Gorilla trekking can also be referred to as gorilla tracking, which all leads to seeing the gorillas in their natural habitat. Gorillas are ape species that live in the Virunga mountain ranges and in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Gorillas share 98% DNA with humans, making them our closest cousins.
Mountain Gorillas are endangered, with fewer species remaining in the world. Half of the world’s gorillas live in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda. The other half lives in the Virunga Mountain ranges, shared by Rwanda, Uganda (Mgahinga), and the DR Congo.
In Rwanda, the gorillas live in Volcanoes National Park. In Uganda, the gorillas live in Mgahinga National Park with over 20 gorillas living in this park. The other gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo are found in Virunga National park in the Eastern part of the country.
In trying to understand gorilla tracking better, there are common questions that are always asked and these can be answered as below;
What is gorilla trekking?
Gorilla trekking is the process of hiking in the tropical highlands where the gorillas live. Trekking means penetrating through thick shrubs in search of the mountain gorillas. Virunga mountain ranges and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are both mountainous, and gorillas live up in the mountains or down in the valleys.
Gorillas wander around in the forest in search of food. Seeing them, therefore, involves hiking up and down in search of them where they are feeding on the day. You will be guided by park rangers and guides while following the trails to search for these amazing apes. This takes 2-8 hours, depending on the movement of the gorillas in their natural habitat.
Trekking mountain gorillas takes only one hour when you encounter them. The one-hour experience was designed to minimise gorilla disturbances from humans. It also helps gorillas to maintain their daily routines like feeding and nesting. These great apes are vulnerable creatures and can be attracted by human diseases. The one-hour limit prevents the apes from acquiring their illness.
Which is the Best place to do gorilla trekking, Uganda or Rwanda?
Most gorilla trekking tours are done in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. The gorillas in Bwindi and Volcanoes National Parks are similar in size and character. The slight difference is that the gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park are more shy as they are not exposed to human beings daily like those in Volcanoes National Park.
These two parks have differences in terms of terrain and vegetation cover. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is more rugged with steep slopes and valleys. The forest cover is also very thick, which is why it was called an impenetrable forest. This makes photography a bit challenging as the gorillas hide in the shrubs.
This makes gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable more strenuous and yet adventurous. On the other hand, Volcanoes National Park is covered by bamboo, and the general vegetation cover is not thick.
The terrain of Volcanoes National Park is not very steep. The gorilla groups there are categorized in terms of low, medium, and high levels, allowing different categories of people to see the gorillas.
Gorilla tracking in Rwanda will take 1-7 hours, depending on the gorilla group allocated. Therefore, in trying to determine the best place to do gorilla tracking, it will depend on the interests of the tracker.
For someone who likes hiking in challenging terrain, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park offers the best opportunity to see gorillas. On the other hand, for someone who does not like taking up a challenge and yet wants to see the gorillas with a bit of ease, Volcanoes National Park offers the best opportunity.
How much is gorilla trekking?
If you book the gorilla tracking safari through a tour operator, you will get different prices depending on the number of days you have and the number of people. For a tour company, the cost must be favourable, depending on the number of people. The tour operator will quote the price including transport to and from the airport or town, accommodation, and a gorilla permit.
For the gorilla-tracking permit in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, the permit costs USD 1500. In Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda, the gorilla permit costs USD800. For Rwanda, a gorilla tracking tour can be one day to three or more days, depending on other activities one wants to add to the itinerary. Whereas for Uganda, one needs at least 3 days, including travel days.
How safe is gorilla trekking?
Gorillas live in groups headed by the dominant male silverback. These gorilla groups are habituated for gorilla tracking by human beings. Therefore, gorilla tracking is safe since these gorillas are habituated to interacting with humans. During gorilla tracking, you are escorted by armed ranger guides to protect the group from any danger in case of an attack by other animals in the park.
You will be given a briefing on how to behave with the gorillas, such as keeping a distance from the gorillas in case the gorilla comes closer and touches you. All these are aimed at keeping you safe from any harm from the gorillas. For more information about the gorillas, read about the rules and regulations to follow during gorilla trekking.
What to wear on a gorilla trek
Discover how to track gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda, & Congo. Learn about permits, the best parks, and essential tips for an unforgettable primate trekking adventure
Gorilla tracking involves penetration through thick shrubs and muddy ground. This, therefore, requires some special gear to ease the gorilla tracking adventure.
For footwear, you need to wear hiking shoes or Wellington boots to ease into hiking.
You need to have long stockings, which you will tuck into the pants. This helps to avoid crawling insects like ants from entering your pants.
Wear thick pants and a long-sleeved sweater or jacket to protect yourself from the stinging nettles while tracking the gorillas. Gardening gloves protect your hands from getting dirty since the ground is slippery and muddy.
Wear warm clothing, as the mountains get very cold, especially in the evenings. You will also need wet gear just in case it rains. It tends to rain in the mountains, and the rain will always come unexpectedly. For more information, you can check the parking list for gorilla tracking.
Is gorilla trekking worth it?
Gorilla trekking is one of the most exciting adventures one must experience in life. The encounter of the closest cousins in their natural habitat, playing in the forest, is so fascinating. These peaceful giants behave like human beings, and it is rewarding to see their behavior.
Being found only in one region is worth adding to the bucket list to see these rare and endangered mountain gorillas. By gorilla tracking, you are helping to conserve these endangered animals. As Proceeds from gorilla tracking permits go towards the conservation