the gorilla trekking experience in this country is aimed at gorilla protection and conservation.
Gorilla families in Virunga national park include Kabirizi, Rugendo, Humba, Lulengo, Munyaga, Nyakamwe and Bageni. The number of gorillas in a gorilla group can change with time. Due to the location of this national park, tourists sometimes question their safety during the gorilla trekking experience.
The safety and security of tourists during gorilla trekking in Congo is assured as armed guides and rangers accompany tourists during the gorilla trekking experience. The number of people allowed to trek a gorilla group is 8 and this is done to avoid infecting the gorillas which is similar in Uganda and Rwanda.
Other attractions that can be seen in Virunga national park include Nyiragongo hike, nature walks, chimpanzee habituation, and landscape viewing.
These rules and regulations are put in place by different authorities which include; the Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda, Rwanda development board in Rwanda and Virunga park is in charge of gorilla permits in Congo.
The different types of gorillas which are trekked include lowland gorillas and mountain gorillas. The gorillas live in groups known as gorilla families headed by an alpha male. The gorillas are also of two categories which include the habituated gorillas and the non-habituated gorillas. Habituation refers to the process of getting the gorillas to get used to the presence of humans in their habitat.
The best place for gorilla trekking varies and can be determined by the last place where the gorillas were last seen. The rangers who went gorilla trekking inform other rangers of the location where they have seen the gorillas so that the tourists may be taken to this location for an exciting gorilla trekking experience.
The recommended attire for gorilla trekking include hiking shoes, warm clothing, water, snacks, camera, waterproof bag pack and many other requirements to provide comfort for the tourists during the gorilla trekking activity.
With a variety of destinations for gorilla trekking to choose from, a tourist considers different factors which suit their preferences. The factors considered when choosing the best place to do gorilla trekking include safety and security, budget of tourist, gorilla family location, season, distance to the gorilla trekking destination.
Before engaging in the gorilla trekking activity, tourists are expected to have a gorilla trekking permit which costs 600 USD for trekking in Uganda and 1500 USD in Rwanda. To avoid inconvenience tourists are expected to book permits in advance to get a chance to see the gorillas. Gorilla permit in Congo is at a cost of USD 400.
The different seasons of the year determine the availability of gorilla permits and they include the peak season and the low seasons. During the peak seasons gorilla permits are in high demand and in the low seasons gorilla permits can be got with little difficulty.
Different tour operators can also provide the necessary information about gorilla trekking and the best place to trek gorillas. With the help of the tour operators such as Achieve global safaris, Explore Rwanda tours and Focus east Africa tours who handle everything from accommodation, activities and pickups for a satisfying experience a tourist is able to get a memorable gorilla trekking experience.
Tourists are encouraged to get information about gorilla trekking in Uganda, Congo and Rwanda before choosing the best destination for gorilla trekking which is favorable for them.
