Everything You Need to Know About Gorilla Trekking – Gorilla trekking experience is described as a life-changing experience. Time spent with these great apes is a humbling and profoundly spiritual experience that has to be at the top of your bucket list.
More importantly, your gorilla trek has become a vital financial lifeline for conserving the last remaining gorillas and their highland habitat.
Here is everything you need to know about gorilla trekking
Everything You Need to Know About Gorilla Trekking – Introduction to Gorilla Trekking
Your gorilla trek usually involves hiking for several hours to find your allocated gorilla family group, with your guides starting to track from the previous day’s last known location. Once you have located your gorilla family group, you will spend one hour with them.
Your trek group size is limited to eight participants.
Where to Trek for Mountain Gorillas
The Albertine Rift – a mountainous area wedged between Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the only area in the world where you see mountain gorillas. Populations of these gentle giants are concentrated in two regions within the Albertine Rift:
- The Virunga Mountains (Massif) – Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in DRC and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. Bwindi Forest offers the standard one-hour gorilla encounter and a more extended gorilla habituation experience which involves tracking non-habituated gorilla families and spending up to four hours with them
Gorilla Trekking Rules
Gorilla Trekking rules are essential to protect the health of the gorillas, which are susceptible to human diseases. Gorillas will be stressed if there are too many visitors or if visitors behave inappropriately.
Feeling seek?
If you show any sign of illnesses on the day of your trek, please let your guide or park staff know. You will be prevented from trekking on that day as exposing gorillas to disease may be catastrophic for the entire population. Also, if you are in the company of gorillas and need to cough or sneeze, please look away and cover your face with a cloth. Some parks expect you to wear a mask when in the company of gorillas and chimpanzees.
Group Size and Frequency
Each gorilla group is visited daily – only once. Group size is limited to 8 tourists and the interaction is limited to one hour.
Minimum Visitor Age
The minimum age for tourist is 15 years old – to prevent exposing the gorillas to childhood diseases such as mumps, chickenpox, measles etc.
Photography
Flash photography is not permitted – the flash may frighten the gorillas or provoke an aggressive reaction.
Minimum distance
Tourists must remain at least seven meters from the gorillas. They may approach you, in which case you should retreat slowly if possible.
Stay together
Try to remain in a tight group – to make it easier for your guides to manage the situation and to prevent the gorillas from feeling threatened.
Your behavior while with gorillas
Remain seated or crouching and keep your arms at your side when spending time with gorillas. Keep quiet – even when filming a selfie. Shouting, standing or gesturing with your arms may be perceived as a threat by gorillas. Silverback gorillas have been known to beat their chests or roar and even charge at tourists. If this happens, remain seated and avoid eye contact with the gorillas. These threat displays look and sound scary but the gorillas soon calm down and go about their business without harming anybody.
Eating, drinking and smoking
No eating, drinking or smoking is permitted anywhere near gorillas. This may attract their attention, leading to unwelcome close encounters. Your food may also be bad for gorilla health.
Toilet activities
Please go to the bathroom before you set out. If you need to go to the toilet whilst in the forest, you will need to dig a deep hole to bury your feaces and fill the hole up afterwards. Your guides will lend you a machete for this purpose but you will need to bring your own toilet paper.
Litter
Please keep all your rubbish in your backpack and deposit it back at your lodge after the trek
When to go gorilla trekking
The dry season – mid-December to early February and June to September are more comfortable for trekking. That said, don’t be completely put off by the rains of November and March – May, as you will have the forests and mountains to yourself, the guides and the fascinating gorillas.
How much does a gorilla trekking permit cost?
A mountain gorilla trek permit usually costs US$ 700 per trek in Uganda, US$ 1,500 in Rwanda and US$ 400 in DRC. A gorilla habituation experience permit in Uganda costs US$ 1,500. These prices sometimes change during off-peak trekking periods, and there are often discounts for local or region travelers.
The proceeds of these permits go directly toward protecting these species in the respective countries. We will advise you of the exact prices when you let us know your travel dates.
The cost for your gorilla trekking lodges varies based on luxury level, location and time of year.
What other animals will I see during my gorilla safari?
Other animals in the region include forest elephants, forest buffaloes, duikers, forest hogs, bush pigs, golden cats, jackals and civets. It should be noted, though, the sightings are rare due to the thick vegetation. There are 1,074 bird species in the Albertine Rift, of which 42 occur only there, and you can expect to tick off many colorful birds as you hike.
Fitness level required and age restrictions
The hiking pace is relaxed – expect frequent stops to admire the incredible views or identify a bird. But high humidity and sleep hills take their toll – you should be fit enough to walk for 2-4 hours at a relaxed pace.
The minimum gorilla trekking age is 15 years. There is no maximum age.
Important gorilla trekking tips
What to pack: Water, snacks for while you walk, lunch, raincoat (all available from your lodge), several layers of clothing including a warm top, long sleeved shirts and long pants, wide-brimmed hat, hiking shoes/boots, towel, insect repellent and equipment such as binocular, cameras and lenses. Here is a complete packing list for your African safari.
Backpack: Take a day pack for the above items;
Porter: Hire a porter for the hike, he will carry your backpack – freeing you to carry only binoculars and perhaps a camera. The cost is a fraction of your daily expenses in gorilla land, yet it makes a big difference in the porter’s life.
Photography: The forest is dark, and the use of large lenses will be limited. Keep the big lens in your backpack, and use a general-purpose lens on your camera. Keep a dry lens cloth handy to wipe away dew and raindrops. Flash photography is not permitted while with the gorillas.
Waterproofing: Carry a few waterproof bags for equipment in case of showers and high humidity;
Mask: Many gorilla treks require the use of a surgical mask while you are with the gorillas
Weather: Gorilla treks are at high altitudes in high rainfall areas. The weather can change from clear and hot to torrential rain and cold in minutes.
Which gorilla-trekking lodge to choose?
Each ready- gorilla trekking safari listed on this page suggests the best lodge to stay at during this epic adventure. Our selection is based on location (proximity to gorillas), service levels and prices – let us know if you prefer a different lodge.
In conclusion our blog “Everything You Need to Know About Gorilla Trekking” gives you the information you need to know about gorilla trekking.
