Gorilla trekking is a hike to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a jungle that is home to mountain gorillas. The hike includes getting a little dirty and strolling through the dense jungle with an expert local guide to find a troop of familiar gorillas. Although gorilla trekking is considered one of the most fascinating wildlife experiences, it’s not like a normal game drive or a visit to the local zoo. Gorilla trekking involves hiking through difficult terrain, dense vegetation, bodies of water, hills and valleys.
The activity can be very challenging and exhausting, leaving you exhausted and a knee aching, especially if you’re not used to running for hours.. The activity isn’t just about hiking on well-paved and predictable trails. Once has to deal with biting insects, thorns and thick forest. Rain and altitude sickness are also a real concern in some parks..
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to stand next to a full-blown silverback gorilla that weighs almost 200 kg? Seeing these gentle giants in their natural habitat is something no one should miss.. We’ve gathered everything you need to know about mountain gorilla trekking and safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Are you a fan of the African continent? If you want to read more. Take a look at the 10 best African safari parks in Africa where we’ve collected everything about Africa’s most famous parks for your gorilla safari.
According to reports from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig and the Congolese Virunga National Park, the number of mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei beringei) living in the wild has once again risen above 1000. During the census, in which the WWF was also involved, researchers documented 1004 animals. As a result, the Red List changed its status to Vulnerable.. For those interested in tracing the footsteps of Dian Fossey, her grave is a 30-minute drive from the park’s headquarters and then hike two or three hours through the forest to over 3,000 m altitude.
Virunga National Park gorilla trekking permits are the cheapest at $400. Recently, however, the park is selling the package along with accommodation and transportation. As a result, 10% of the revenue from the permits will be distributed to local communities to build schools and health centers and roads. There is a compensation fund for local farmers should gorillas damage their crops, which helps ensure peaceful coexistence. Gorilla trekking in Uganda can be done at any time of the year.
Uganda experiences two significant seasons: the dry and rainy season. Visitors who want to hike mountain gorillas should keep in mind that gorilla tracking is an intense experience that can last all day. The guide takes you through the world of gorillas, explaining aspects of their ecology and behavior. Trekking for gorillas in the mountainous rainforest often means hours of hiking on steep, narrow footpaths and walking through the dense jungle behind a scout who slits a path through the foliage with a machete.
Gorilla trekking in Congo is easier during the “rainy season”, which lasts from June to September, and the “light rainy season” from December to February. There are currently over eight groups of gorillas that can be visited in Uganda and Rwanda. The status of new gorilla families is yet to be opened to tourists. Considering a combination of price, safety and comfort, Uganda was my favorite gorilla trekking destination.. It is a conservation success story and ongoing gorilla trekking tourism is critical to the continued existence of the species.
If you’re going gorilla trekking during these months, be prepared for long or short periods of rain and muddy, wet soil.. Through primate research and gorilla trekking tourism, residents of Odzala Kokoua National Park in Congo have begun to place more emphasis on nature conservation. Mountain gorillas (as the name suggests) exist in remote locations, in countries that are not known for their tourist infrastructure, which means that the logistics of a gorilla visit is a challenge in itself. Please note that gorillas are highly susceptible to human disease. You must not go on a gorilla trek if you have a cold or have another contagious disease.
However, this doesn’t mean that you need to be able to do a triathlon or bench press at three times your body weight to go gorilla trekking. Elderly and physically disabled people can also go gorilla trekking if they inform their tour operator in advance for better planning.. Gorilla trekking is such an exciting primate experience that every visitor to the Uganda safari should not miss.
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