Why trek mountain gorillas.
Doing gorilla trekking allows one to experience that priceless moment with some of the few mountain gorillas left in the world. This gives the conservation fraternity in Uganda, Rwanda, D.R. Congo, too a financial benchmark.
The mountain gorillas were in danger of going extinct before the 1980s as, based on census data taken by the Dian Fossey Team then, around 300 mountain gorillas existed. Supported her efforts were international organizations like National Geographic, IUCN, and others. This revealed the misery of the mountain gorillas to all people.
The mountain gorillas were dealing with some natural reasons as well as human ones. Some caught in snares, some slaughtered for meat, others taken for circus, others poached for trophies; so many more. Pulling them off the brink of extinction required a great deal of help from all across the planet.
Apart from the mountain gorillas, the Virunga region has various primates like golden monkeys, black and white colobus, chimpanzees, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, bush babies and more.
One of the unusual Africa safari experiences is birding in the Virunga region. On the red list of IUCN, you might find some of the birds. One may watch the Albertine endemics building nests or wandering the trees seeking food.
Among the birds of the Virunga region are Shelley’s Crimmson, Rwenzori Turraco, Lagden’s Bush Shrike, Malachite Sunbird, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, African Hill Babbler, Mountain Masked Chestnut-throated Apalises, African Green Broadbill and others.
Therefore, other from gorilla trekking, you may do in fascinating activities in the Virunga region, which makes it an African magnet for wildlife lovers.
Booking a gorilla trekking trip to Rwanda or Uganda to visit mountain gorillas helps to support their conservation fund. Since there is a collaborative conservation effort in the Virunga area, some of the money paid for a gorilla permit is utilized in maintaining the few mountain gorillas remaining in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo.
Once they find seriously wounded mountain gorillas, the gorilla physicians treat them using part of the money. Although the mountain gorillas might be naturally prospering, sometimes they need some outside medical help.
The local community receives 20% of the yearly revenues from the gorilla habitats to assist with local projects such road development, school construction and others. This aims to help them to appreciate the presence of the mountain gorillas and avoid persecuting them even if they wander into the settlement.
Paid by the proceeds of the gorilla permit sales, the ranger guides are encouraged to remain fiercely guarding and safeguarding mountain gorillas.
Trekking Among Gorillas For Personal Purposes
One of the most sought-after safaris among environment enthusiasts is Gorilla Trekking on the list. Gorilla trekking is a lifelong experience among special Africa safaris. Although I have twice followed gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda, I still want to do it as the two encounters with gorillas in both countries exceeded my expectations.
Seeing the mountain gorillas is a unique Africa Safari experience because of their none planned behavior. They do the unexpected; your one hour with them might be full of delight and excitement.
You may fill your album for the future and take pictures using a flash-less camera. Unlike the cast of mountain gorillas living in the wild, gorillas housed in zoos follow a set schedule. Natural instincts and judgment help the wild mountain gorillas go about their daily tasks.
Mountain Gorilla Hosting Nations Get Foreign Exchange
By visiting Volcanoes National Park, Mgahinga National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking, you enable these nations to generate foreign exchange—a need in which these nations find deficient. These money help the gorilla hosting nations to have gross domestic revenues.
Notably, tourism is the top foreign currency earner in Uganda and an unseen export. Countries utilize such resources to import necessary commodities and services for the prosperity of their people. The beautiful part about this is that visitors come bring pictures and experience without endangering the mountain gorillas.
Starting a Gorilla Trekking Safari Provides Work
Employment for many people has come from gorilla treks in Uganda and Rwanda. Someone benefits from your visit from the day you arrive in Uganda or Rwanda.
Jobs to help their families are assigned to the ranger guide and park wardens employed in these mountain gorilla conservation areas.
Even residents might be paid some money and used as porters to carry the visitor baggage. One of the most straightforward approaches to help to preserve mountain gorillas is this.
A trip to Africa for gorilla trekking also helps other sectors of these nations. You will have to pay for a ticket to visit Uganda, Rwanda, D.R.C., so someone working for Emirates, KLM, Turkish Air, Rwanda Air, or Kenya Air makes some money.
In Uganda or Rwanda, you will be lodged in a designated Lodge or Hotel, so waiters will be paid salaries and allowances to cover your stay.
You have to consume food, hence it needs to be acquired locally. Rangers, guides, and gorilla tracking assistants will accompany you on the day you follow them and need payment. By booking your trip via a local tour operator, tour advisors and guides who worked on your inquiry must pay something.
Stated differently, your visiting Rwanda or Uganda for gorilla trekking has a trickle-down impact that helps the host nations. Every person who gains from your visit will pay taxes, which are then used to pay wages for government officers and provide services such water, power, security, health among others.
Visiting Uganda or Rwanda for gorilla tracking as well as admiring their other wildlife and culture can help African nations grow and lessen their reliance on outside countries. Get in touch to get more information.
When should one go Mountain Gorilla Trekking?
Although gorilla trekking is an all-year activity, June through October are the busiest months for this kind of travel. It’s recommended to visit the Virunga region during that time as it is noted for getting too little rain but rather intense cold with little sunshine penetration in the forest.
The region is projected to be somewhat more dry, hence rivers not overflowing all variables maintained constant in this area. Less moist and accessible terrain means less trouble. During this period, the mountain gorillas are also likely to feed nearer the ground.
Low seasons also are the result of the rainy months March through May and November, which have continuous components. Anticipate less disruption from other hikers and less damage. Gorilla trekking alone is another option that provides it a unique experience to see the gorillas by a single visitor.
Sometimes the low seasons provide cheaper rates on lodging, driver guides, car rentals, and other services. We show our customers these cheap gorilla safari features at experience Africa Safaris. This is to make gorilla trekking reasonably cost-effective for a range of budgets.
Since gorilla trekking is an all-year activity, there are no particular seasons when one will not see the mountain gorillas. You merely need to Send Us Your Enquiry and will be contacted with the finest Africa Safari package.
How Difficult Is Trekking in Gorillas?
Although the Virunga region’s landscape is often hilly, this does not imply you have to climb constantly in search of the mountain gorillas. These very nimble primates wander the jungle in search of the lunch for the day. The mountain gorillas travel less in the jungle as they are naturally somewhat large in weight.
The mountain gorillas eat closer to the base of the highlands during the dry months; the very rainy months drive them up the slopes. You have to climb to find them.
Getting you to the mountain gorillas calls both some degree of athleticism and patience. You should use the correct gorilla trekking gear: tracking safari boots, safari long clothing, safari cap, garden gloves, sunscreen, insect repellant and others.
To comfortably move with all your equipment and avoid scattering them upon a fall, carry them in a light water resistant backpack.
Gorilla Trekking: What Is The Cost
The gorilla permit per person is the ongoing expense of any gorilla trekking program. The gorilla permit varies depending on the nation Uganda is in; it costs $800 per person; in Rwanda it costs $1500; in D.R. Congo it costs $450 per person each trip.
The grade you choose for the gorilla trip determines other services included in the package. For the cost of a gorilla treking safari, luxury packages varies from midrange or budget rates.
Additionally influencing the overall cost of safari was the number of days to engage in gorilla trekking.
Another important factor is the quantity of paying customers heading for gorilla treking. Safari package per person costs cheaper the more persons they are.
Other activities to mix with gorilla trekking can help to offset the whole cost of the Africa Safari package. Like a mix of climbing and others, gorilla treking with chimpanzee tracking, wildlife safaris or birdwatching.
Your budget also includes certain personal costs you want to enjoy when gorilla trekking. Though they may not be part of the safari package, you need nevertheless take them into account like medicine while on safari, gratuities, alcohol, laundry, airplane tickets, and others.
What are the Gorilla Trekking Rules?
Offer to remain behind should you come into an infectious sickness before gorilla trekking. Among the infectious illnesses include flu, cholera, Ebola, COVID 19 and others.
Stay close to the gorillas; never encircle them. They therefore feel ambushed and could subsequently hide in case they feel uneasy.
Once you find the mountain gorillas, keep about eight meters apart from them.
Should the mountain gorillas approach, you attempt a gradual retreat. Leave your stuff on the ground; it could be grabbed and hidden. Take great care.
Flash photography with a sound should never be used as it can frighten the mountain gorillas.
In front of the mountain gorillas, avoid coughing or smoking. Pick interest in what you are doing and its consequences might be negative simply.
Should you have to cough or sneeze, do it in a handkerchief or elbow to avoid contaminating others.
To prevent anything from being unearthed, bury all human faces in a hole around thirty meters deep beyond recognition.
Since mountain gorillas eat plants, do not spit on them. The gorillas could catch this up; it is not sanitary. One way this might lead to human illness infection among mountain gorillas is via interaction.
Littering the park is against policy as it disturbs the natural habitat of the forest where mountain gorillas eat.
The nature of the gorilla trekking experience makes no one under the age of fifteen allowed to participate. Some degree of endurance is needed particularly when you must be patient to find the mountain gorillas.
When around the mountain gorillas, never make loud noises as they would generate fear.
Once you find the mountain gorillas, just one hour is permitted with them.
