What May Stop You From Seeing Mountain Gorillas In Uganda, Rwanda And Congo

Mountain Gorilla Trekking in the world is only in Uganda, Rwanda and D.R Congo however despite the hassle of securing a gorilla permit from the limited number, there are things that may stop you from seeing mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.

On the day of gorilla trekking there are about 99 % chances of seeing the mountain gorillas in the wilderness so there is value for money.

The history of gorilla trekking started with An American philanthropist Dian Fossey who realized that to conserve the mountain gorillas that were at the rim of extinction humans have to be brought close. Conservation of mountain gorillas is very pricy so support from the sale of the gorilla permits is one way to keep this fund going.

Most Popular Gorilla Safaris

• 3 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking
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• 5 Day Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Despite Dian Fossey’s quenching love for gorilla conservation, she was brutally murdered in 1985 by unknown assassins. Her grave lies amongst the gorillas and while in Rwanda, you may take the Dian Fossey Grave Trek. Her efforts still stand in the continued gorilla conservation campaigns.

Although gorilla trekking is open to humans, some factors may deter you from accessing the gorillas as per the standards of IUCN. The mountain gorillas are considered first during gorilla trekking because the current conservation jubilation from an increase in the number of mountain gorillas to about 1000 gorillas has come a long way.

Highlight Of What May Stop You From Gorilla Trekking

• Having no gorilla trekking permit
• Contracting a communicable disease like Covid-19 during or before gorilla trekking
• Being Under age before gorilla trekking
• Missing briefing before gorilla trekking
• Not showing up for gorilla trekking
• Breaking rules of gorilla trekking
• Staying far from gorilla trekking area
• Getting a bad Injury while in the forest before seeing the mountain gorillas.
• Failing to complete payment for gorilla permit

Having no gorilla trekking permit as per your preferred day

Each day Uganda wildlife Authority or Rwanda development Board releases gorilla permits to the public to buy. They are limited to only 8 gorilla permits per family for conservation reasons. Uganda has about 19 gorilla trekking families while Rwanda has about 13 gorilla trekking families and D.R Congo has about 6 gorilla trekking families.

You must book and fully pay for gorilla permit prior to confirming your gorilla trekking safari in Africa. The cost of a Uganda gorilla permit is $700 per person per trek, $1500 in Rwanda per person per trek and $450 in D.R Congo per person per trek.

In Uganda, you present the issued gorilla permit card to the Authorities before briefing. Your personal details are embedded on the metal strip behind the card. In Rwanda, you present your paper receipt to the ORTPN officers before briefing.

In case you do not have any of the above before gorilla trekking you are not allowed to access the gorillas in the wild.

Contracting A Communicable Disease Before Or During Gorilla Trekking

Mountain gorillas have about 96% human DNA making them highly susceptible to human infections like communicable diseases. Of late Covid-19 is the communicable infection in society so you must fully immunize for Corona Virus or test negative of it 72 hour before gorilla trekking. Present your immunization certificate and results to the authorities too. More infectious diseases include flu, diarrhea, cough and many others.

You are requested to volunteer and stay behind in case you get symptoms of these infections to save the gorillas from massive death that may come from contacting these infections.

When you report about your illness to the authorities early, your gorilla permit refund according to the Authority guidelines may be proceed.

Being Under Age Before Gorilla Trekking

The age limit for gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and D.R Congo is 15 years and above. Securing a gorilla permit for an underage is prohibited.  This is because of the nature of the terrain where mountain gorillas live. The land is generally volcanic with ridges and plateaus. You are required hike the slopes at times to get to the gorillas.

The time of locating the gorillas is unknown which may range between 2 hours to three quarters of the day. Sometimes mountain gorillas are so provocative which may not go well with a child below this age causing a freight in the child which leads to a rampage in the forest.  A child below this age may not withstand all these surprises in the wilderness which may delay the entire group or even require assistance to return to the lodge.

These are the few reasons that why children below age 15 may not bellowed to do gorilla trekking even when they have a permit.

Missing briefing before gorilla trekking

Gorilla trekking sacrilege is missing briefing early morning before heading to the forest. In Uganda briefing for gorilla trekking starts at 0730hours while in Rwanda briefing starts at 0700hrs. You gather with other trekker for briefing and if you wish to hire a porter to carry your belongings this is the time.

The ranger guides take you through rules of gorilla trekking every time you head for the forest. Even if you plan to do two or more gorilla trekking days, you must attend briefing. The nature of gorillas is that they get moody depending on the condition in the forest just like humans.

For such reasons, a team of ranger guides wakes up early to follow the gorilla families to be trekked that day and observe there behavior. They send a report to the park authorities who disseminate it to the rangers.

In case you miss out on briefing, you may be the cause to a bad gorilla trekking experience for the rest of the group in that case you may be asked to stay behind.

Not Showing Up For Gorilla Trekking

A no-show calls for no refund especially if you have no standing reason. You must report to the Uganda Wildlife Authority or Rwanda Development Board prior to the date booked for your gorilla permit just in case you are incapable of attending gorilla trekking.

This is because many tourists who would have booked that permit are left out without permits and so they do not do there trek.  You must present evidence for not attending your day of gorilla trekking so that refund claims can be processed according to terms of the Authorities.

You may reschedule your gorilla permit for another day in case you are not in position to do gorilla trekking as per that day but this must be according to the authority terms and conditions.

Breaking Rules Of Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla trekking has rules governing its operation for the safety of the mountain gorillas and tourists. Following the rules makes the dreamt about gorilla trekking experience come to life.

Some of the gorilla trekking rules include Do not spit on the vegetation, no entering the forest with a communicable infection, no using flash photography, no provoking the gorillas, keep a distance of about 8 meters from the mountain gorillas when you meet them and so much more. Violating such rules may call for your dismissal from the forest because you may cause a stampede.

Staying Far From Gorilla Trekking Area

 In Uganda, the Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park just like its name is vast with very thick forest cover. For easy management, the park is divided into area that is Buhoma area, Ruhija area, Rushaga area and Nkuringo area. The gorilla permits are booked per area so you must overnight close or with in the area where your permit is booked. This is to avoid waking up early to catch up with early morning briefing. At times the connecting roads from one area to another are impassable too.

In case you don’t arrive in time for briefing, you may be disqualified for gorilla trekking because the groups are divided into 8 after briefing and so you might not have a group to join.

Even the rest of the trekkers move fast in the forest and therefore locating where they may be gets difficult which automatically disqualifies you.

To avoid such puzzling moments, book accommodation within or closer to the area where your gorilla permit is booked.

Getting A Bad Injury While In The Forest Before Seeing The Mountain Gorillas.

The wilderness is steep, sloppy and slippery at times where the mountain gorillas may be feeding from. Hiking to locate them may cause you an injury in case you do not step in the right places. This is why the ranger guides have to lead the way so that you use the best trail to get to the mountain gorillas.

When an accident like that occurs which is rare, you may not have the strength to continue with your gorilla trekking experience. This may stop you from attending gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda or Congo.

Failing To Complete Payment For Gorilla Permit

Chances of depositing at least 30% of the total cost of a gorilla permit are available but you must complete payment at least 90 days to the date of your gorilla trekking experience.

Failure to do that calls for cancelation of your permit according to the Authority terms and conditions.

You need to be in position to complete the cost of your gorilla trekking permit to attend.

To know what may stop you from seeing mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda And Congo please contact us via our website and check out our trip advisor.