The everyday experience of seeing gorillas in Africa.

The everyday experience of seeing gorillas in Africa. Witnessing gorillas in their natural African habitat is a wonderful moving and humbling safari experience that takes you in the natural habitat of the gorillas to connect with these amazing creatures, as you step into their world. Your safari guide led you through the forest to look for the gorillas, as you will be impressed by the nature of the forest, as you are viewing the gorillas from a distance, with their massive bodies while as they are moving slowly and deliberately through the forest,  while their broad chests and powerful arms that show their strength, and yet as you watch you will be attracted by their gentle nature, the way they interact with one another, grooming and playing, their eyes filled with curiosity and as you stand there, you will feel a sense of connection to these creatures, a sense of shared humanity that exceeds species and you are reminded of the importance of preserving and protecting the mountain gorillas and their habitats so that future generations can experience the same sense of experience.

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Where to have the gorilla experience in Africa.

The African continent offers several amazing destinations where you can have an attractive gorilla experience, and one of the most renowned locations is Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, where you can trek through the rainforests and the misty mountains to find the habituated gorilla groups led by the experienced guides who will expertly move with you to the forest to find the gorillas. Also, you can go to the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is a UNSCO World Heritage Site and it is home to over 200 mountain gorillas, as well as the lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, in Kahuzi Beiga National Park, that offers a diverse range of the wildlife experience in the park’s stunning volcanic landscapes and the lush forests.

In Uganda Bwindi impenetrable national park is another stunning gorilla trekking safari destination, with its dense and mist forests that provides a dramatic backdrop, with the park’s approximately 486 mountain gorillas, while the nearby Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers additional gorilla trekking opportunities, as well as the stunning views of the Virunga Mountains. Whichever safari destination you select, you are advised to be prepared for an unforgettable safari experience that will take you to Africa’s most breathtaking landscapes, where you will have the opportunity to observe these incredible creatures up close, and appreciating the importance of conservation to protect their habitats and ensure the long-term survival of these creatures.

What are the gorillas?

Gorillas are wonderful and, intelligent and social primates that live in the forests and the mountains of central Africa, the gorillas belong to the family Hominidae, which also includes humans, chimpanzees and orangutans and are known by their, broad chests and the powerful arms, where the adult males reach up to 6 feet tall and weighing between 300 to 400 pounds, while the females are slightly smaller, with a more slender, and are covered in thick, dark fur that helps to regulate their body temperature in the cooler mountain climates, with a distinctive facial features, including a flat noise, and piercing eyes that seem to communicate a sense of wisdom and understanding, and are known for their gentle nature, the gorillas live in social groups that are, led by a dominant male, known as a silverback, who protects and cares for the rest of the group members which typically consists of the several females and their offspring, and are gorillas are primarily herbivores, that  feed on a variety range of plants, including the leaves, shoots and frits using their hands and the flexible fingers to handle and gather their own food and the mountain gorillas are incredibly quick and strong, and they are able to move fast through the forest while using their powerful arms to swing from tree to tree and are also highly intelligent, while using their tools, such as sticks and rocks to help them gather food and move in their environment and are able to communicate with each other using a variety of vocalizations, including roars, grunts and chirps as well as refined changes in the body language and facial experience.

Gorilla trekking experience.

Gorilla trekking experience is the most outstanding safari activity that take place in various safari destinations that is Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. Gorilla trekking experience starts very early in the morning at the park headquarters, with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during gorilla trekking by the park rangers and park guides. After the briefing you will be divided by various groups of 8 members per group, each group will be led by an experienced and knowledgeable safari guide who is convenient with the park trails, after you will explore the park while looking for the gorillas.

Gorilla trekking experience takes a period from thirty minutes to 6 hours depending on the location of the gorillas, because these creatures keeps on moving in various areas of the park while looking for food. Along the way looking for the gorillas you will impressed with the various biodiversity in the park that is animal species, plant species and bird species that are very fascinating to witness. And once upon you find the gorillas, you will be given a period of one hour to be in the presence of the gorillas. During the one you will be amazed while watching the gorillas feed, watching the gorillas playing, watching the female gorillas grooming the young gorillas, taking gorillas' pictures and recording their movies while using the less flash cameras, because the flash disrupts the gorillas. After the experience, you will trek back to the starting point where you will be rewarded with the gorilla trekking certificates for taking part in gorilla trekking.

Gorilla habituation experience.

Unlike Gorilla trekking, gorilla habituation is an exceptional experience to stay with gorillas for a long period of time. Gorilla habituation only takes place in Uganda that is in Bwindi impenetrable national park in the southern sector that is Rushaga sector, this is process of where the gorillas get used to the presence of humans without altering their natural being. Gorilla habituation starts with a briefing where the trekkers will meet a group of conservationists, scientists, researchers to explore the park, you will be grouped in various groups of four tourists, as you follow a group of the habituators and the researchers who spend four hours which gives you extra with the gorillas other than the one hour of the gorilla trekking.

Compared to gorilla trekking experience, gorilla habituation experience offers you more time with the gorillas. During gorilla habituation you will get to watch the mountain gorillas making their nests for the next night and start searching for their breakfast from the vines, female gorillas grooming their infants, taking their taking and recording their movies but using the less flash cameras or no flash cameras because the flash cameras.

What is the cost of gorilla trekking permit?

The cost of the gorilla trekking permits, is mainly the critical investment in the conservation and protection of the gorillas and their habitats, as the fees generated from the permit sales are used to support a wide range of plans, including habitat preservation, research and monitoring programs and community-based tourism projects, which not only help to safeguard the gorillas’ well-being but also provide economic benefits and opportunities for the local communities, thereby fostering a sense of ownership among the people living closest to the gorillas’ habitats. 

The cost of the permits also shows the exclusive and close nature of the gorilla trekking safari experience, which is carefully managed to ensure that the gorillas are not disturbed or stressed by the presence of the humans and that the environment is not degraded in any way, and as such, the permits are limited in number and carefully allocated to authorized tour operators to the right safari destinations to trek, who must stick to the strict guidelines and rules to ensure the safety and well-being of both the gorillas and the trekkers.

The cost of the permits serves as the value and the importance of responsible and sustainable tourism practices which arrange the conservation of biodiversity and the well-being of the local communities, and offer a unique and transformative safari experience for those willing the to do a wonderful gorilla trekking in  their natural habitat.

As of today, the gorilla trekking permits costs, Volcanoes National Park permit in Rwanda its 1500 USD per person per trek, In Uganda the gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is 800 USD per person per trek for the non-foreign residents, 700 USD per person per trek for the foreign residents, 300,000 UGX per person per trek for the East African citizens, and then in Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo its 450 USD per person per trek. You need to book in advance your gorilla trekking permit because the gorilla trekking permits are sold as the world demand is high, especially during the high season, so it’s always recommended to book about 3 to 6 months in advance before the actual date of gorilla trekking.

The cost of gorilla habituation permit.

The cost of a gorilla habituation permit in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park varies depending on your nationality that is for the foreign non-residents, the cost is 1500 USD, while the foreign residents in its 1000 USD per person, and then the citizens for the East African community have a significantly lower rate which is 750,000 UGX or 200 USD. It’s worth noting that these prices are part of a conservation tariff aimed at supporting the protection and conservation of the mountain gorillas, a significant portion of the permit cost goes directly towards conservation plans. Gorilla habituation allows you to be in the presence of the gorillas for 4 hours of following the mountain gorillas.

How safe is gorilla trekking in Africa.

The gorilla trekking experience in various destinations that is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Uganda, Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo is very safe that offers tourists the chance to be in the presence of the gorillas.

Gorilla trekking in Africa is considered as a relatively safe safari activity, as long as you follow guidelines and instructions given to you by the trained guides and the park rangers who takes you through trekking, because they have extensive knowledge of the gorillas’ behavior, habitat to access potential risks and take necessary precautions to ensure your safety. During gorilla trekking safari you will have to apply the strict safety guidelines and regulations to reduce the risk of injuries or encounters with the aggressive gorillas, and the guides and rangers are equipped with communication devices, first aid kits, and other essential safety equipment.

The gorillas themselves are habituated to human presence which means they are comfortable with the humans being around them, however, it’s still important to maintain a safe distance with the gorillas, and then avoid direct eye contact, and not make any sudden movements, as these can be threats, and to follow the instructions of the guides and rangers at all times, as they are trained to recognize potential signs of aggression or stress in the gorillas, and will take necessary action to ensure your safety.

Although there are some inherent risks associated with gorilla trekking, such as the risk of injury from a gorilla or other wildlife, or the risk of contracting diseases, these risks can be reduced by taking necessary precautions such as wearing protective clothes, applying insect repellent, and by following the guidelines and instructions provided by the guides and rangers, you can have a safe and enjoyable gorilla trekking safari in Africa. For more information about the gorillas in Africa, kindly contact us at Encounter Africa Safaris you will not regret it.