Watching mountain gorillas up close in the wild of Rwanda and Uganda is one of the most exciting adventures that you can take while traveling Africa. This amazing adventure is one of the most popular on the bucket list of most travelers visiting East Africa. There are four national parks wehere travelers can see the endangered mountain gorillas; Bwindi Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the Virunga National Park in Congo. Of all these parks, there are two national parks which are most frequented by tourists interested in seeing the gorillas in the wild; Parc Nationale des Volcans and Bwindi Impenetrable national park. These parks have several habituated gorilla groups that can be visited by tourists.
The Gorilla Trekking Adventure
For many travellers who have visited gorillas in Africa this adventure is the single lifetime wildlife viewing experience that they have ever taken in the world. No wonder these trips are sometimes referred to as a luxury safari in Africa. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda, Uganda and Congo is taken in a very organized way to protect the endangered gorillas in their natural homes. There are strict roles that guide visitors going for gorilla safaris within the national parks where gorilla tourism has been developed. These rules are aimed at protecting both the visiting tourists and the mountain gorillas.
Planning a Gorilla Trek
- It is advisable to take your time and plan a visit to Rwanda, Uganda or Congo. Given that a few gorilla passes (permits) are available, it is advised to plan your trip early enough.
- Always use a local tour operator or a specialist travel agency given that they are more acquainted with the existing conditions within the different locations for gorilla watching.
- On your safari, remember to pack enough and recommended clothes that are suitable for hikes. Don’t forget your jungle boots given that the trek takes you past muddy paths and involves hikes up the steep slopes.
- After your trek, it is advisable to embrace ecotourism by visiting the local community. In Bwindi, a visit to Batwa local community who were the inhabitants of the forest is highly recommended.
- Adhere to the strict rules set on your gorilla permit so that sustainable gorilla tourism can be maintained and promoted in the visited destinations.
Gorilla trekking Trips
Looking for a great deal on gorilla trekking? Several local tour operators offer gorilla trekking excursions and tours to visit the mountain gorillas in Africa. Most of these travel agencies that are both inbound and outbound offer amazing gorilla trips in an organized and well managed way. If you prefer one day excursions they are possible safari only in the Volcanoes national park – Rwanda. If you prefer watching the gorillas in Bwindi national park – Uganda or Mhaginga national park, you need at least 3 minimum days if you are to start your trip from Kampala or Entebbe. An alternative place to see the mountain gorillas in the wild is the Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
There are several tourists who opt for to visit to at least two gorilla parks since the distance between is short. It’s very advisable for those who would like maximize their gorilla watching experience to visit both parks. Bot treks in the two parks offer quite a different experience and setting, thus a more rewarding experience. From both parks, there are multiple families of gorillas that have been habituated for tourist visits. Each family is composed of a number of gorillas including silverback gorilla, adult females, buckbucks (adult males) and juveniles.Each group allows a maximum of 8 tourists per day who are selected to see an individual family either on purchase of the gorilla permits or at the assembly point in the parks.