Why trek mountain gorillas

April 17, 2015

Why trek mountain gorillas

The reasons for doing gorilla trekking is to have that precious moment with some of the only remaining mountain gorillas in the worlds. This provides a financial milestone to the conservation fraternity in the Uganda, Rwanda and D.R.Congo too.

Before 1980s, the mountain gorillas were at risk of going into extinctions because according to census carried out by the Dian Fossey Team then, about 250 mountain gorillas existed. International bodies like IUCN, National Geographic and others, supported her efforts. This brought the plight of the mountain gorillas to the rest of the world.

Most Popular Gorilla Safaris

Some of the problems the mountain gorillas were facing were human related and others natural causes. They were poached for trophies, others take for circus, some trapped in snares, others killed for meat and so much more. There existence needed a lot of support from the rest of the world in order to pull them off the rim of extinction.

Apart from the mountain gorillas, the Virunga area has other primates like golden monkeys, black and white colobus, chimpanzees, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, bush babies and others.

Birding in the Virunga area is one of the unique Africa safari experiences. You may get to spot some of the birds on the red list of IUCN. The Albertine endemics may be seen meandering the forests for a meal or constructing nests.

Some of the birds in the Virunga area include Shelley’s Crimmson, Rwenzori Turraco, Lagden’s Bush Shrike, Malachite Sunbird, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, African Hill Babbler, Mountain Masked Chestnut-throated Apalises, African Green Broadbill and others

Therefore, apart from gorilla trekking, you can do other interesting activities in the Virunga area, which makes it an African magnet for nature lovers.

Highlights Why Visit the Mountain Gorillas

Financial Support To Mountain Gorilla Conservation
Gorilla Trekking For Personal Reasons
Mountain Gorilla Hosting Countries Earn Foreign Exchange
Taking Gorilla trekking safari Is a Source Of Employment

Financial Support To Mountain Gorilla Conservation

By booking a gorilla trekking safari to Uganda or Rwanda to see mountain gorillas, you are contributing to their conservation fund. Part of the money paid to acquire a gorilla permit is used in conserving the few mountain gorillas left in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo since there is a joint conservation program in the Virunga region.

The gorilla doctors use part of the funds to treat severely injured mountain gorillas once notices. The mountain gorillas may be naturally thriving but need some external medical assistance some times.

20% of profits annually accumulated from the gorilla habitats is shared with the local community to help them with their community affairs like building roads, schools and others. This is to bring them closer to loving the existence of the mountain gorillas and not persecute them even when they stray into the community.

The ranger guide are paid salary off the money accumulated from the sale of the gorilla permits which encourages them to keep conserving mountain gorillas and guard them jealously.

Gorilla Trekking For Personal Reasons

Gorilla Trekking is on the top list of some nature lovers for as one of the preferred safaris to do. As a unique Africa safari activity, gorilla trekking is a lifetime experience. I have tracked gorillas twice in both Uganda and Rwanda but I still want to do it again since the two experiences with gorillas in both countries exceeded my expectation.

The none choreographed behavior of the mountain gorillas makes visiting them an exceptional Africa Safari experience. They do the unexpected and your one hour with them may be full of joy and excitement.

You can Take photos using a flash-less camera and fill your album for the future. Gorillas served in the zoos have an arranged routine, which is not the cast with the mountain gorillas living in the wild. The mountain gorillas in the wild use natural instincts and judgement to go about there day today activities

Mountain Gorilla Hosting Countries Earn Foreign Exchange

When you come for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park and Volcanoes National Park, it helps these countries to earn foreign exchange, which is lacking in these countries. These funds contribute to the Gross domestic profits of the gorilla hosting countries.

It should be noted that tourism is an invisible export and it is the leading foreign exchange earner in Uganda. When such monies are received, then countries use it to import essential goods and services for the welfare of its people. The good thing with this, people come ,carry photos and experience without harming the mountain gorillas.

Taking Gorilla trekking safari Is a Source Of Employment

Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda has created employment to many people. From the day you enter, Uganda or Rwanda, someone earns from your visit.

The ranger guides and park wardens that work in these mountain gorilla conservation destinations are given jobs to support their families.

Even locals can be employed as porters to carry the bags of the tourists and earn some money. This is one of the most direct ways to contribute to mountain gorilla conservation.

Others sectors in these countries also benefit from a visit to Africa to do gorilla trekking. You will have to pay for a ticket to come to Uganda, Rwanda and D.R.C and this means that someone employed at Emirates, KLM, Turkish Air, Rwanda Air or Kenya Airline earns some money.

In Uganda or Rwanda, you will need to be accommodated at a given Lodge or Hotel meaning that waiters will be paid salary and allowances to cater for your stay.

You will need to eat food and thus it has to be bought locally. On the day you track gorillas, rangers and guides will escort you and they have to be paid. You could have booked your tour through a local tour operator and by doing so, tour consultants and guides who worked on your inquiry have to earn something.

In other words your coming for gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda has a trickle down effect that benefits the host countries. All people that benefit from your visit will in turn pay taxes which are then used to provide salaries for civil servants and services such as water, electricity, security, health among others.

African Countries need to develop and reduce over depending on foreign countries and the only way you can contribute to this is to visit Uganda or Rwanda for gorilla tracking as well as appreciating their other wildlife and culture. Contact us for more details.

When Is The best Time To Go Mountain Gorilla Trekking

Although gorilla trekking is an all year round activity, the months of June to October are peak time for this activity. Since the Virunga area is known for receiving untimely rain yet extremely cold with less sunlight penetration in the forest, its best to visit that time.

The area is expected to be a little more drier and rivers not flooding all factors kept constant in this area. The ground is less soggy and passable with less difficulty. The mountain gorillas are also expected to feed closer to the ground during this time.

The wet months that is March to May and November all factors kept constant are low seasons too. Expect less destructions and obstruction from other trekkers. It’s also possible to go gorilla trekking alone which makes it an exclusive experience watching the gorillas as a solo tourist.

The low seasons sometimes come with discounted prices on services like accommodation, driver guide services, vehicle hire and others. At encounter Africa Safaris, we share these discounted gorilla safari amenities with our clients. this is to make it affordable to go gorilla trekking for people of different budgets.

Gorilla trekking is an all year round activity and therefore there is no specific seasons when you will not see the mountain gorillas. You only need to Send Us Your Enquiry and will get back to you with the best Africa Safari package

How Difficult Is Gorilla Trekking

The topography of the Virunga area is generally mountainous but this doesn’t mean you have to hike all the time to locate the mountain gorillas. They are very mobile primates that meander the forest looking for the day’s meal. Naturally, the mountain gorillas are generally bulky in size therefore move smaller distance in the forest.

During the drier months, the mountain gorillas feed closer to the bottom of the highlands and the extremely wet months push them to the slopes. You need to hike in order to locate them.

Some level of fitness and patience helps in getting you to the mountain gorillas. You need to wear the right gorilla trekking gears like tracking safari boots, safari long attire, safari hat, garden gloves, sunscreen, insect repellant and others.

Pack all your gears in a light water proof backpack to comfortably move with them and not scatter them when you fall.

What Is The Cost Of Gorilla Trekking

The constant cost for any gorilla trekking package is the gorilla permit per person. The gorilla permit varies per country that is in Uganda the gorilla permit cost is $700 per person, in Rwanda the gorilla permit costs $1500 and D.R.Congo the gorilla permit costs $450 per person per trek.

Other services that make up the gorilla trekking package vary with the grade you select for the gorilla tour. Luxury packages are different from Midrange costs or Budget prices for the cost of a gorilla trekking safari.

The number of days to take on gorilla trekking tour also contributed to the general cost of safari

The number of paying clients travelling for gorilla trekking also matters. The more the people the less the cost of safari package per person.

Other activities to combine with gorilla trekking also contribute to the total cost of the entire Africa Safari package. Like a combo of gorilla trekking with chimpanzee tracking, or wildlife safari or birding, or mountaineering and others.

Some personal expenses you hope to enjoy during gorilla trekking also contribute to your budget. These may not be included in the safari package but you need to put them into consideration like medication while on safari, tipping, alcoholic drinks, laundry, flight tickets and others

What are Rules Of Gorilla Trekking

Volunteer to stay behind in case you catch an infectious disease before gorilla trekking. Some of the infectious diseases include flu, cholera, Ebola, Covid 19 and others.
Never surround the gorillas but remain in a tight group. This makes them feel ambushed and may later go into hiding in case they feel uncomfortable.
Keep a distance of about 8 meters from the mountain gorillas when you locate them.
In case the mountain gorillas approach, you try a retreat slowly. Do not leave your belongings on the ground as they may grab them and go into hiding. Be very careful.
Never use flash photography with a sound because this may scare the mountain gorillas.
Do not cough or smoke while in front of the mountain gorillas. They can easily catch pick interest in what you are taking and its effects may be bad.
In case you need to sneeze or cough do it in your elbow or in a handkerchief so that you don’t spread germs.
Bury all human feaces in a hole of about 30 meters deep beyond recognition so that nothing is exhumed.
Do not spit on vegetation, as this is food for the mountain gorillas. This is unhygienic and the gorillas may pick this up. This is one way that can cause the mountain gorillas to get infected with human diseases.
Littering the park is forbidden because it alters the natural setting of the forest where mountain gorillas feed.
No person under 15 years is permitted to do gorilla trekking because of the nature of the gorilla trekking experience. Some level of endurance is required especially when you need to be patient in order to locate the mountain gorillas.
Never make loud noise when with the mountain gorillas because they will get scared.
Only one hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas when you locate them