Gorilla Trekking is one of the most popular adventure activities that travelers engage in while exploring Africa. It is one of the memorable adventures that one should atleast try out in his life time. Today the total population of the mountain gorillas is estimated to be around 900 individuals living within the Virunga Region and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The Virunga comprises of tropical rain forests within 3 countries; Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.
Gorilla Trekking is the best adventure in Africa. If this is your first safari in Africa and you want to see primates, gorilla trekking is probably the best adventure in Africa done in the wild and experienced in comfort of nature, good food, great accommodation, comfortable transport, experienced guides and rangers etc. Gorilla trekking should be your kind of tour on your visit to Africa to discover the thick primate jungles forests in Uganda, Rwanda, and Democratic Republic of Congo. The option to the perfect land of gorillas is to travel into the five diverse rain forests that give you the opportunity to see the rare endangered species. The treks start in the morning and are done once a day so one tracks gorillas on a chosen specific date that the permit is booked in.
Gorilla Trekking is everything travelers imagine of the wild jungle forests full natural peace and rewarding experience..Visiting Africa for gorilla tracking safaris allows travelers see gorillas, birds, wildlife, active volcanoes, cultural trends and a lot of content flora plus fauna.
Where to Go
- Uganda
- Rwanda
- Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire)
Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Gorilla safaris in Uganda are enjoyed in the wild forests of Mgahinga and Bwindi the places to find half of the living population of mountain gorillas on planet. Tracking gorillas in Uganda is a privilege and seeing them is a must in both parks. Not to leave out other things, while on a Uganda gorilla safari, visitors also enjoy nature walks in forest, community tours, and exploration of the Batwa traditional trail, golden monkey trekking, Lake Bunyonyi Island visit plus much more.
Gorilla permits in Uganda are affordable and only go for $600 a price that is worth the trek. Those who visit the gorillas in low season, get discounts of $150 per permit valid an offer valid until 2019. Accommodations are everywhere both with and out site parks and serve every interest and budget. The cost of gorilla safari accommodations is between $30-$800 per person per night a fare price for both budget and luxury travelers.
Rwanda Gorilla Safaris
The first and most convenient country for short gorilla tours in Africa. Rwanda is a visitor’s choice for incredible gorilla safari tours that range from 1day -infinity. Tracking gorillas in Rwanda is great for visitors who like short drives and those on limited time in the country.Travellers to Rwanda track gorillas in just a day a thing you can’t do in other gorilla destinations. Volcanoes national park the only mountain gorilla home in kinigi located close to Diany fossey fund has 10 habituated mountain gorilla families, variety of accommodation facilities and many other tour activities like volcano hikes, golden monkey treks, Diany fossey tombs and much more.Gorilla permits in Rwanda cost $1500 but those visiting other national parks like Nyungwe and Akagera get 30% discount on the total tour price. Besides, it’s only here where you can track your own habituated gorilla family at only $15000 per a trek.
Congo Gorilla Safaris
If you are looking for one of the great gorilla safaris in Africa, Congo is another paradise on earth. The country has two gorillas’ parks, Virunga and Kahuzi Biega each with a rare species of gorillas. Those interested in mountain gorillas,Virunga national park is your choice and also get a chance to hike the most attractive active volcanoe of Nyiragongo.But if your interest is to see low land gorillas ,Kahuzi Biega national park is your place in Congo. One can fly directly to Congo or Rwanda and connect to Congo a great journey to see how it feels to be in the cleanest country in Africa. There are accommodations like Bukima campsite, Orchides Mbayo Coco Horizon, Malahide Gisenyi, Lake kivu Serena, Mikeno luxury lodge etc. Don’t miss the chance to see gorillas in their wild jungle home and make you trip to Africa very special.
Restrictions
- Children below 15 years are not allowed to track the endangered mountain gorillas.
- People with communicable diseases cannot track the mountain gorillas.
Go for Gorilla trekking Before They Go Extinct
Uganda and Rwanda are well known in tourist circles for mountain gorillas which are about to become extinct. A huge damage to their population was done during the civil strife that gripped the region in the early part of the 1990s – there was no safety cover that could protect gorillas from poachers. There were nearly 700 gorillas in 2002 which has been reduced to 260 in 2008. The curiosity to see the endangered gorillas forces travelers from around the world to come and know the close ancestors of human from close – they share 97% genetic material with human beings.
The Increasing Popularity of Gorilla Trekking
The ORTPN Park is known to have rare Giant primates or the Legendary Mountain Gorillas in Africa. Travelers who do a safari in the park can have an opportunity to see these gorillas; however, a major problem is that the creature does not often come out and it depends a lot upon the time and luck that a traveler can have a view of them. Generally, gorillas come out when they are hungry and that too at the nearest food.
The endangered gorillas are also found in Africa’s Virunga Volcanoes Mountains. Another species that attracts travelers is Golden Monkey which is found in Thousand Hills. The subspecies of blue monkey, Golden Monkey are common sites in the bamboo forests of the volcanic mountain chain that is spread in the parts of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
There fore to see the mountain gorillas just go ahead and book a gorilla safari and meet the mountain gorillas in the wild of Africa. The experience of meeting the gorillas in the wild, and stay with them for at least an hour within Bwindi Impenetrable forest or Mgahinga National park in Uganda or the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is unexplainable. It is a memorable experience that will last on your memory forever, yet the any gorilla safari you take helps in promoting conservation in Africa.