Conservation and Heritage Tourism for Gorillas

Category: Travel Planner

  • All About Gorilla Trekking

    Around only 1000 mountain gorilla still exist today. Although our closest living relatives, ironically, it is man that poses the greatest threat to their survival. For years gorillas have been ruthlessly hunted for their hands and heads, which are sold on as macabre souvenir ashtrays and lamp shades. Additionally, large numbers have been killed whilst trying to stop poachers stealing babies which are illegally sold on to zoos, where their survival rate is low. This has affected gorilla conservation in Africa.

    Gorilla trekking is a wonderful experience, allowing you the opportunity to have a close encounter with these gentle giants of the jungle in their natural habitat. The trekking will take place either in Uganda, Rwanda or Democratic Republic of Congo – depending on local conditions and the availability of the gorilla permits. You need not feel that you are exploiting these animals by paying good money to go trek to see them in their natural habitat. In fact the ever-growing number of tourists keen to see the gorilla proves to be an important factor in their survival. The gorilla permit fees help to set up and finance patrols that are instrumental in protecting the gorillas from poachers and their lethal snares.

    Gorilla Permit Costs

    On most African overland safaris, gorilla trekking is an optional activity and the cost of the permit, transfer and local service fee is to be paid upon arrival. We also offer a 4 day Gorilla Express lodge accommodated safari in Rwanda, please note that on this trip the cost of the gorilla permit, transfer and service fee is included.

    The cost and availability of gorilla permits varies by country and park and currently ranges from USD 400 – 1500. You will also need to budget for visa fees (costs vary), transfer and a local service fee (approx USD 60 – 75) and to renew your Ugandan or East African visa upon re-entry should we have to go to Rwanda or DR Congo. The government often increases the permit and transfer costs without notice, so we ask that you budget for the highest amount, so that you don’t suddenly have to find additional money to partake in this wonderful experience. We recommend you budget a total of atleast US$ 1200.

    The reason that the permits are so costly is because each park only issues 10 permits per gorilla family per day, to ensure that the gorilla’s exposure to humans is limited. 100% of the gorilla permit cost is used by the government to continue in the excellent work they do in protecting and promoting these wonderful animals.

    Tours companies are not in control of the price of gorilla permits and therefore cannot be held responsible for any increase in fees. If the political situation in this region should change, there is the chance that the itinerary would be amended and an alternative scenario advised prior to departure if possible.

    Trekking to see the Gorillas

    The trek starts in the early morning and after border formalities you are transferred to a ranger’s station where the trek commences. Your rangers will lead you through the cultivated lands and then into the dense rain forest and as close as is allowed to a gorilla family. The rangers monitor the gorillas on a daily basis and have a fairly good idea of where they are. However, they are free roaming animals, and their sighting cannot be guaranteed. Trekking can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 8 hours and it can be quite strenuous, so a reasonable level of fitness is required.

    To ensure the gorillas do not get too used to the presence of humans and because they share many of our genes (and are therefore able to catch our diseases), the maximum time permitted to spend with them is 1 hour. You will have plenty of time to watch their activity and to take photographs. The rangers will be able to provide you with a background to the family you are visiting. Once your hour is up, you trek back out of the rain forest to your meeting point. Clients considering joining this trip should realize the demands and unpredictability of the areas visited. These factors may contribute toward restricting or delaying our trip and viewing of the gorillas. Often, the trek through thick, dense jungle can be somewhat strenuous and due to the nature of the gorillas and their habits, viewing cannot be guaranteed.

    IMPORTANT: Although the groups of gorilla that are sought out on our jungle trek have been habituated, they have not been tamed and their behaviour is not demonstrably different from that of non-habituated groups. Nobody forces them to stay with us for the allotted hour, and they can fade into the forest as you appear, if they wish to do so. Further, as gorillas are EXTREMELY sensitive to human disease, the park authorities will not allow anyone they consider to be in poor health to visit the gorilla groups. Additionally, no children under 16 years of age are permitted to visit.

  • Is Gorilla Trekking Safe?

    Is Gorilla Trekking Safe?

    Gorilla trekking is a safe enterprise, so long as you follow a few basic rules and listen to your trek guide. We introduce you to the safety guidelines for gorilla trekking to give you peace of mind about this extraordinary adventure.

    Moreover, the troops that folks visit on gorilla treks are habituated, which means they’re used to being around humans.

    There are of course some fairly common rules that you should obey on a gorilla trek to ensure your safety as well as the well-being of the gorillas. And your gorilla trek guide is the person to look to if you’re ever uncertain about what to do (or not do). He or she is there to protect you and knows the visited troop well.

    Mountain gorillas are gentle giants

    Some might understandably have qualms about the mountain gorillas themselves. A silverback can weigh around 150 to 180 kg, after all. But while mountain gorillas are extremely powerful especially the fully grown males, they’re quite gentle by nature.

    Mountain gorillas are even vegetarians and predominantly, at least – sometimes they eat insects. So, while gorillas will defend themselves if attacked, they’re not aggressive creatures. And they have no interest in messing with humans.

    You visit habituated gorillas

    Further enhancing everyone’s safety is the fact that the gorilla troops you visit on a trek are habituated. This means they’ve undergone a long process of slowly becoming accustomed to the presence of humans. They’re therefore less likely to become alarmed and agitated by your presence.

    You trek with a trained guide

    When you go on a gorilla trek you go in the company of a trained guide. Such men and women know the gorilla troops being visited, and know what can and cannot be done.

    It is important to always listen to your ranger and stay with the group while trekking. Listen to what you’re told to do and not do. Poking a silverback’s stomach, for instance, is not allowed. But if you follow the rules of your trek guide and act with common sense, you’re perfectly safe visiting the gorillas.

    The age limit for tracking

    The age limit for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is 15 years and above. This is the age limit for all tourists planning a gorilla safari in Rwanda. Age verification using your official identification documents like national IDs and passports will be done. The age limit was put at 15 because all those that are 15 and above can easily be controlled, unlike children below the age who are hard to control and might be forced to run in case a gorilla approaches them. They make noise and play around.

    Gorilla trekking safety guidelines

    Obviously, there are rules to follow when observing the gorillas that are geared towards not angering, frightening or in any other way upsetting the gorillas. Here are some simple guidelines to follow when in the presence of mountain gorillas to further ensure everything goes smooth.

    The forest trek is safe, but tough

    Mountain gorillas live in montane forest, which means you have to walk along forest trails to find them. A gorilla trek is all about seeing these magnificent animals in their natural habitat, after all.

    Every forest trek varies in length and difficulty depending on a few factors, like which park your visit, the weather, and the particular gorilla troop you’ve been assigned (troops’ locations are monitored by park rangers and each trek group is assigned a specific troop to visit).

    Generally speaking, visitors can ask to be assigned a troop near or far from the starting point. The less fit, for example, may wish to have shorter hike. Hikes range from about half an hour to three or four hours. There are no overnight hikes.

    You need to be prepared

    Probably the biggest ‘danger’ on a gorilla trek is to do with navigating the mountainous and forested terrain. You often walk along narrow or even non-existent trails.

    Further, note that the route you walk is likely to be steep in places, as well as muddy and slippery. So, you want hiking boots with good grip. And you might also consider bringing along trekking poles or a walking stick, as many others do.

    You can also hire the services of a porter, who not only carries your backpack for you but also helps you to navigate tricky sections.

    Finally, it can be really cold in the early morning, as well as hot at midday when the there’s no cloud cover. So, you need to be prepared for all kinds of weather, having warm layers, a waterproof shell, and sunscreen and a sunhat.

    Uganda and Rwanda are stable countries

    We regularly travel in both Rwanda and Uganda, the two main countries where visitors head to go gorilla trekking. And we’re pleased to say that Rwanda and Uganda are relatively stable countries with thriving tourism industries. The locals in both countries are warm and welcoming towards visitors.

    Well-run national parks

    Moreover, the parks where the mountain gorillas live – Bwindi Impenetrable Park in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda – are particularly well maintained and patrolled.

    Visitor safety is a top priority at both parks, and experienced trek guides always accompany every gorilla trekking party. So, you’re in one of the safest spots of each country when you go gorilla trekking.  You can also see mountain gorillas in the DRC, but we don’t recommend that as a destination right now.

    We also recommend travelling with a local tour guide to further ensure your safety. No matter where you go in the world, having a local look after you is always a great idea, as they know the culture, environment, people and wildlife of the place.

    In conclusion

    Although safety measures have been put in place, you also need to ensure that you take care of your personal Security to contribute to safety during a gorilla trek safari in Uganda and Rwanda.

    Follow all the rules and regulations that were put in place because they are to protect you from mountain gorilla attacks and protect the gorillas from extinction.

     

  • Gorilla Trekking in Uganda or Rwanda?

    Gorilla trekking in Uganda & Rwanda is one of the best life experiences one looking a wildlife safari should not miss while on holiday in Africa. The intimacy of being with these endangered species gives exhilarating unexplained feel. Once your eyes are set on your trekking group, one hour will be spent with them since they are endemic to human diseases. The gorilla can only be seen after getting a gorilla permit from governmental organizations (UWA for Uganda and RDB for Rwanda). Gorilla permits cost US $1500 for Rwanda and US$00 for Uganda.

    The current number of mountain gorilla is estimated to about 1050 individuals. These gorillas live with the deep tropical rain forests of Rwanda’s Volcanoes  Park, in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga National Park. There are several habituated gorilla groups for tourism and some for research purposes! A maximum number of 8 people only can visit the allocated group within a day.

    GENERAL COMPARISON IN PRICE – BEST RESULTS OF TREK AND ACCESSIBILITY OF THE GORILLAS

    Although gorillas can be visited in the volcanoes OF Uganda, Congo and Rwanda, Rwanda has a slight advantage over the others because of its well habituated groups usually found in the bamboo rather than the dense forest in case of the others making there photographing easier.

    The biggest problem concerning the Rwanda gorilla trekking is its gorilla permit which is at US $1500 making it US $700 higher than that of Uganda which is US $00. However amidst the 700 price difference, Rwanda’s strength lies in its ability to trek in one day which is impossible with Uganda. The least days of trekking in Uganda should be 3 days. the distance between Rwanda’s volcanoes is 116 km only a 2 hours drive from the country’s capital Kigali and for Uganda the distance between Entebbe and Bwindi impenetrable national park is 500 km taking around 8 hours plus drive. however this long hours drive gives you a chance of viewing the natural beauty of Uganda like the equator, lake Mburo national park, queen Elizabeth national park the real true jungles of Africa which is not the case with Rwanda.

    Though 1 day gorilla trekking is possible in Rwanda, we would recommend the list to be two days to avoid pressure and enjoying enough of your tour in Africa.

    The low gorilla permit in Uganda is however without the long distance transport cost and the time spent on the way. Some of the road to Bwindi impenetrable national park are not so comfortable to drive on as it aren’t the case with Rwanda.

    With the transport cost from Kampala to Bwindi, the price of the trekking has to be increased since transport is exclusive on the permit cost. You have to travel 2 days to and from. roughly a low budget gorilla trekking for 3 day can cost a bout US$1350 with the gorilla permit, accommodation and transport inclusive. Yet a 2 days Rwanda gorilla trekking goes for about US $1920 gorilla permit, accommodation and transport inclusive and a 3 day Rwanda trek costs US$2280 with the permit, accommodation and transport inclusive.

    In case the traveler is not only interested in mountain gorillas alone and wants to venture into other activities and watch more animal species, Uganda can be the best option. Rwanda can be the best choice if the interest is only to see mountain gorillas and that’s why many travelers always cross and come over to Uganda to see more of the wildlife missed in Rwanda. Uganda’s many parks like queen Elizabeth national park along the way to Bwindi has got a number of wild life including tree climbing lions and many other big primates, lake Mburo national park, the equator enticing the real pearl of Africa even before even the actual trekking.

    With this information, it’s all a bout ones choice, time and the pocket all countries can give you their best. But a combination of both Rwanda and Uganda can be the best with the gorilla trekking in Rwanda then end up in Uganda for the big 5 among others in the queen Elizabeth national park.