How Long Does Gorilla Trekking Last? Gorilla trekking is the process of searching for a particular gorilla family within forested areas of Uganda. The tracked gorilla families are first habituated so that they get used to the human presence. The Gorilla habituation process of the mountain gorillas takes about 2 years. So the mountain gorilla trekking lasts about 2 to 7 hours of the day. Travelers to engage in the gorilla trekking should plan accordingly to ensure the activity moves smoothly. Gorilla trekking is one of the activities in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A typical gorilla trekking tour lasts about two to eight hours of the day. The activity starts at about 8:00 am. It all starts with a briefing at the park headquarters. Afterward, trekkers are assigned a particular gorilla family to track. Each of the gorilla families can only be tracked once a day. The maximum number of trekkers per gorilla family or gorilla group is 8 people. Upon meeting the gorilla family, trekkers are allowed to spend one hour in their presence. Trekkers are advised to promptly follow the gorilla trekking rules and regulations.
Where to do gorilla trekking in Africa
Are you planning a gorilla trekking safari? Tourists ought to know that gorilla trekking is done in 3 countries in the world. These include; Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Each of these countries is home to amazing national parks with gorillas. Below are the places you ought to visit for gorilla trekking.
Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is located in the northwestern part of Rwanda. It is one of the oldest parks in Africa and was established in 1932. The park holds a history of gorilla conservation efforts that were started by the late Dian Fossey. During her work, she researched how mountain gorillas were to be protected from extinction due to increased poaching. During her conservation works she fought a lot with the poachers and her research centre was stationed at the Karisoke Research Centre.
Later on, it is believed that she was killed by poachers. On a gorilla trekking tour in this park, travelers can visit her tomb. The Dian Fossey Grave is surrounded by other 20 tombs of the conservationists who were killed by poachers. Volcanoes National Park is home to over 12 habituated gorilla families and other gorilla families are available in the park.
Kahuzi Biega National Park
Kahuzi Biega National Park is located on the eastern side of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Bukavu. It is a home to the lowland gorillas that travelers during their Uganda safaris can encounter. Most travelers planning their safaris to this park, use the accommodation facilities in the Bukavu. In this park, there are over 5 families that travelers on their safaris can track.
Virunga National Park
One of the oldest national parks that were established in 1925 with in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This park is part of the Virunga region that covers 3 countries: Uganda, Rwanda, and the democratic republic of Congo. It is home to several mountain gorillas that travelers on their Uganda safaris can encounter for the gorilla trekking.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda’s smallest national park travelers on their Uganda safaris can engage in gorilla trekking safaris. It is also part of the Virunga region which travelers on their Uganda safaris can encounter. The park is home to several mountain gorilla families although only one family (Nyakagezi family) is habituated.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
This park is the largest conservation area that holds a large number of mountain gorillas. It is located in southwestern Uganda at the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic Congo. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to several gorilla families that are habituated. There are 19 families in the park that travelers can encounter during the safaris. All these families are situated around the sectors of the park. The sectors in this park include Rushaga, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Buhoma.
To track the mountain gorillas in these national parks, travelers are supposed to have acquired the gorilla trekking permits. Also in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, travelers can engage in the gorilla habituation. Gorilla habituation is done in the Rushaga sector of the Bwindi impenetrable national park. In this activity, travelers have more time with the mountain gorillas.
How much is a gorilla trekking permit?
For travelers to see the mountain gorillas, they are supposed to have acquired a gorilla trekking permit which is a legal document that travelers use to see mountain gorillas. The gorilla trekking permit is limited by time where it expires after the travelers are done with the activity. In Uganda, a gorilla trekking permit costs about 800 USD for foreign nonresidents, 700 USD for Foreign residents, 500 USD for the rest of Africa, and 300,000UGx for East African residents.
In Rwanda, the gorilla trekking permit costs about 1500 USD for foreign nonresidents, 500 USD for foreign residents, 500 USD for the rest of Africa, and 200 USD for the Rwandese and the rest of the East African residents. On the other hand, in the Kahuzi Beige National Park, the gorilla trekking permit costs about 450 USD for foreign nonresidents, 250 USD for foreign residents, and 25 USD for Congolese residents. Where in the Virunga National Park, the gorilla trekking permit costs about 400 USD in the high season and 200 USD in the low season.
What comes with a gorilla trekking permit?
While on a gorilla trekking safari, the gorilla trekking permit consists of;
- Park entrance fees that allow travelers to access the park
- Guide fees for the rangers to take around the park
- Conservation fees which consist of 70% of the permit fees
- Community development fees
A gorilla trekking permit is valid until the day of tracking and it cannot be used more than once. The gorilla trekking permits are limited in number due to the limited impacts on the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
Important notes about gorilla trekking
While on the gorilla trekking safaris, travelers are supposed to know the following;
- Gorilla trekking has an age limit where travelers should be at least aged 15 years. For the elderly, they have several services offered for them to track gorillas like the use of African helicopters.
- The activity starts very early in the morning with a briefing about gorilla trekking and travelers are highlighted the dos and don’ts
- A group of 8 people are allowed to visit one family of the mountain gorillas
- Gorilla trekking lasts for 2 to 7 hours of the day
- For conservation efforts, travelers are supposed to spend 1 hour viewing the gorillas
- The presence of humans disrupts the daily life of the mountain gorillas
