Annoying things about gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, while a thrilling and once-in-a-lifetime experience, can also be accompanied by several annoying aspects that can test one’s patience and resolve. For instance, the steep and often muddy terrain of the Virunga Mountains can be incredibly challenging to navigate, with trekkers frequently finding themselves slipping, sliding and stumbling through the dense undergrowth, all while trying to maintain a safe distance from the elusive and endangered mountain gorillas.

Most Popular Safaris

4 Days Gorillas and Golden Monkey Safari

2 Day Bwindi Gorilla Safari through Kigali

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

5 Day Gorilla Trekking Rwanda

5 Day off season Gorilla and Chimp Safari

5 Day Gorilla and Chimp Tracking Safari

16 Days Uganda Primates & Wildlife Safari

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tracking Safari

5 Day Gorilla & Chimp Tracking Safari

5 Day Low season Uganda Gorilla & Chimp Safari

5 Day Uganda Gorillas & Game Safari via Kigali

5 Day Gorilla Habituation & Chimps

Additionally the unpredictable weather patterns in the region can be frustrating, with sudden and intense rainstorms threatening to derail the entire gorilla trekking experience, forcing guides and trekkers alike to scramble for shelter and wait for the skies to clear.

Furthermore, the strict rules and regulations controlling gorilla trekking, while understandable and necessary for the conservation and the well-being of the gorillas, can sometimes feel overly restrictive and annoying, such as the requirements to maintain a minimum distance of seven meters from the gorillas, or the prohibition on touching or feeding the mountain gorillas, which can be difficult to adhere to when faced with the gorillas’ irresistible charm and curiosity, Moreover, the physical demands of gorilla trekking, including the need to hike for several hours through the difficult terrain, often at high altitudes, can be exhausting and annoying, particularly for those who are not adequately prepared or physically conditioned for the challenge. The presence of biting insects, such as mosquitoes and sometimes the tsetse flies, and others, can also be annoying and discomfort, as can the occasional encounters with the stinging nettles, thorny bushes, and other irritating vegetation where the mountain gorillas stay.

It’s also annoying when one wants to trek gorillas with his or her children and is told that the child is underage. For anyone to trek gorillas, he or she must be 15 years and above. If authorities doubt the age of someone, they might need proof to make sure that indeed you have the minimum age required. This required providing the Authority with your birth certificate or passport and this can be lengthy and annoying. The children under this age may not withstand the forest condition and therefore it’s best not to allow them into the forest. Sometimes the mountain gorillas tease their visitors which may not well with a child below this age. Although children can be difficult to locate the gorillas may be very steep for the child below 15 years to hike, Time of finding the gorillas is unpredictable because of the challenging conditions in the forest.

The gorilla permit booking protocol in the two safari destinations that is from Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda and Rwanda Development Board can be annoying as well. If you are nor in Uganda or Rwanda with a chance of physically going to their offices, you will need to write emails to the booking office which may be replied to or not, when you call their offices, your call never be picked but when you eventually pass through, you will be told to wire funds to their account but should there be any slight difference brought about by the transfer you will need to pay it in advance for you to get the gorilla trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda. Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda and Rwanda Development Board have improved on their services, that is they have recommended that you book your gorilla permits through a reputable tour operator like Encounter Africa Safaris.

It’s annoying if a fellow tourist pace is weighing down on other group members. In your gorilla trekking group, you may have people who move first and people who are very slow. The Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rwanda Development Board guide supposed to direct the whole group to move at the pace of the slowest person in the group. This is therefore brings about a difference in opinion amongst the group trek which may create tension later. A gorilla trek that could have taken three hours may end up taking you up to five or six hours. The best way is to take porters who carry such a person or give a push or a pull during gorilla trekking.

Another annoying thing during gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda; that is every tourist in the group wants the best position to take the best pictures. That is the maximum number of people allowed to do gorilla trekking per family is 8 people though at times can be overwhelming depending on the location and the position of the mountain gorillas. But once the gorillas are found, it’s worth it, every tourist gets his or her camera to capture the best gorilla moments and many of your group mates will end up obstructing you as well as denying you space to have good shorts. While this is not common, it mostly happens and it’s very annoying. You have only a period of one hour given to you when you trace the mountain gorillas and must use it profitably.

Finally, the high cost of the gorilla trekking permits which ranges from 800 USD per person per trek in Uganda and 1500 USD Per person per trek in Rwanda depending on the safari location and time of the year, can be a significant source of annoyance and financial strain for many travelers, making the experience feel prohibitively expensive and exclusive.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda.

Uganda trekking in Uganda is an outstanding safari experience that takes place in two safari destinations that is Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Mgahinga National Park is part of the Congo which is part of the Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Mgahinga gorilla national park has one habituated Gorilla family, the rest of the gorilla groups are inhabited in Bwindi impenetrable national park with over 486 mountain gorillas that are slit into various over 21 social groups, where some are located in the park.

Bwindi impenetrable national park has four gorilla sectors that are found in the different parts of the park that is Ruhija, Nkuringo, Rushaga and Buhoma, and a maximum of eight people are allowed to trek each of the gorilla family and the permits for gorilla trekking in Uganda in both of the two national parks that are Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park is 800 USD per person per trek.

While going on a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda in both safari destinations it takes a maximum of 9 hours to reach the park or 10 hours depending on the traffic jam on the road however up countries, this is where you will drive smoothly as you spot the various number of attractions including the rolling hills of Kigezi, beautiful roads and among many others until you reach the destinations to do gorilla trekking. Alternatively, you as well reach the parks in Uganda through using the private charter in order to arrive in half an hour.

On an African safari, it’s only Uganda where the gorilla trekkers can decide to go for gorilla habituation process and the gorilla habituation permit costs 1500 USD per person per trek, the habituation experience takes place in Rushaga sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

Gorilla trekking is a stunning safari experience in Rwanda that takes place in Volcanoes National Park that is very close to the Kigali city that is approximately 3 hours. The park is located at the border of Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The park hosts over 150 habituated mountain gorillas which are split into 12 groups which are 96 permits sold daily to the trekkers. Rwanda inhabits the oldest habituated gorilla group. Rwanda is the perfect safari destination for the high end low impact tourism which doubles the cost of gorilla trekking Uganda permit and multiplies four times the cost of gorilla trekking in Democratic Republic of Congo. The Rwanda tourism strategy has always been to attract the most exclusive resorts and offers higher income and the local communities at the edge of the Volcanoes National Park where the gorillas live.

Gorilla trekking experience.

Gorilla trekking experience is an amazing and attractive safari activity that takes place in East African safari destinations that is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo is Virunga National Park and then the Eastern Lowland Gorilla trekking in Beiga Kahuzi National Park.

Gorilla trekking starts early in the morning with a briefing about rules and regulations, expectations at the parks headquarters by the park guides. After the briefing you will be divided into various groups of 8 members per group, and each group will be given and headed by the park guide that is convenient with the best park trails. You will head the forests as you are looking for the mountain gorillas, in the challenging terrain, gorilla trekking takes a period of about three minutes to 5 hours depending on the location of the gorillas. Along the way looking for gorillas you will be fascinated with the massive sightings of the diverse biodiversity in the forest that is the bird species, animal species, plant species and many others until to locate the mountain gorillas.

And once you find the gorillas you will be given a period of one hour to be in the presence of the gorillas that is watching them playing, watching them making nests of their next night, watching the gorillas feeding, watching the female gorillas grooming their young ones. During the one hour that’s when you will be given the chance to take pictures and record the movies of the mountain gorillas by using less or no flush cameras because flush disrupts the gorillas. After the one hour of the gorilla experience you will trek back to the starting point at the park headquarters where you will be rewarded with the gorilla trekking certificates for taking part in gorilla trekking.

Where is gorilla trekking is better Uganda or Rwanda.

Mountain gorillas are the same everywhere all habitats are the same whether its Uganda or Rwanda, although one cannot be sure that they will see the mountain gorillas when they decide to go gorilla trekking safari. However it’s very rare for tourists to be disappointed when they go gorilla trekking. In order for the proper planning of when to do gorilla trekking safari you are advised to do gorilla trekking safari during the dry seasons of April, May and November.

During the gorilla trekking the accommodation is available and superior in Uganda than in Rwanda. There is a better chance of finding the gorillas. The authorities like Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda and Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda regulate the rules and the regulations so in case the gorillas have not been found by 2pm, the gorilla trekkers are requested to return back to the park headquarters to avoid trekking in the darkness and to avoid the injuries. There is no refunds unless if the trekker falls sick before the trek and that happens when the senior of the headquarters finds out that you are not eligible to trek.

Personally requirements to consider during gorilla trekking.

• Tourists should carry strong hiking boots with good ankle support and some garden gloves, therefore dress in the long sleeved shirts in order to protect your arms against scratches from the thorns, long pants to minimize insect bites on the legs.
• You are advised to dress in layers in order to put them in case you seat. You will be provided with a picnic lunch and vary a lot of water from the lodge together with the high energetic snacks.
• Photographs using flash flights are not allowed. Fast speed films are not recommended. Take along your daypack and carry your needed items for the trek, sweater and tops, basic items and flash flights.
• You are reminded that the parks are located in rainforest areas and it can rain anytime during the day, so therefore it’s advisable to carry waterproof cloths, zip bags for the cameras and filming.
• There are always the porters that help to carry you however they are hired at the park headquarters. The guides are armed during the gorilla trekking since it’s a must for all the trekkers to be accompanied by the guides, porters, the National park guides and soldiers are armed for safety purposes and the proper gorilla trekking safari.

For more information. please contact our team.