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.. So gorilla trekking is essentially a 1-2 hour hike to visit these creatures in their habitat. A permit must be obtained in advance and a trained tour guide will pick you up.
The vegetation can be dense and the trail sometimes muddy, but people who don’t keep their shape can usually make the hike fairly easy.. Guests are allowed a maximum of one hour to watch the gorillas and of course keeping distance is mandatory. 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.
The answer to this question is simple. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is one of the most profound wildlife experiences in the world. You start at the edge of a volcano and then enter the thick forest and hike towards the summit.. Meanwhile, you and your guides search the brush for tell-tale signs of one of Earth’s most majestic creatures..
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.. Mountain gorilla trekking or safari is a year-round activity in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Peak season is July and August, with “long rains from March to May” and “short rains” in November. 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. In recent years, “Ecotourism as an industry has grown exponentially, and gorilla trekking has become the unofficial example of how this protection method can work.. It is not advisable to appear in the park without a gorilla trekking permit as only a set number is given out per day and it can get full in high season. Gorilla trekking offers one of Africa’s most profound wildlife encounters — their populations, even in protected areas, are numbered in the hundreds instead of thousands.
Put simply, gorilla trekking in Rwanda is an experience that will touch you in ways others can’t. Gorilla trekking is not only an unforgettable African wildlife experience, but also a donation to rural communities and nature conservation. Uganda and Rwanda share a common climate and although gorilla trekking is considered an activity year-round, the best time to visit the rainforests is one of the two dry seasons. It is a conservation success story and ongoing gorilla trekking tourism is critical to the continued existence of the species.
Although gorilla trekking is a very engaging activity, it is important that you plan your trip well through Wild Uganda Safaris, a local tour company with hands-on expertise, to plan this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Gorilla trekking is such an exciting primate experience that every visitor to the Uganda safari should not miss. If you’re interested in staying at Kwitonda Lodge before the start of two days of gorilla trekking, then this itinerary is for you. 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.
Easy hikes are never guaranteed—if the gorilla family you’re hiking to decides to move to challenging terrain, you may also need to.
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