Is gorilla tracking worth the cost?

Is gorilla tracking worth the cost, the question about the worthiness of the gorilla trekking cost is the answer itself, with no doubt, the gorilla trekking cost is worth it.  It is a cost that involves having a set mind, physique, and great love for adventure that gets one packing essential luggage and taking a flight to visit the home of human cousins in the wilderness.

Africa is the only place in the world where those who wish to learn, research, and trek to the gorillas’ habitat can plan their safaris.  Gorillas exist in two species that are the Eastern gorillas and western Gorillas, and are regarded as endangered creatures due to human interruption, poaching, habitat destruction, civil unrest, and diseases. Western gorillas are found in the vast forests of West Africa.  Eastern Gorillas are found in East and Central Africa. These are further subdivided into the eastern lowland gorillas and the mountain gorillas. Eastern lowland gorillas commonly reside in DRC in Kahuzi Biega and Salonga National Parks.

The major home for mountain gorillas is the Virunga Volcanoes and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The Virunga massif comprises eight mountains including Mount Karisimbi, mount Bisoke, and Mount Sabinyo in Rwanda, Mount Nyiragongo, mount Mikeno,mount Nyamuragira in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Mount Mhabura and Mount Mgahinga shared by Uganda and Rwanda.

 The highest number of mountain gorillas can be sighted in Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.  The park is home to almost half of the remaining mountain gorilla species in the world. Other mountain gorillas can be spotted in Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in DRC.

Gorilla trekking is a popular sought-after activity by many adventure lovers.  Over 10, 000 visitors prepare and make trips to the gorilla homes. Gorillas are unique and powerful creatures with emotions like humans as they are said to share 98% of the human genetic code.  Mountain gorillas are social animals that live in groups called families, led by the dominant silverback and generally herbivores that feed on plant leaves, shoots, fruits, and bark of trees.

Cost of a gorilla permit.

For one to enjoy the gorilla trekking activity, he/she should have a gorilla trekking permit. Gorilla permits in Uganda cost $800, in Congo they are at $400 and in Rwanda $1500. The cost of a permit and other related costs like transport, accommodation, and other hidden expenses still raise the question of how much the gorilla trekking costs.  Still, the answer remains, “yes” the cost is worth it because one trekking into the jungles of the forest park to meet the gentle giant apes and spend one festive hour in their presence is an awesome and memorable experience.

 What to expect on gorilla trekking experience

The gorilla trekking experience is an amazing activity that involves visitors moving into the deep jungles of the forest parks to search for gentle giant apes. Once you reach the park, visitors are expected to present their trekking permits and identification documents. The whole activity starts with a briefing at the park headquarters where they are taken through the rules and regulations to follow when carrying out the activity. Some of them include no smoking, keeping a reasonable distance (7 m) from the gorillas, avoiding taking flashlight photos, not eating in the presence of the gorillas, and maintaining sanitation in the park among others.

 After the briefing, you are assigned to a gorilla family to trek to in groups of eight. Those tracking for the second time are allocated to another gorilla family they have not tracked before. Trekkers are provided with walking sticks and advised to hire porters to help them carry their luggage as they trek. Porter charges are $10 -$15.

The trek takes 30 minutes to 5 hours under the leadership of trained and armed game rangers, but the moment you find them, you are allowed to spend one festive hour in their presence as you study their behaviour, watch the females care for the young ones, and the juveniles swing in the tree branches, while the dominant silverback guards the whole family. you are allowed to have flashless photography and are free to ask questions before returning to the starting point/ park headquarters for tracking certificates.  By the end of the activity, you feel it is worth the cost and a memorable life event.

Is gorilla trekking safe?

All national parks that offer gorilla trekking activities prioritize the security of both their guests and the gorillas while in the jungle.  Firstly, they take a limited number of eight people to visit a particular family. this is a reasonable number that can be controlled and guarded by two- or one-armed rangers.

 Park officials also first send trackers into the park to spot the gorillas. This helps trekkers and guides to move to the gorilla family within a distance that will not make them so exhausted to the extent of regretting their safari.

The armed rangers help to guide the trekkers on what to do in case the gorillas charge at them and defend them from external attacks like poachers and other aggressive unhabituated gorillas.

Trekking is always done with habituated gorilla families. This means they have already been used to human interaction. The habituation process takes place over 2-3 years.  A team of researchers took time to follow and observe the behaviour of the gorillas and make them used to human presence. For trekkers who wish to be involved in the gorilla habituation exercise, the only place is in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where the restricted number is four people per two families set aside for that experience. enough security is prepared for the activity and the participants are allowed to stay with the gorillas for four hours.

What do you need for gorilla trekking?

As you plan your gorilla safari to Uganda, Rwanda, or DRC, the following are some of the essential items that should not miss your budget and luggage.

Passports and trekking permits.

 A valid passport is crucial when you wish to adventure in a country. Your passport should be three months from its expiry date. Before tracking, you are supposed to present a valid tracking permit to avoid any inconveniences at the park headquarters.

Clothing. When preparing for the gorilla trekking expedition, clothing like waterproof trousers, long-sleeved shirts, stockings, hiking boots, sweaters, and waterproof jackets should not miss your luggage. You should also pack a pair of shorts for relaxation, and night pajamas to use at the accommodation for night stays.

Rain jackets should be part of your package, even if you travel in the dry season because gorillas live in dense rain forests where rain showers are expected at any time.

 Quality hiking boots are highly recommended because the tracking trails are at times muddy and slippery.

Garden gloves help to protect trekkers’ hands from thorny vegetation that you may hold when traversing through the muddy and slippery trails.

Headbands and hair ties bind your hair so that it can’t be caught in branches of trees as you move.

Sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat will help to protect you from direct sun rays.

 Drinking water and snacks: gorilla trekking sometimes leaves you exhausted, and for that matter, you need to carry enough drinking water and snacks to eat while trekking.

Insect repellents are important to prevent insect bites and stings while on the trek since the primates reside in forests where other dangerous creatures also stay.

A walking stick is provided at the park headquarters to give you extra support as you trek.

Trekkers are advised to hire porters to help carry their luggage during the trek.

For one to have a memorable trip, he should carry a camera or binoculars for great photography of the primates and other wild creatures that live along with the gorillas in the same home. This includes other wild animals, birds, and insects that you encounter while trekking to the gorillas.