Gorilla trekking is one of the most interesting activities to do as long as you come to Africa even though it is sometimes tiresome and difficulty to search the gorillas in the thick forests. The only places in Africa where mountain gorillas can be trekked from is Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park both in Uganda, Virunga National Park in Congo and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
How to plan gorilla trekking safaris in the three countries?
In the three countries, a gorilla trekking safari permit should be purchased in advance and three weeks earlier before your tour. It is very difficult most especially for the tourists from abroad to purchase the gorilla permits but there are many tour companies which can buy for you the permits on your behalf. Most of the tour companies are found in Uganda and Rwanda though some of them can also work in the all of East Africa plus Congo herself and such companies include Nature Adventure Africa Safari Limited which works in all the three countries with its professional guides aiding you in making your tour a better one. Gorilla permits cost US$ 600 in Uganda and Rwanda well as in Congo, the gorilla permits cost US$ 400.
Gorilla trekking in all the three countries have some rules and regulations you should follow before taking a tour in any of the countries and these rules include; you should be physically fit because the activity is sometimes hard and tiresome, you should be clean, you should not litter while in the park, you should maintain maximum silence, a group of only 8 individuals is allowed to trek in a day, you should stay with the mountain gorillas for not more than 1 hour, you should be a distance of 5 to 7 kilometers away from the Mountain gorillas, you should not smoke while in the park, for toilet issues you will be told to dig a hole away from the primates and after you are recommended to bury the hole thoroughly well and all the activities in the parks, you should be led by the well trained and professional park rangers.
Before accessing in one of the above parks, you are advised at least to pack strong trekking shoes, moisture impermeable socks, comfy mountaineering clothes, rain water gear, a primary support kit and a light weight back pack with plenty of room for food and drink. Water proof camera is also very much suggested as nothing wrecks a high-quality camera such as the tropical forest’s heavy shower.
All the parks consist of good facilitated shelters with a bar, a restaurant plus a swimming pool. Bwindi impenetrable forests national park consists of shelters such as Buhoma lodge, Silver back lodge, Buhoma community Bandas, Engagi lodge, Clouds lodge and others well as Mgahinga national park consists of shelters such as Mountain Gahinga safari lodge, Mucha hotel, Travelers rest hotel, Amajambere Iwacu community camp, Kisoro tourist hotel. Virunga national park in Congo comprises of shelters such as Mikeno lodge, Lulimbi tented camp, Bukima tented camp, Tchegera Island tented camp and Nyiragongo volcano summit shelter. Volcanoes national park in Rwanda consists shelters such as Sabyinyo silver back, Mountain gorilla nests, Kinigi guest house and many others.
Gorilla trekking is most ideal in Uganda because the country has the Park which covers almost half of the world’s mountain gorillas which is Bwindi impenetrable forests national park with over 400 mountain gorillas however other parks are also ideal for gorilla trekking.
