Disadvantages of Gorilla Tourism

Gorilla tourism refers to the act of getting closer to the Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, and this involves trekking the gorillas, after locating them, tourists get to spend an hour with the primates studying their behaviour. Gorilla trekking in the world is only carried out in three countries, and are Uganda, Rwanda and DRC; however, at the moment, it can only be carried out in Uganda and Rwanda because of the political unrest DRC is facing.

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Gorilla tourism has more advantages than disadvantages, but if you want to know the disadvantages of gorilla tourism, especially in Uganda, we have to talk about the Batwa people who were evicted from the national park to pave the way for trekking Mountain gorillas and the same time protecting the Mountain gorillas.  Some of the disadvantages of gorilla tourism include the following:

The displacement of the Batwa people: The Batwa people, who are sometimes referred to as Pygmies, used to live in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park before it was gazetted off to protect the gorillas and other wildlife. The Batwa people were chased out of the national park without being given land to relocate and this made their lives outside the national park a hard one to adjust to since they were not used to living outside the park.

They used to hunt in the park, protect their families from the intruders and also gather wild fruit which they could no longer do. To this day, many of the Batwa people have failed to adjust to the outside world and this has made them one of the most endangered people species in Uganda. Many organizations have come up to help the Batwa community by constructing hospitals, schools, homes and many other projects, which have improved their livelihood. Others work as porters for tourists which helps them earn to cater for their families.

Another disadvantage of gorilla trekking is to the gorillas themselves. A particular gorilla family has to first undergo the habituation process, which takes 2 to 3 years before it is completed, and once they are open to the public, tourists with a gorilla trekking permit get the chance to trek the Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The more the gorilla families are trekked, the higher the chances of spreading diseases to the gorillas which greatly affects them.

The cost of the gorilla safari: The cost of the gorilla safari is on the high end especially the cost of the gorilla trek permit. The permit cost is a bit high to ensure premium support and conservation of the Mountain gorillas and their natural habitat. There are also limited permits that are printed per day to limit the number of people that have access to the Mountain gorillas as a means of protecting the gorillas. This is an advantage to the Mountain gorillas but a disadvantage to the tourists because some fail to get the permits, especially with late booking, hence missing out on the trekking experience.

The environmental concerns: The large number of tourists that visit the national parks for gorilla trekking has taken a toll on the environment and natural habitat of the Mountain gorillas. And although there are measures that have been put in place to ensure that tourists do not leave the environment damaged like no throwing of rubbish, no spitting on the vegetation, limiting the number of people trekking the Mountain gorillas per day and not allowing sick tourists to visit the national park, it is still a great concern to protect the ecosystem.

However, the good news is that all the stakeholders of gorilla tourism are aware of the risks and disadvantages and have worked hard to address each one of them. We should focus on the advantages of gorilla tourism since they outweigh the disadvantages and help with the conservation of the gorillas in their natural habitat.

Uganda has two gorilla trekking safari destinations, and these are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, with 19 habituated gorilla families, and Mgahinga National Park, with one habituated gorilla family. Trekking gorillas in Bwindi is carried out in the four sectors which include Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga. Tourists have to purchase a gorilla permit at $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents and UGX300,000 for East African citizens. Uganda in Bwindi also offers gorilla habituation experience, and the permit goes for UGX750,000 for EAC citizens, $1500 for foreign non-residents and $1000 for foreign residents and citizens from other African countries.

Rwanda gorilla trekking is done in Volcanoes National Park with 12 habituated gorilla families. This is the only place in Rwanda where tourists can visit and spend time with the Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Tourists also need to purchase a gorilla permit to access the Mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park and the cost is a bit higher than in Uganda because Rwanda has always been marketed  as a luxury safari destination. The cost of the gorilla permit in Rwanda is $1500 for foreign non-residents, $200 for EAC citizens and $500 for foreign residents and citizens from other African countries.

The rules and regulations of gorilla trekking

The rules and regulations of gorilla trekking help to conserve and protect the Mountain gorillas and the ecosystem which has improved the services of gorilla trekking in the different habitats. The different rules and regulations that were set by the regulatory bodies which are RDB in Rwanda and UWA in Uganda include the following:

• The minimum age for trekking Mountain gorillas in Uganda is 12 years and 15 years in Rwanda and DRC.
• No one is allowed to access the mountain gorillas without a trekking permit and a tour guide
• Sick tourists will not be allowed to trek Mountain gorillas as a way of protecting the primates from falling sick and endangering their lives since they are highly susceptible to human diseases like flu and cough.
• A group of 8 people will be allowed to trek the Mountain gorillas per session limiting the access of the gorillas to the humans.
• Spitting on the vegetation is not allowed because this will make the Mountain gorillas sick the vegetation is food for the gorillas.
• Littering the national parks is not allowed and if you find any rubbish, as a way of protecting the gorillas, you have to pick it up and take it out of the national parks.
• You will not be allowed to eat and drink when near the Mountain gorillas. This is because they will grab onto your food which is not healthy for them.
• Smoking when near the Mountain gorillas is not allowed because it affects their health.
• Trekking groups have an hour with the primates observing them, taking photos and recording videos.
• When you get to the gorilla family you have been assigned, make sure that you keep a distance of 7 to 10 meters away from them for your own safety and the safety of the Mountain gorillas.
• Taking photos should always be done with the camera flash off. The camera flash scares the gorillas forcing them to retreat further into the forest.
• Communicate in low tones and if possible, put your phones into flight mode or silence so that it does not affect your exercise. When you are quiet, you get to see more and understand the behaviors of the gorillas and other primates in the parks.
• Do not leave the group you are with and wander off into other parts of the park because it is home to other wildlife species.
• Never surround the Mountain gorillas because they will feel threatened but make a curve around them and always keep your distance.
• Avoid looking at the gorillas directly in their eyes because it will be seen as a challenge, especially with the dominant silverback. In case it approaches, make sure that you do not run but walk backwards slowly, lower your head and bow down as a sign of submission as you wait for it to walk away.
• There are no toilets in the national parks, and if you want to use one, ask for help to dig a hole of 30cm, which will act as your toilet away from the group and make sure that you cover it up well so that the waste is not dug up by the gorillas and other wildlife.

How to get to the national parks for gorilla trekking

Uganda: There are two ways you can get to Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks for gorilla trekking and these are by road or air. Driving is the most commonly used means and it will take you about 9 to 10 hours from Kampala or Entebbe. It is a long journey but worth it as you get to enjoy the beautiful scenery on your way to the parks. Tourists also have the option of driving from Kigali while using the land borders between Uganda and Rwanda, the Cyanika border, and the Gatuna border. The drive from Kigali to Mgahinga is a bit shorter and takes about 2 to 3 hours and 4 to 5 hours from Kigali to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You, however, need to have all your travel documents before crossing the border, as they will be needed at customs.

Flying is also another way through which you can get to Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, however note that there are no direct flights from Entebbe to the national parks and you will have to land at either Kihihi Airstrip or Kisoro Airport where you will be picked by a safari vehicle if you booked through a safari company and driven to your accommodation or the park headquarters.

Rwanda: The best way to get to Rwanda is by driving from Kigali International Airport to Volcanoes National Park. The Park is not far away from the city Centre, and the drive is about 3 to 4 hours, which is a shorter drive as compared to driving in Rwanda.

When (the best time) to go for gorilla trekking

Uganda and Rwanda are both located in tropical rainforest areas near the equator, experiencing the same climatic conditions that is dry and rainy seasons. The dry season is from June to September and December to January and it is also known as the peak season. Many tourists visit the national parks during the peak season because it is known to be the best time to go for gorilla trekking causing large crowds and a hike in the cost of the services rendered. This is the best time because of the favourable weather conditions, which are little to no rainfall, dry trek routes and less vegetation, making it easy to trek and locate the Mountain gorillas.

The rainy season from March to May and October to November is the most budget-friendly time to travel for gorilla trekking, but note that there be rains, although not on a daily that will hinder your exercise. Due to the heavy rains, the trek routes are slippery and muddy, and the vegetation is thick which slows down the trek and makes it hard to locate the chimpanzees. Be ready with your raincoats all the time so that you do not get wet when searching for the gorillas. It is, however, a budget-friendly time to travel because some services offer discounts, especially accommodation, and there are few tourists as compared to the dry season.

Despite the disadvantages of gorilla tourism, some advantages come with the exercise, and these include supporting and conservation of the Mountain gorillas and their habitat, protecting the Mountain gorillas from poaching, improving the livelihood of the local people by helping in the construction of hospitals, schools, and homes. And if you can, hire a porter because this might be the only way in which you can support their livelihood. Gorilla tourism is also a top earner for the government through taxes and purchase of permits and this has seen an improvement in the services provided.

For more information about the disadvantages of gorilla tourism, you can reach us at Encounter Africa Safaris via email for a quicker response.