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Frequently asked questions about gorilla trekking

Gorilla Trekking FAQs Part 4

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More gorilla Trekking FAQs

Frequently asked questions (FAQS) about Gorilla Trekking

Below are some Gorilla Trekking FAQs submitted by Green World Safaris

What time of the year should I travel to see the gorillas?

The gorillas can be visited any time of the year. Be aware that it can rain any day of the year due to the rain forest climate in which the gorillas are located. May and April are the rainiest months, so most people avoid travel during those months.

Do I need to be fit to trek or find the gorillas?

A certain level of fitness is needed, as well as the willingness to hike up the muddy slopes and through the varied vegetation and uneven terrain. The gorillas live in the montane forests, which are at a higher elevation, so the treks to view them are at a higher altitude. Being at higher elevation requires more exertion and fitness than lower level treks.

Am I guaranteed to view the gorillas when I set out?

The gorillas live in their natural habitat and there is no guarantee that you will see them. That said, we have never heard any of the travelers regretting their treks. To help ensure visitors will see the gorillas, trackers set off at dawn to locate the gorilla group. The trackers then radio their GPS coordinates to the park headquarters. This means that when you set off on your trek with the guide, you are headed to where the gorillas are located. The trackers stay with the gorillas, even though they are not moving, until the group arrives. 

What type of clothes should I wear?

A water proof jacket is important because mud and rain can be expected. Long trousers are recommended, as well as a T-shirt underneath a long sleeved shirt. These will protect your arms and legs against nettles and other things you might encounter on the trail. It’s also a good idea to bring a water proof day pack to protect your camera and to carry water bottles and snacks. For at a small fee, the porters can be helpful in carrying your items up the steep slopes.

Is there a minimum or maximum age of guests visiting the gorillas?

The minimum age to trek the gorillas is 6 years and older. This rule is the same for both Rwanda and Uganda and is enforced by the national parks. There is no upper age limit.

Do I need a gorilla permit?

You must obtain a gorilla permit in order to visit the gorillas and this must be obtained 4 months prior to your visit. The permits currently cost $600 in Uganda, $1500 in Rwanda and $ 450 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. That price is per person. The money for the permits goes directly towards conservation of the gorillas, anti-poaching efforts and education of the local communities. Permits are limited to 8 visitors per group per day, so be sure you plan in advance.

Will this be covered by my travel insurance?

You may need to pay an additional premium to cover your gorilla trekking. Please check with your travel insurance.

Can you track the gorillas when feeling unwell?

This is a big no, the gorilla are vulnerable to human diseases and something that is small to us can be dangerous to them. You need to take care of yourself before the safari and avoid getting sick. You also need to warn your guide if you aren’t feeling well.

How big are gorilla tracking groups?

There is a maximum of 8 people per group in Uganda or Rwanda.

How far is my lodge to the park headquarters?

You will be located within easy access to the park headquarters, but the distance will depend on which accommodation you chose. Check with your lodge to find out exactly how far it is from park headquarters. The distance to the headquarters is usually within a 1-60 minute walk.

How much time can I spend with the gorillas?

Once you have sighted the gorillas, you will be given one hour to spend with them. We recommend that you track them at least twice. This means that the second time you track them, you can ignore taking photos and concentrate on enjoying the experience.

If you have more questions, please contact Green World Safaris at [email protected].

This is part 4 in a series about mountain gorilla trekking. See part 1 about mountain gorilla trekking, part 2 about mountain gorilla safari, and Gorilla Trekking Regulations and Permits Part 3.

This series of blogs was submitted by Green World Safaris. They arrange mountain gorilla tours in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). They are based out of Uganda.

Mountain Gorilla trekking in Africa’s rain forests Part 1

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Mountain Gorilla trekking in Africa’s Rain Forests takes place in their last remaining habitat in Central Africa. Mountain Gorillas are an endangered species and are only found in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This blog is part 1 in a series of 5 about all the ins and outs of gorilla trekking in Africa’s rain forests.

Going mountain gorilla trekking in the rain forests of Africa is a once in a lifetime experience that may be disappearing. National Geographic estimates there are 900 gorillas remaining in the world. The current varying estimates are between 780 to over 1,000. The mountain gorillas have lost a lot of their natural habitat for different reasons, including war.

The areas where mountain gorillas are found are heavily forested mountainous areas. The national parks where the tracking of these primates takes place include; Mgahinga National park, Bwindi Impenetrable National park, Volcanoes National park and Virunga National park.

Mountain Gorilla

mountain-gorilla

Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable & Mgahinga National Parks in Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National park has 13 gorilla groups and is located in southern Uganda. Three of the gorilla families are found in the Buhoma region of the park. The gorilla families are named Mubare, Rushegura, and Habinyanja. In the Rushaga region there are 4 gorilla families; Nshogi, Mishaya Businggwe, and Bweza. The Nkuringo family is located in the Nkuringo region. And there are 3 gorilla families in the Ruhinja sector; Oruzogo, Kyaguriro, and Buitukura gorilla families.

Bwindi forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it’s in this forest in south western Uganda that half of the mountain gorilla population lives.

Mgahinga National park has one gorilla family that is named Nyakagezi. The Nyakagezi family group moves between Uganda and Rwanda. For the last two years, the group has been staying in Uganda and includes silverbacks in their group. The park covers an area of 33km of thick montane and lowland rain forests. Because of the terrain, the Nyakagezi mountain gorilla family is a hard one for trekkers to access.

Mgahinga National park is located in the western part of Uganda. The Park borders Rwanda near Volcanoes National park as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo near the Virunga National park. Mgahinga National park is also the smallest park that forms part of the bigger Virunga Conservation.

In Uganda, these National Parks are managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority. Trekkers have to drive over 2 hours to get to both of these National parks. Tourists get the real picture of what this beautiful area looks like during the drive. Tourists can access this area more quickly by taking a domestic flights from Entebbe Airport by Aero Link to the Kayonza airstrip. From there it is a short drive to the National Parks.

Mountain Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National park (Rwanda)

Volcanoes National park covers an area of about 125km and is covered with the mountains and the six volcanoes. Because of this, Rwanda is called the land of a thousand hills. Around 480 gorillas are found along the border of the Virunga Conservation Area, which is in the Virunga Mountains. This is where primatologist Dian Fossey lived and worked with the mountain gorillas. Because of this the gorillas living here are more habituated to humans than any of the other mountain gorilla families. The national park has 10 gorilla families and these include, by name; the Susa, Karisimbi, the Sabyinyo, Agashya, Amahoro, Umubano, Hirwa, Kwitonda, Bwenge and the Ugenda gorilla family.

The National park is located in northern Rwanda and it is 80km away from the city of Kigali. Accessing this National Park is easier and quicker than getting to Bwindi Park in Uganda. The park is a 2 ½ hour drive from Kigali. A mini bus goes from Kigali to Rushengeri town, located at the park entrance. Taxis are also available to get visitors to the park from Kigali.

Tracking the gorillas in this national park is more popular than in Bwindi forest. The mountain gorillas in this area tend to move around less, so easier to track. Visibility and photo taking is much easier because of the open terrain in the bamboo forests that lets more light penetrate.

In Rwanda, the mountain gorilla permit lets visitors track a particular family. There are many dependent factors that decide which family group visitors are assigned. After a briefing about gorilla trekking, the tourists are divided into groups according to their fitness level and age, as well as the location of the gorilla family.

Mountain Gorilla trekking in Virunga National park in Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mountain gorilla tracking in the DRC is done in Virunga National park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The National Park borders both Rwanda and Uganda. Virunga National park covers an area of 7800km and is also home to about 200 of the mountain gorillas. The mountain gorillas live in the southern part of the Park. The Park is managed by the Congolese National Park authorities along with the institute Congolias pour La Conservation de la Nature (ICCN). The Africa Conservation Fund is also a partner. Ruthless attacks in the Park killed 10 gorillas, but their population has increased since the attack and is more stable now. The efforts of the rangers who live within Virunga National park has seen to that.

The National Park is 32km west of Goma, which is the capital city of North Kivu province. Transport from Goma to Virunga National park can be arranged with Virunga National park. The roads to the National Park are very bad and it’s best to travel with someone who knows the area. Another option would be a guided tour from Rwanda or Uganda since tourism infrastructure is not well developed in the DRC. The guided tour operators out of Uganda and Rwanda can find the best border crossings into the Democratic Republic of Congo and into the Park and take care of all the details.

Submitted by Green World Safaris. A tour company based out of Uganda but also doing tours in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They specialize in Mountain Gorilla Trekking and can be contacted to arrange any of the tours mentioned above.

How Eco Tourism Has Saved the Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda

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How Eco Tourism Has Saved the Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda

According to the 2011 gorilla census, there are only 880 Mountain Gorillas left in the wild worldwide. Making it a critically endangered species of ape. Half of this population is found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in south western Uganda. The other half is found in the magnificent Virunga Mountain ranges. These are shared by Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park), Uganda (Mgahinga National Park) and Democratic Republic of Congo (Virunga National Park).

The mountain gorillas are endangered and at risk of extinction. There are many International and regional bodies working hard to protect the gorillas and their habitat. These include the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP), Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, Rwanda Development Board and Gorilla Doctors, among others.

African Jungle Adventures in Rwanda and Uganda

Man is the main threat to the mountain gorilla population in Africa. This threat is through activities of poaching and encroachment to their habitat. Therefore, Eco tourism is the way forward towards the protection of the mountain gorillas in Rwanda through the following ways;

In the first instance, Volcanoes National park Rwanda today has 10 habituated gorilla groups available for ecotourism purposes. Mountain Gorilla trekking is the main tourist activity in the park. A maximum of 8 persons are allowed to visit each gorilla group per day. And tourists are only allowed to stay with the gorillas for a maximum of one hour. Man is a visitor in small groups for a short period of time. This promotes responsible travel and protects the gorillas and their natural setting.

Additionally, gorilla trekking rules have been put in place and clients are briefed before starting the trek. The rules aim at protecting the mountain gorillas and their habitat. These rules include;

  • Not to litter in the gorilla habitat
  • Not to make noise in the forest
  • Not to smoke, drink or eat near gorillas
  • No taking pictures with flash cameras
  • Keep distance of 7 meters from the gorillas
  • Not to touch the gorillas
  • Dig a hole in case you want to ease yourself and bury it after
  • Cover your mouth when coughing to avoid transmitting diseases to the gorillas.
  • If a person has flu or cough, they are not allowed to go gorilla trekking

Other tourist activities in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda include golden monkey tracking, adventurous hikes to Dian Fossey tombs and Iby’Iwacu cultural village tour. The latter is where tourists learn about the ways of life of the local people. Tourists also learn about their cultures and actively participate in local music, dance and drama.

Iby’Iwacu cultural village’s main object is to demonstrate the ways of life of Rwandese to tourists. The Rwandese earn a living from their activities. Through goats for gorilla project, tourists to Iby’wacu cultural village donate US $25-50 to purchase a goat for an ex-poacher’s families, thus saving the gorillas in Rwanda.

Many Eco-lodges and resorts have been constructed around Volcanoes National Park for nature lovers. Such lodges are constructed from local/natural materials such as volcanic stones, bamboo and wood to blend with the environment. Such Eco-lodges include Virunga Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge and Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge among others.

Through Eco-tourism around Volcanoes National Park, the local communities are sensitized about the value of gorilla tourism, and they directly benefit from gorilla tourism revenues. For example, during this year’s Kwita Izina (Gorilla Naming ceremony in Rwanda), Rwanda Development Board and Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund launched 12 classrooms at Gatebe Primary school. During the 2015 Kwita Izina ceremony, Bisate Learning centre in Musanze was launched and today has over 2300 students. Many other schools get support from eco-tourism revenues around the park. Additionally, the local communities are rewarded with medical centers and piped water from gorilla tourism revenues.

Furthermore, ex poachers have been employed in different sectors of tourism such as eco-lodges and in the park. Most porters and park rangers were ex-poachers, now fighting poaching and saving the Mountain Gorillas. Because they now benefit from the gorillas, they can no-longer go back to poaching, thus saving the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. How Eco Tourism Has Saved the Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda

This post was submitted by Paul Basudde, who works with African Jungle Adventures in Rwanda and Uganda.