How to improve gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks
Dividing Vast Bwindi Impenetrable National Park into Areas
The large over 327 square km Bwindi Impenetrable National Park makes administrative tasks difficult. To simplify and regulate administrative tasks, the Uganda Wildlife Authority split the park into four administrative zones.
Buhoma, Ruhijah, Rushaga, and Nkuringo regions are the four divisions into which Bwindi Impenetrable National Park falls. Booking a Bwindi gorilla permit reserves it based on area. On the day of trekking, each location has gorilla families under which visitors are separated.
This arrangement is one of the strategies to let visitors see the several areas of Bwindi National Park unlike in the past when their inclination was usually Buhoma region or the Northern section of Bwindi. This layout stifled and slowed the growth of neighboring Bwindi districts.
Advertising Golden Monkey Trekking in Mgahinga National Park
Apart from gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park, where the only family known to be mobile was Nyakagezi, golden monkey trekking and other Mgahinga activities are under promotion.
Comprising around 33.7 square kilometers, Mgahinga National Park is regarded as the smallest park in Uganda. Given few tourists, it is also one of the virgin national parks in the nation.
About 30000 to 40000 golden monkeys are said to be extant in the globe among the endangered primates found in Africa. Unlike typical monkeys, they are a rare species with golden brown fur and a more expansive body form. In the forest, golden monkeys are fascinating to see and quite active in nature.
The golden monkeys found in Mgahinga National Park have over time drawn the park closer to the tourist map other than that of the mountain gorillas. Visitors to Mgahinga National Park come mostly for this reason among others.
Enhancing Access to Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Currently, one may reach Mgahinga National Park or Bwindi impenetrable national park via plane or vehicle. Although the roads leading to these national parks were in a very sad condition in the past, Uganda Wildlife Authority’s relentless effort to upgrade them has paid some dividends for the Uganda government. Transport is becoming better since several of the paths connecting to these parks are under development.
Currently among the available modes of transportation are daily domestic flights. Travelers used to get tired after the approximately 8 to 9 hour long travel from Entebbe Airport to either Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park.
From Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airport to either Kihihi Airstrip, the daily domestic flights take one hour and a half to two hours. From the airstrip, you must have a connected transfer vehicle either to Mgahinga National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Establishing Rules for Gorilla Trekking
The Uganda Wildlife Authority emphasizes the need of volunteers to remain behind should one have a communicative infection. Before beginning the gorilla walk, you have to be Covid-19 free, don a fresh mask, clean your shoes also and meet the mountain gorillas.
All of them are meant to guard the mountain gorillas from getting human infectious viruses whose impact could not be very strong for the preservation of the mountain gorillas. Their preservation has cost a lot of time and money, which is not deserved to be thrown away.
There are many lodging choices available for Gorilla Trekking.
Depending on your budget, there are many lodging options available both within the park and outside of Mgahinga National Park. These lodging options vary from budget, mid-range, to luxury hotels along with camping locations.
Among the Bwindi lodges are Gorilla Forest Camp, Clouds Lodge, Bwindi View Bandas, Silverback Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla Resort, Lake Kitandara Tented Camp, and others.
Among the Mgahinga lodgings in Kisoro town are Gahinga Lodge, Traveller’s Inn, Mgahinga Gorilla Triangle, Majambere Iwachu, Community Camp, Mutanda Lake Resort, and others.
Drawing on Expert and Knowledgeable Ranger Guides
Often providing refresher training to ranger guides, the Uganda Wildlife Authority helps them to enhance their guiding strategies for gorilla trekking. Many times, even new ranger guides are taught to maintain the task of preserving the mountain gorillas active even as others retire.
When visiting other than what they learn from the many platforms, tourists want accurate and direct knowledge on the lives of the mountain gorillas.
To ensure their expertise on mountain gorillas, the ranger guides of the Uganda Wildlife Authority sometimes go through theoretical and practical mocks.
Every gorilla trekking safari is run under the direction of a competent and experienced guide accompanied by an armed ranger guide to provide additional guest safety in the bush.
Uganda Wildlife Authority Including Gorilla Habituation into Gorilla Trekking
Uganda Wildlife Authority included Gorilla habituation as gorilla trekking is just one hour and some visitors may not have enough time. Extra 4 hours are provided.
The adventure of tracking semi-habited gorilla families in the jungle to introduce them to human presence without changing their nature is known as gorilla habituation safari.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority has let a maximum of four visitors to create a new gorilla family to augment the existing gorilla trekking groups starting in 2014. Two gorilla families are accessible for habituation now in the southern section of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
How may a visitor help to enhance the Gorilla Trekking Experience in Mgahinga National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
Purchase a Gorilla Habituation Permission or gorilla Trekking Permission
Purchasing a gorilla permit helps you contribute to the gorilla conservation fund therefore supporting the preservation of mountain gorillas. With a survey showing around 300 mountain gorillas, the mountain gorillas were among the extremely endangered primates by the 1980s.
One of the steps used to help mountain gorilla preservation was gorilla treking.
Gorilla trekking is what?
Search for a completely habituated gorilla family on this safari experience and spend just one hour with them. The Uganda rainforest is an exciting adventure. Uganda now has 19 gorilla families available for tourists residing in Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
A gorilla trekking permit from Uganda costs right now as follows:
For international nonresident visitors, $800 per person per trip,
$700 per person for foreign residents visiting a property
150000 shs for East African nationals
What is habituation in a gorilla?
Following a semi-habituated gorilla trekking family under accompanying researcher and habituation is the excitement of Gorilla Habituation Safari. Only a maximum of 4 visitors are permitted to spend 4 hours daily habituating gorillas.
These mountain gorillas are semi-habituated, hence they should exhibit some wild behavior. Some of these actions require concealing; so, some patience and good conduct based on the knowledge acquired during the briefing is essential.
Right now the gorilla habituation permit costs:
$1500 per person for international non-residents per trip
$1000 for each foreign resident’s journey.
750000shs for East African citizens each person per journey.
Including what is included in The expenses of Gorilla Permit and habituation permit
Day park admission costs; ranger guide fees; money assistance for gorilla conservation; security during gorilla treking; community development contribution.
Excluded from Gorilla Permit and Habituation Cost; tips; beverages; packed lunch; transportation; any other personal item.
Using a Porter for Gorilla Trekking to Assist a Visitor
Hiring a porter for gorilla trekking or habituation allows you to directly help the nearby community. One of the ways the residents in the area come to value the reason mountain gorillas and their environment should be preserved.
A porter helps you to carry your gorilla trekking equipment and other tools over the bush. When you find yourself alone in the jungle, he may force you. The porters are paid reasonably priced wages.
Following the gorilla trekking rules will help you as a visitor.
You should go to a seminar before gorilla trekking where additional in-depth information about these creatures is provided along with guidelines.
You follow the ranger guide into the forest utilizing the paths built by daily visits when guests are split into groups of maximum eight trekkers.
Every gorilla trekker is supposed to observe specific trekking guidelines, which include not disturbing the mountain gorillas and others and not producing noise throughout their journey. Some of the regulations sought to avoid situations that would agitate the mountain gorillas, therefore triggering their concealment.
Get some Level of Fitness before Gorilla Trekking.
Trekking with gorillas takes place in a volcanic region with Plateaus and jagged hills. The mountain gorillas sometimes spend their day lazing on the hillsides.
You have to be somewhat fit if you want to enjoy gorilla treking. Although you don’t have to spend the whole day in the gym, practice some basic stretches to somewhat increase your muscles’ flexibility.
Prepare the correct Gorilla Trekking Gears.
You have to have the correct gorilla trekking equipment. Among them are safari boots to save your feet from hard jungle circumstances, a camera, a safari hat, bug repellant, warm clothing, safari attires, and so much more.
Having own equipment makes you feel good and helps you avoid being disorganized trying to find someplace to rent it. Along with recollections of your lifetime adventure trip among the few surviving mountain gorillas worldwide.
Volunteer To Stay Behind Should You Contract a Communicative Infection Before Gorilla Trekking
If you develop a communicative disease like flu, coughing, or cholera, offer to remain behind so as not to pass it on the very sensitive mountain gorillas.
About 96% percent human DNA makes up the DNA of the mountain gorillas. Although their preservation has cost a lot of effort and money, you are not sure how this virus will affect things.
Combine other Uganda Safari activities with Gorilla Trekking
Apart from gorilla trekking, you may engage in Uganda safari activities to fully appreciate the country. Still, this may be feasible if you have additional safari days.
Among the extra pursuits are chimpanzee trekking, wildlife drives in Murchison Falls National Park or Queen Elizabeth National Park, river Nile source visits in Jinja, white water rafting, launch excursions, and so much more.
This means you should have a customized schedule from a reputable safari operator such as Katland Safaris, which has conducted Uganda trips for more than ten years.
Every one of the Uganda National Parks has unique and fascinating fauna that would appeal to your taste. Katland Safaris performs this best as you need to choose the finest locations in Uganda to suit inside your vacation period in Africa from an experienced individual.
