What is Gorilla Trekking? It is a Jungle Hike in Search for Gorillas

Gorilla Trekking is a tourism activity that involves walking through dense forests in search for the wild gorillas. The activity includes hiking through steep hills, dense forests, thickets and crossing water streams before encountering the gorillas in the wild. Gorilla Trekking, same as gorilla tours, gorilla safaris or gorilla adventure is a process that requires one to have trekking permit to be allowed by the park authorities to participate in the activity. Other safari words that are synonymous to gorilla trekking and used interchangeably to mean the same include gorilla tours, gorilla safari, gorilla tracking, gorilla adventure or gorilla walking safaris. All the three terms can be used to mean gorilla trekking. To understand the tourism term very well, ensure that you read the frequent questions on gorilla trekking and get all the answers to them.

Gorillas live in the forests of the mountainous areas or lowland zones. Gorillas are considered to be a single species, with three categories including the mountain gorilla, the western lowland gorilla and the eastern lowland gorilla.

Mountain Gorillas considered being the most endangered species are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The eastern lowland gorilla, also known as Grauer’s gorilla and a subspecies of eastern gorilla is only found in the rain forests of eastern DR Congo. The western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), one of two subspecies of the western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) lives in montane, primary and secondary forests and lowland swamps in the central African countries including Angola, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. This gorilla type is also mostly found in zoos.

Gorilla Trekking Requirements:-

• A Gorilla Permit
• To be Physically fit for hiking
• Good Hiking shoes and clothes
• Not below 15 years of age

The process of gorilla tracking usually begins early morning. Having slept near a gorilla park, one takes breakfast and then transfer to the park offices for briefing about the whole process of hiking to see the gorillas. Briefing involves being told about the Dos and Don’ts while hiking and when with the gorillas. Uganda, Rwanda and Congo almost have similar Mountain Gorilla Trekking Rules regarding and these regulations are not far different from those followed while tracking other categories of Gorillas.

After briefing by park ranger guides, you will the start the trekking process headed by professional park guides and escorted by armed rangers. Trekking involves moving up and down in the forests, thickets and bushes searching for gorillas.

Upon meeting the gorillas after an unspecified duration of walking, you will be allowed to stay in their midst for one hour. During this period, you are free to look at the gorillas from a close range, take their photos (without flashes) and also ask questions in low voices. This is usually the highlight of the trip to anyone on an African safari. In the world, Mountain Gorillas are the most highly loved species as they attract hundreds of tourists or admirers from around the globe every year to come and see them mainly in Uganda and Rwanda and less in DR Congo.

Based on the country, Gorilla trekking is doable between one to three days. In Rwanda, the excursion is done in one and two days, in Uganda and DR Congo, it’s done in 2 to 3 days.

Prices for gorilla Permits in the Region

• • USD 800 per Gorilla permit in Uganda
  • USD 1500 for Gorilla Habituation Experience Permit in Uganda
  • USD 1500 per permit in Rwanda
  • USD 450 in DR Congo

Uganda Gorilla Tour Holiday Packages

Find all the recommended gorilla tour packages for Uganda. These gorilla safari tours include all trips from Kigali to Bwindi and Mgahinga, gorilla safari safaris starting from Entebbe by road and by flying plus gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi forest.

What to Pack for Gorilla Trekking?

It’s not advisable to set off for the trip unless you are aware and well equipped with the essential gorilla trekking items. Things to carry or wear on a gorilla trek are mainly for the visitors’ safety and enjoyment plus the safety of the primates in their habitats.

How Difficult is Gorilla Trekking?

The primate adventure involves walking through hard terrain, dense vegetation, water bodies, hills and valleys coupled with unpredictable weather conditions. The trekking activity could be much challenging and vigorous leaving one fatigued and with painful knee mainly if they are not familiarized to rambling for longer hours.

Selected 3 Days Uganda Gorilla Tours

These gorilla trips are specifically for 3 days duration taking you to the thick Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. They include those safaris starting from Kigali in Rwanda and those from Entebbe or Kampala City in Uganda.

Gorilla Trekking Briefing

This is the briefing to the visitors done early morning at 8:00 am prior to the adventure in the forest. This briefing by the guides to the guests entails highlighting and emphasizing the trekking rules and regulations.

Filming Mountain Gorillas

Photographing and filming mountain gorillas is also among the gorilla adventure activities that also include gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation experience.

Cheapest Way to See Uganda Gorillas

In case you have been yearning for how to trek gorillas in Uganda with minimal costs, worry no more and we have a variety of the affordable ways to visit Gorillas in Uganda including booking budget and shorter trips especially during low season.

Gorilla Trekking Certificate

This certificate is a document issued to every visitor upon accomplishing gorilla trekking in any gorilla habitat. Mountains gorillas live in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo and such certificate is issued by the park authorities in all these countries upon tracking the primates.

How long is Gorilla Trekking

When visiting Africa to see gorillas, knowing how long it takes to trek and meet the primates in the wild is very vital. It psychologically prepares one’s mind on a safari to plan time in view of his expectations. All in all, it takes between 2 to 8 hours to complete the entire adventure. Physical strength and nearness of a gorilla family determines the duration too.

Mountain Gorilla Safaris in Rwanda

Get to know more about gorilla trekking at the Volcanoes National Park in the north of Rwanda. The Gorilla tours take place with the country’s 10 habituated gorilla families in Rwanda and you must have a gorilla permit to access the park.

Best Hiking Boots for Gorilla Trekking

Find out about the best hiking boots for gorilla trekking in the wild. The adventure can be hectic and tiresome if you don’t carry ideal walking boots as well as other vital items required for a successful trekking. You may come with the boots or shop them locally.