When it comes to African safaris, one may wonder why gorilla trekking has become a bucket list adventure. Many travelers from different walks of life travel to Africa to meet the great apes in the wild jungles of Uganda and Rwanda on a new adventure that has dubbed gorilla trekking.
Where to Go Gorilla Trekking?
For primate enthusiasts who have gone gorilla trekking already, this is one of the very best unique wildlife safari experiences in the world and it is of no doubt that it features among the most sought-after experiences by tourists visiting Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Imagine how captivating it is to strike your imaginations of sitting in an impenetrable forest with a group of magnificent mountain gorillas in the wild! This feeling is a true definition of a lifetime experience and never does it leave you in regrets. Gorilla trekking is a bucket adventure today simply because of the following;
Tracking the Gorillas
A fact that mountain gorillas are only tracked in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and not anywhere in the world, this lifetime experience becomes a few unique experiences that are worth including in your bucket list. To catch a glimpse at these dramatic creatures, the two most popular destinations for you to strike your imaginations with these remarkable apes are Uganda’s Bwindi Forest National Park and the Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Other two parks that host the mountain gorillas are Mgahinga National Park in south western Uganda and the Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
What’s Involved in a Gorilla Trek?
Gorilla trekking is one of the wildlife experiences that is active! It takes a process that involve visitors hiking through the dense tropical rainforests to search for an already habituated gorilla family in the wild! This is something that is quite different from the usual safari activities where visitors will look for the animals from the comfort of their safari vehicle.
Where do Gorillas Live?
It is only in the wild where these dramatic creatures thrive from and never will you find any mountain gorilla in the zoo. The hikes to look out for a group of these magnificent apes take you through altitude between 2200 and 4300 meters where they usually dwell. The hike through the jungles of Africa may take you 2-8 hours or even more depending on your walking speed, nature of the habitat, where they are located and other significant factors that you need to be prepared.
Authentic Gorilla Trek Experience
Gorilla Trekking has also been regulated so that it can follow the principles and guidelines of ecotourism. The fact that this lifetime adventure is limited to only eight visitors per family and a number of strict rules and regulations apply makes visitors to be guaranteed of authentic experiences. On a gorilla trek through the jungle, once you get to a gorilla family, visitors are strictly given only one hour to strike their imaginations with these impressive primates, explore their behavior and take as many pictures as possible. Also, it is only conducted in habituated families which offer visitors a golden opportunity to come close at them but of course under strict laws of staying at least 7metres away from these endangered apes.
That said, probably no one ever wishes to miss that magical encounter with these elusive, intelligent and magnificent creatures. To be part of this unforgettable adventure, you need $600 if you are a foreign non-resident to book for your permit, $500 for foreign resident and shs.250000 for East African residents. You can book one through a ground tour operator or through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) if Uganda is your dream destination for this life changing adventure or in Rwanda, you can contact the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
Gorillas are a Critically Endangered Species
Besides, they are listed among the very few most critically endangered species in the world and a glimpse at them is indeed magical and a fact that they share about 95% of their DNA with humans, it is during this moment that you will make your confirmatory test in the wild. Today, these spectacular apes are fewer than 1004 individuals in the whole world and honestly, a trek to see them in the wild has become a major safari highlight in most of tourists’ travel plans.
Wrapping Up
All in all, mountain gorilla trekking is undeniably the most captivating adventure and for those of you who are planning for your next vacation in Africa, count it among your bucket list and you won’t be left in regrets.