Reasons that may stop you from trekking gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda.
Trekking gorillas in Uganda. For most visitors worldwide, gorilla trekking is a dream come true on nd African safari excursion; yet, there are reasons you may be unable to go to Uganda and Rwanda. Actually, among the things on their bucket list of activities, gorilla trekking is among the most important. Reserving mountain gorilla permits is difficult, as only a small number of them are issued daily.
Volcanoes National Park hosts Rwanda gorilla trekking; The Rwanda Development Board grants permission for this kind of activity. Currently offered for visitors are around 13 gorilla trekking licenses.
Among the Rwanda Gorilla families available for gorilla trekking are Group 13, Amahoro family, Susa family, Hirwa family, Umubano family, Sabyinyo family, and others.
Trekking among Uganda’s gorillas occurs at Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Sales of Uganda gorilla licenses fall to the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Uganda now has roughly 19 gorilla families available for visitors.
Gorilla habituation in Uganda is conducted in the southern Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This is the method of tracking semi-habituated gorilla families without changing their natural existence.
Booked based on the location, gorilla treks in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include four gorilla trekking sites in this park: Ruhijah, Buhoma, Nkuringo, and Rushaga region.
Under each of these locations are gorilla families, among which are the Habinyanja family, Bweza family, Oruzogo family, Muhozi family, Christmas family, Rushegura family, Mubale family, Nyakagezi family, and others.
You hope to view any of these gorilla families when you have a permit, but depending on the highlights below, you may not be in a position to unless the issues are addressed.
Violating gorilla trekking policies
You have to observe the gorilla trekking rules. Should you stray from any of these, you might be expelled from gorilla trekking.
These guidelines were developed after extensive investigation among mountain gorilla habitators. They know what may irritate them and how to treat themselves in the woods when looking for them.
Should you not follow any of these guidelines, you may set up a stampede in the jungle and cause general destruction while gorilla trekking. Should you yell anywhere in the jungle, you might frighten mountain gorilla families even beyond the family you are exploring. This is not a wise action in the woods; you can get kicked off the walk.
Contracting a communicative illness such as Covid-19 either before or during gorilla trekking | Trekking gorillas in Uganda
Offers to remain behind should you develop a communicable ailment like cholera, flu, or cough that might be transmitted to the wild monkeys. Although mountain gorillas are very vulnerable to these diseases, the extent of harm they might inflict is unclear.
Since, as of right now, about 1000 mountain gorillas are believed to be alive on the globe, from 300 gorillas by the 1980s census; thus, nothing should stop the advancement now underway in mountain gorilla preservation.
You must be above 15 years of Age | Trekking gorillas in Uganda
Because of the circumstances in the jungle, including the steep elevation, gorilla trekking has an age restriction of 15 years. To catch up with the mountain gorillas, you have to be somewhat athletic enough to climb up the hills. Children under this age may not stick to their search as the exact moment of finding the mountain gorillas is uncertain.
The initial impression of mountain gorillas is frightening at times, which a toddler below this age might not be able to handle. Though noise is illegal in the forest, they may yell. Send the mountain gorilla into hiding.
Should a youngster less than fifteen years old be found among the hikers, he or she is instantly disqualified.
Missing a briefing before the gorilla trip
Before gorilla trekking, Guests must visit the ranger station for a briefing. You may not know additional gorilla trekking guidelines other than those described on online brochures when you miss a briefing.
Many factors might lead you to miss a briefing for gorilla trekking, including rising late, traveling from one place to another, becoming sick, and so many more. The gorilla trekking briefing begins early; hence, it is very necessary to assign trekkers to the correct gorilla family.
You may not be able to join the others for hiking when you arrive after the briefing, as you are not allowed into the forest without an accompanying ranger guide, and you do not know the path they have traveled yet. Not letting you go gorilla trekking yet, your permit is not reimbursed either.
Make sure you sleep nearby or at your gorilla trekking park to solve any such problems.
Keeping a distance from the gorilla hiking path | Trekking gorillas in Uganda
Gorilla trekking in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is done based on the location. Gorilla Trekking in Uganda consists of four areas: Buhoma gorilla trekking area, Ruhija area, Nkuringo region, and Rushaga area.
Early morning crossing from one location to another to attend a briefing in another is difficult because of the bad road conditions, which are slippery at times, logs may block the path, obtain a flat tire, and others. Such delays can cost you gorilla walking in Uganda.
Acquiring an injury in the wild before a mountain gorilla sighting
Although an accident is an unanticipated harm, you might trip and get injured while searching for the mountain gorillas. Should it be quite severe damage, you would not be able to keep looking for mountain gorillas.
Should you find a spline, the rescuing crew might have to hoist you. It has never occurred with any group of visitors because one of the ranger guides leads the walk to see if the path is accessible, then the others follow.
Not paying for a gorilla permit in full
For individuals who pay for their gorilla permits in installments, the window for topping up is at least ninety days from the date of trekking. Not topping up early may result in losing the gorilla trekking permission. They are made public once again, but you also lose your deposit. On the day of the trek, do not anticipate topping up; so, either get another gorilla permit or avoid gorilla trekking.
Without a gorilla trip authorization
Should you turn up for gorilla trekking without a gorilla permit and no-shows arise, you are not permitted to join the gorilla trekkers should availability not be there. This is so because just eight visitors are permitted daily to see the mountain gorillas.
Either book six months before the trip or book the gorilla permits in advance at least ninety days before the date to lower the possibility of missing gorilla trekking.
Not showing up for gorilla trekking
Should you fail to show up for gorilla trekking for reasons known to you and fail to notify the authorities in advance, you are not registered among those walking for the day.
You are rejected right away, and based on authority rules, you cannot be reimbursed.
Gorilla observation.
When should one reserve a Gorilla Trekking Permit?
At least 90 days to six months in advance of the gorilla safari, reserve your gorilla permit to ensure you can visit.
Apart from lodging, transportation, and scheduling additional activities, the gorilla trekking safari package comprises everything.
The strong demand from other hikers may make some of the excellent decisions difficult during the closing minutes.
The level of safety in the Gorilla Trekking Safari.
Areas where gorilla occurs
Volcanoes National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Mgahinga National Park are Safe for Gorilla Trekking:
This is so because the ranger guides work with other security agencies of every nation to guarantee law and order in this region.
The protection of the mountain gorillas depends first on the security of visitors and those living around the parks.
Every day, a group of ranger guides accompanies the gorilla families to walk so that they establish their predominant mood for that time, where they may be eating from, others, and so on. About what is occurring in the park and how the mountain gorillas are acting before visitor access, they report to headquarters.
How challenging is gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda?
This region’s overall geography is volcanic; to reach the mountain gorillas, one must climb ridges or plateaus. A successful search for mountain gorillas depends on some degree of fitness. Should you have a physical handicap, you might get a mountain gorilla sedan chair or stretcher.
You have to be somewhat fit if you are going to pass with the mountain gorillas.
Important also includes.
- You should not go with priceless stuff that you cannot be able to find once lost. Tell the lodge management about these valuables so they may be stored in a secure and remember to pick them up before departing.
- Money should not be counted in public, as it may attract criminals and other evil individuals.
- It is not encouraged to eat from unregulated locations like street food, which could lead to foodborne illness.
- Keep near your gorilla trekking team to avoid becoming lost in the woods. The gorilla trekking region is large, hence finding where to go may be very difficult. Not only is the internet connection bad, but nonexistent.
- People who sell drugs in these places should not be trusted, should you come across them. They may pilfer your stuff, and you could be imprisoned should authorities find out.
- Should you sustain an injury and need emergency care, pack a first aid bag.
Rules of Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and Uganda | Trekking gorillas in Uganda
Because flash photography could drive the mountain gorillas into hiding, it is forbidden during gorilla trekking. They are afraid of fresh events happening near.
You do not know how the smoke would affect the mountain gorillas, hence you avoid eating or smoking three hundred meters from them.
Should you develop a communicative illness such as flu, cough, or coronavirus, offer to remain behind to prevent passing such germs to these gentle giants.
It is banned to litter the forest with rubbish, particularly non-degradable waste like plastic wrapping. It changes the environment of the forest where mountain gorillas live naturally.
Keep close to your gorilla trekking team; avoid crowding the gorillas to cause ambushed feelings.
Once you find the mountain gorillas, just one hour is allotted with them. They have been conditioned to remain in human presence for this length of time so that they may continue with their daily tasks like eating, grooming, and others.
Once you see mountain gorillas, keep around eight meters away from them. This helps to lower the possibility of any potential illness reaching the mountain gorillas.
