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Gorilla Trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Mountain gorillas are only found in the dense forests of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda has the largest population of them. That’s what makes the Pearl of Africa a great gorilla trekking destination as it offers the opportunity to see and meet the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a unique and unforgettable experience that allows you to observe these gentle giants up close and learn about their behavior, ecology, and conservation efforts that have kept them in existence.
Uganda has two gorilla trekking destinations: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Both parks are part of the Virunga Massif, a chain of volcanic mountains that spreads across the three countries where mountain gorillas live.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that covers 127.7 square miles of ancient forest. It is a dark and thick forest loved by almost half of the world’s mountain gorillas, as well as many other species of wildlife and plants.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a smaller park that covers 31.1 square miles of the Virunga conservation area. In it you’ll find sections of three of the eight major Virunga peaks: Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura, and Mount Sabyinyo. It’s known as the park where silver meets gold due to the existence of both silverbacks and golden monkeys.
Both parks offer exquisite gorilla trekking excursions commenced at different starting points where visitors converge and can only be part of a group of up to eight people. Led by a trained guide, the trackers embark on a journey to find their designated habituated gorilla family.
The trekking can take anywhere from one to six hours, depending on the location and movement of the gorillas. Once the gorillas are located, visitors can spend one hour with them, watching them feed, play, groom, and interact with each other.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has 21 fully habituated gorilla groups found in its four sectors and they are available for gorilla trekking with an additional group still under habituation hence visitors interested in the gorilla habituation experience can visit it in the Rushaga sector.
Mgahinga National park only has one gorilla group known as the Nyakagyezi, one of the largest gorilla families in the country.
The gorilla trekking permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and cost $700 per person for foreign non-residents and $600 for foreign residents. The permits are limited and need to be booked in advance.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is a rewarding and life-changing adventure that supports the conservation of these magnificent animals and their habitat. By visiting Uganda’s gorilla parks, you contribute to the conservation efforts and support local communities which in return help to protect the mountain gorillas from extinction.
Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda
Trekking Lowland gorillas in Congo
Gorilla Habituation Experience in Uganda
This activity is similar to gorilla trekking; however, here you visit gorillas that are still undergoing the training that lets them get used to human presence.
By taking part in this experience, you are meeting totally wild gorillas.
Visitors spend longer hours with these gorillas during this experience, they spend not less than four hours studying how they behave and interact when they sense human presence.
You’ll be in the company of researchers and hence part of the team for the day, you’ll collect data, take notes from observations of individual animals. By the end of the session, you shall be able to identify the gorilla family members by their character and physique.
This activity costs $1500, which is more than the Uganda rate but similar to the normal gorilla trekking cost in Rwanda.
Gorilla habituation is only carried out in the Rushaga sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Trekking Lowland gorillas in Congo
Kahuzi-Biega National Park is another national park in the DRC that covers an area of 6,000 square kilometers.
It is named after two dormant volcanoes: Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega.
The park is home to the largest population of eastern lowland gorillas in the world, as well as other wildlife such as forest elephants, leopards, monkeys, and antelopes.
The park also has a rich diversity of plants and habitats, ranging from rainforests to bamboo forests to alpine meadows.
Gorilla trekking in Kahuzi-Biega National Park is a rare and rewarding adventure that allows you to see these elusive and endangered primates in their natural environment.
The trekking usually takes one to four hours, depending on the location and movement of the gorillas.
Once you find them, you can spend one hour with them, watching them feed, play, groom, and interact with each other.
The gorilla trekking permits cost $400 per person Gorilla trekking in the DRC is a one of a kind experience only enjoyed in that part of the world.
You won’t be able to trek both lowland and mountain gorillas in the same country as it is in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda
Gorilla trekking in Democratic Republic of Congo
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda
Looking for a luxurious gorilla trekking experience, Rwanda is your destination.
Mountain gorillas are traced in the Virunga Mountains and in Rwanda find them at Volcanoes National Park, one of the best places to go gorilla trekking, as it has a large population of habituated gorillas, well-developed infrastructure and a safe and stable political environment.
Volcanoes National Park is a 160 square kilometer park that covers five of the eight Virunga volcanoes: Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo.
The park is home to 12 gorilla families that have been habituated hence ready for tourist visits, as well as other wildlife such as golden monkeys, buffaloes, elephants, and various birds.
The park also has a rich history of holding the headquarters of the Karisoke research center at Karisimbi where the famous primatologist Dian Fossey dedicated her life to studying and protecting the mountain gorillas.
Interested in carrying out gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, you need to first obtain a permit from the Rwanda Development Board, which costs $1,500 per person. The permit is your gateway to finding one of the greatest and magnificent primates on earth.
Just like in Uganda, only a maximum of 8 visitors are allowed to trek gorillas in a time space of 24 hours. Once you locate them, get to utilize the one hour allocated to create unforgettable memories with the primates that behave in a human-like nature.
Gorilla trekking in Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a great gorilla trekking destination because it offers the opportunity to see both lowland and mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
Lowland gorillas are smaller, have shorter hair, and live in lower altitudes than mountain gorillas, which are larger, have longer hair, and live in higher altitudes. Most zoos across the world have the lowland gorillas however, none has the mountain gorillas and that’s why they are special and endangered species only found in three countries.
DRC has two national parks where you can go gorilla trekking: Virunga National Park and Kahuzi-Biega National Park. Both parks are UNESCO World Heritage Sites that protect the biodiversity of the region.
Virunga National Park is the oldest national park in Africa, established in 1925. It covers an area of 7,769 square kilometers and spans across the Albertine Rift, a branch of the Great Rift Valley.
The park is home to about a quarter of the world’s mountain gorillas, as well as other wildlife such as chimpanzees, elephants, lions, hippos, and birds.
The park also features the spectacular Virunga Mountains, a mountain range made up of eight volcanoes inclusive of Mount Nyiragongo, which has the world’s largest lava lake.
Gorilla trekking in Virunga National Park is a unique and unforgettable experience that allows you to observe these gentle giants up close and learn about their unique character.
The gorilla trekking permits cost $400 per person; this is the cheapest gorilla permit you’ll come across.
During your trek, you are accompanied by a team of armed rangers who guide you to where the gorillas are currently residing.
They are also meant to protect tourists against any rebel attacks that may arise, though the country is currently gaining back political stability and peace.
Visitors are allowed to spend an hour with the endangered species studying every move they make and making the most of your one-hour session with the animals such as capturing moments with them.
Virunga National Park
Kahuzi-Biega National Park
Rules and Regulations of Gorilla trekking
- ● Visitors must be 15 years or older to get a gorilla trekking permit. This is because children easily carry air borne diseases like colds and can easily get closer to the gorillas due to their curiosity.
- ● Having a valid gorilla trekking permit is a must, it costs $700 per person in Uganda, $1,500 in Rwanda, and $400 in Congo. You need to book your permit in advance through a registered tour operator or at the respective government agencies like Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda.
- ● One should be in good health and free of any contagious diseases. If you have a cold, flu, or any other illness, you should not go gorilla trekking as you may infect the gorillas, whose immunity is too low when it comes to fighting off human diseases.
- ● Follow the instructions of your guide and trackers at all times. They will lead you to the gorilla family and tell you how to behave around them. You should also respect the local culture and customs of the people living near the gorilla habitats. Therefore, pay maximum attention during the briefings that happen before the trek.
- ● Keep a distance of at least 7 meters (23 feet) from the gorillas. This is to avoid contact and reduce stress to the gorillas. If the gorillas approach you, you should move back slowly and quietly. You should also avoid direct eye contact, as this may be seen as a command of authority to the gorillas yet the dominant silverback holds the authority of a particular group.
- ● Limit your time with the gorillas to one hour. This is to minimize disturbance and exposure to the gorillas. You should also keep your voice low and avoid making any sudden movements or noises. You should not touch, feed, or attempt to play with the gorillas.
- ● Do not eat, drink, or smoke near the gorillas. This could attract insects or animals that may harm the gorillas. It could also leave behind litter or droplets that may contaminate the gorilla habitat.
- ● You should not use flash photography or video recording devices that make a lot of noise. This could scare or irritate the gorillas. You should also turn off your phone or any other electronic devices that may interfere with the gorilla tracking signals.
Gorilla Trekking Packing List
- When packing your bags in preparation of this incredible adventure, pack appropriate clothing and footwear for gorilla trekking. The recommended clothing includes long trousers, long-sleeved shirts, hiking boots, socks, gloves, a hat, sunglasses and a rain jacket.
- The clothing should be in neutral colors such as khaki, green or brown, as bright colors distract the gorillas. The clothing should also be thick enough to protect you from thorns, insects, and cold weather because you’ll be trekking to high altitude areas that are known to get cold as you climb higher.
- Don’t forget to include essential items such as your permit, passport, camera, binoculars, water bottle, snacks, insect repellent, sunscreen, and a small backpack that will carry the lightweight items.
- You can also hire a porter to help you carry your items in case they are heavy and through doing that you give back to the local community.
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