What is gorilla trekking ?

What is gorilla trekking? : Gorilla trekking is one of the most exciting wildlife encounters on the planet and by definition, gorilla trekking is a wildlife activity offering a face-to-face encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. This once-in-a-life time journey involves hiking through the dense central Africa’s rainforests, steep hills, dense forests, rivers and water streams. The hike is strenuous as it includes walking through steep hills, dense forest, rivers and water streams in attempts of finding a gorilla family you are trekking.

In the thick forests, there are no permanent trails as pathways are made by the park rangers using machete through the foliage.

Gorilla trekking is an expensive safari experience when compared to other African safari experience like game drive, this is because it offers you an encounter with rare and endangered creatures that resembles and behave like humans. Also, the process of habituating and protected of the mountain gorillas is costly.

The Mountain gorillas are endangered primates and rare as well, the gorillas share 98% of the human beings DNA which makes them more appealing for tourists to visit. Visitors are only allowed to spend one hour in presence of mountain gorillas marveling at their behavior and family arrangement which is so familiar to humans. You will see stubborn and cheeky juveniles climbing from one tree to another, female gorillas breasting feeding, adults grooming each other and a dominant silverback protecting the family.

As per gorilla behavior, they spend much of the day feeding and resting, the day ends with each member of the group making a nest for the night except for the mothers who sleep with their infants.

Each gorilla family is led by a dominant silverback who decides who protects the family from any kind of intruders and attackers including wild animals like leopards, lions, poachers and fellow gorillas most especially silverbacks from other groups trying to snatch away gorilla members most especially females.

The Silverback gorilla has sole rights to all the female gorillas in the group.

Where to go for gorilla trekking

Gorilla trekking is arranged in many countries of Africa, however, you have to decide on which subspecies of gorillas you are interested in.

• Western Lowland gorillas are found in the swamps and rain-forests of West/ Central Africa
• Cross River gorillas are only found in Cameroon and Nigeria
• Estern Lowland Gorillas – the largest gorilla subspecies are only found in the Democratic Republic of Congo
• Mountain gorillas are found in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mountain gorilla trekking is generally the most secure gorilla trekking and is done in only 4 parks found in three countries that is Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park as well as Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda are generally safe for gorilla trekking.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Volcanoes National Park are considered the best places to see gorillas.

Why you should go for gorilla trekking

• Among the gorilla species, only western lowland gorillas can be seen in zoos. The other three subspecies that is Mountain gorillas, Cross River Gorillas and Eastern Lowland gorillas can only see in the wild.
• Gorillas are rare creatures that is why, it is an exciting experience to see them in the wild. All gorilla are considered endangered species which makes spotting them more special.
• Gorilla trekking is very important as it contributes to gorilla conservation, all the money collected from gorilla permits is used to pay park rangers, fight poaching and build infrastructures for communities living close to gorilla parks.

The importance of supporting these communities, is that when they see the benefits of tourism, they are less likely to harm gorillas.

• Gorillas are one of our closest relatives, their DNA is 98% similar to that of humans, seeing them is a special experience as you will be seeing our closest relatives.

Where to go for gorilla trekking

Gorilla trekking is done in many countries of Africa depending on the type or subspecies of gorilla you are interested in

• Western lowland gorillas are found in the rainforests and swamps of West/Central Africa
• Cross River gorillas are only found in Cameroon and Nigeria
• Eastern Lowland Gorilla – the largest gorilla species around only found in the Democratic Republic of Congo
• Mountain gorillas can be seen in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mountain gorillas trekking is the most popular gorilla trekking experience among tourists, this is because the mountain gorillas live in easily accessed gorilla parks that are more developed and have all the necessary infrastructures for a gorilla trekking experience.

The Western lowland gorillas live in the very remote forests which are very hard to penetrate, to locate them takes weeks of navigating through extremely dense forests.

Mountain gorilla trekking is generally a more secure gorilla trekking experience done in Rwanda Uganda that is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Volcanoes National Park.

Currently Uganda and Rwanda are the best places to see gorillas in the whole world.

West and Central Africa is insecure.

Best time for gorilla trekking

Gorilla trekking can be done all year round, however since the mountain gorillas live in rain forests. The best time to see them is during the drier seasons, Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo where gorilla trekking is done lie close to the equator. This means they experience two rainy and two dry seasons, December to March and June to October are the dry seasons and the rest is rainy season, the dry season is the best time to do gorilla trekking as the trails are relatively dry and the vegetation cover is less thick.

However, you should expect rain at any time of the day which is due to the tropical rainforest cover.

What to know about gorilla trekking

Although gorilla trekking can be done by everyone, you need to be in good shape and fit to complete the hike and enjoy it as well, if you are an elder, unfit or disabled. You can still do the trek, however you will need assistance from the porters.

Also, you need to be mentally and physically prepared for the hike regardless of the challenges that lie ahead. Preparations means that you have to pack right items for the experience, some of the must have items include

• Hiking boots
• Double layered socks
• Gaiters
• Rain jackets
• Insect repellents
• Water proof poncho
• Hat and sunglasses
• Enough drinking water
• Waterproof bag pack