Why is gorilla trekking experience in Uganda and Rwanda for one hour
Why is gorilla trekking experience in Uganda and Rwanda for one hour
Gorilla trekking is limited to only one hour of viewing the mountain gorillas because they are habituated to being in the presence of humans for just that time. Gorilla habituation is the process of getting wild mountain gorillas used to the presence of humans.
Most Popular Safaris
3 day chimp habituation in Kibale
3 day fly in gorilla habituation
5 days chimp and gorilla habituation
3 days Rwanda gorilla tracking
4 days gorillas and golden monkeys
5 day Uganda gorillas and wildlife
5 day gorilla habituation and chimps
5 days gorillas and game safari
5 days gorilla trekking Rwanda
What Is Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla trekking is tracing a fully habituated mountain gorilla family and staying with it for only one hour.
Uganda has 19 gorilla families open for tourism and living in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Both parks are located in the southwestern part of Uganda, which is generally volcanic. These gorilla families are booked according to the area where they are located. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has four areas:
- The Buhoma area in the North
- The Ruhijah area in the east
- The Rushaga area in the south
- The Nkuringo area
Rwanda so far has 12 gorilla families open for tourism living in Volcanoes National Park, which is situated in the northwestern part of Rwanda. A few of the Rwanda gorilla trekking families include the Amahoro family, Karisimbi family, Susa family, Ugyende family, Bwenge family, Sabyinyo family, and others.
Conservation of the mountain gorillas takes precedence over all activities because mountain gorillas are some of the endangered primates in the world. By the 1980s, it was discovered after a census by primatologist Dian Fossey that about 250 mountain gorillas were living then. The mountain gorillas were listed among the highly endangered primates, so their conservation started.
To contribute to the gorilla conservation fund, selling gorilla trekking permits was one of the ways of accumulating money for this noble but fun activity. Amidst all this, conservation was a top priority, so the mountain gorillas were habituated to be in the presence of humans for just one hour.
Highlight Why Gorilla Trekking Is For One Hour
- Mountain Gorillas were habituated to being with humans for Just One hour
- For Mountain gorilla conservation reasons
- To allow the mountain gorillas to Feed
- To Give Space For Conception
- Give time To Return After Gorilla Trekking
- To reduce on Chances of Passing an infection to the Mountain Gorillas
- Lower chances of agitating the mountain gorillas
Mountain Gorillas were habituated to being with humans for Just One hour
During gorilla habituation, where wild mountain gorillas are taken through a gradual process of getting used to the presence of humans, they are habituated for one hour of tolerating humans. Mountain gorillas may be serene; they are also very sensitive.
Although they may not fight you, they may retreat into the bushes if they notice something odd about the group standing before them for gorilla trekking. An hour was suggested and one to minimize such chances.
During that one hour, you are expected to watch the mountain gorillas and take as many photos as you can as memories of your meeting with the mountain gorillas. Try not to stare into their eyes because they are shy primates.
For Mountain gorilla conservation reasons
Because mountain gorillas are primates that need to be conserved in their natural form and not get over-familiar with the presence of humans, just one hour is ok with them during gorilla trekking. The mountain gorillas conservation program has taken much time and funding, so all the plans must proceed with conservation.
Even the food they depend on is foliage, so if you take long in the forest, you may over-trample on the vegetation, which is food for the mountain gorillas. This food needs to be preserved and not limited by stepping on it.
To allow the mountain gorillas to Feed
The mountain gorillas are generally vegetarian and feed on foliage the entire day, supporting their sheer body size through the night. A fully-grown mountain gorilla may weigh about 200 pounds. The mountain gorillas have bamboo as their delicacy but also feed on soft stems, fruits, tubers, leaves, stems, and others.
When doing gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation, you are advised not to spit on the vegetation to reduce on chances of passing germs to the mountain gorillas.
During gorilla trekking, the mountain gorillas may stop feeding to give some attention to their visitors. Although you may think they are minding their own business, they are watching keenly, especially the Dominant Silverback, who has the mandate to protect the sovereignty of his gorilla family.
You may cut short their feeding or lounging time by using one hour to watch the mountain gorillas.
To Give Space For Mountain Gorillas’ Conception
Doing gorilla trekking disrupts conception as your presence obstructs the mountain gorillas. The more infants are born, the more celebrations are done in the mountain gorilla conservation fraternity.
Each year, Rwanda celebrates a gorilla naming ceremony called Kwita Izina, where the newborns of that period are given names. This can only happen when the mountain gorillas are given time to concentrate on conception.
In the 1980s, when a census was carried out, and results showed that about 250 mountain gorillas existed in the world, currently over 1000 mountain gorillas are believed to be living there. This achievement is attributed to giving the mountain gorillas time to conceive in a safe environment.
Give time To Return After Gorilla Trekking.
The time of locating the mountain gorillas during gorilla trekking is still being determined. Still, it depends on factors like the proximity of their food, in case of a fight with another gorilla family, prevailing weather conditions for the day, and much more.
Such incidents may delay the time of the location of the mountain gorillas. The time to locate the mountain gorillas is estimated to be 2 hours to about three-quarters of the day. You even hike steep slopes at times, depending on where the mountain gorillas are feeding from. These are exhausting and tiring, so you have to walk back afterward. If your gorilla family is very far, you may get tired, so you must return before you are over-exhausted.
To reduce on Chances of Passing an infection to the Mountain Gorillas
By overstaying with the mountain gorillas, you may start interacting with them instead. You may pass a disease to these highly vulnerable primates during this interaction. The mountain gorillas have DNA of about 96% to that of humans.
They can also acquire germs from humans, which may lead to their massive death. The conservation of mountain gorillas has taken a long time, so tarnishing it right now pushes it backward.
Even before gorilla trekking, you are advised to volunteer to stay behind if you realize you have a communicable infection like flu, cough, coronavirus, cholera, etc. Also, pack at least 2 clean masks to wear during gorilla trekking as a measure adopted for all primate trekking safaris after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lower chances of agitating the mountain gorillas
When with mountain gorillas, you have to be very loyal to the advice given during briefing so that you do not anger the mountain gorillas. They are very sensitive primates, especially with intruders in their vicinity. Therefore, try not to provoke their peace, touch their infants, pick something in their presence, surround them, make unnecessary movements, and so much more.
The longer the time you may stay with them, the higher the chances of violating any of the above. This is another reason for limiting time to be with the mountain gorillas to just one hour. To capture their attention for that time and let them go about their daily activities.
How To Book A Gorilla Trekking Permit For Uganda And Rwanda
Have the date when you wish to do the gorilla trekking safari and the number of gorilla permits you want to book for the day.
When you enquire from Encounter Africa Safaris, our safari consultant checks availability from the Uganda Wildlife Authority or Rwanda Development Board listing. Our company is one of the few registered companies that are given access to the daily status list for gorilla permits.
In case there is a gorilla permit available for the time you wish, we advise all our clients to purchase their permits as soon as possible. This is because anyone else can buy them off at any time.
The Uganda or Rwanda gorilla trekking permits are sold according to first come, first served basis. The gorilla permit is reserved with payments, as purchasing the permit is the only way to show interest in taking this African safari.
For Uganda gorilla trekking cards, we require you to provide personal details like the full name indicated on the passport, nationality, date of birth, passport expiry date, and others. These are used for record-keeping, and some of this information is filled in on your certificate of accomplishing your trek.
What Is The Cost Of A Gorilla Permit in Uganda And Rwanda
The Rwanda gorilla trekking permit costs $1500 per person per trek for foreign nonresidents, $500 for foreign residents, and $200 for East African residents.
Uganda gorilla trekking permit price is currently $700 for foreign nonresidents, $600 for foreign residents, and 250000 shs for East African residents.
The cost of a Gorilla trekking permit includes
Park fees
Before entering any National park, you are required to pay park entrance fees. This is used to support the conservation of wildlife and park maintenance. This fee is included in the cost of paying for the gorilla permit.
Gorilla Medication
The mountain gorillas need to be supported in case they are badly injured. They may be wild animals, but when they are unhealthy, the gorilla doctors may come in to help. Although they are expected to find treatment in the wilderness, this may be hard sometimes. Therefore, even gorilla Doctors also conduct routine health checkups on mountain gorillas. To support all this, you may be required to get some money from selling the gorilla permits.
Ranger guide fees
Every trekker can move into the forest with an escorting ranger guide. The ranger guides are professional, and through experience, they have acquired knowledge about mountain gorillas and other forest dwellers.
They usually pass this information to the tourist, creating confidence in mountain gorillas’ life. After gorilla trekking, many would like to post about them and give their unique experience and information to the rest of the world.
The rangers also provide security for the trekker by keeping on radio calls with security at the headquarters. If there is a need to back up, they can easily communicate it to the responsible people.
Local Community Support
To conserve the mountain gorillas, the local community has to be involved because sometimes they are victims of these animals. Therefore, some percentage of the annual profit from selling the gorilla permits is given to the community. This is used to support running their projects like road maintenance, water source building, and others.
Support Security of Gorilla Trekking Destinations
Since gorilla trekking is from the wilderness, you must ensure your security. However, the gorilla trekking destinations in Uganda and Rwanda are secure. The rangers work with other security forces to keep law and order in these destinations.
What Is excluded In The Cost Of a Gorilla Trekking Permit
Items of personal nature
No treats, drinking water, or packed lunch are included in the gorilla permit cost, so you are expected to pack your own because breakfast is taken so early to support you through the entire trek.
No Safari Gears
It would be best to carry your gorilla trekking gear to support you as you search to locate the mountain gorillas. It would be best if you packed safari boots, rain court, safari attire, and others.
Accommodation costs
The cost of accommodation is not included in the gorilla permit price. This is costed differently according to your preferred budget.
Porter
In case you need a porter, you must hire him before starting the trek
Tipping
After returning from gorilla trekking, you may wish to tip your ranger guide. This is excluded from the gorilla permit cost.
Contact us for further information about gorilla trekking
