What is Mountain Gorilla Trekking?
Mountain Gorilla Trekking is a form of wildlife exploration that entails walking through dense forests in search of wild gorillas. Before coming across a gorilla family, the activity involves walking through rocky terrain, thick forests, rivers, and water streams. Park Rangers who specialize in Mountain Gorilla Trekking frequently cut temporary paths through the undergrowth with machetes. The most amazing wildlife activities in Africa are thought to include Mountain Gorilla Trekking.
Game drives to see the “big 5” (lions, buffaloes, rhinoceroses, leopards, and elephants) are comparable to it, and to some people, they are even better. A closer encounter with a creature that resembles and behaves like us humans makes Mountain Gorilla Trekking more expensive and unique. Despite their lack of human resemblance, tourists are more interested in an encounter with gorillas because they are generally endangered primates.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
How Much Time Do You Spend With Mountain Gorillas?
You are only allowed to spend an hour with the gorillas after tracking them. You could spend all day admiring a troop of gorillas if there were no time restrictions. Their family structure and behavior seem so familiar. A dominant silverback is constantly on the lookout for potential troublemakers, while cheeky and obstinate young animals climb short trees, females nurse their young, and adults groom one another. Gorillas rest and eat for a large portion of the day.
Except for the mothers, who sleep next to their babies, each member of the group builds a nest for the night as the day comes to an end. A silverback mountain gorilla serves as the leader of each group of gorillas. Leopards and stray males are just two of the many intruders that the silverback gorilla family defends itself against. A charismatic and inspiring leader is a silverback gorilla. Any disobedient group members are swiftly brought to order. You can learn that the silverback gorilla has exclusive rights to each of the group’s females by reading our article on gorilla mating.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
What to Consider When taking pictures of Mountain Gorillas?
During your time spent watching the primates, the Park Rangers will be there to assist you. Remember to bring your camera. When taking pictures of gorillas, avoid using flash as it might startle them. Never eat food close to a gorilla; keep it at least 7 meters away. Keep in mind that there won’t be a fence separating you from the primates. They might decide to come very close to you, which might tempt you to reach out and touch them.
Stay away from young gorillas and avoid touching them to avoid waking up mom and the silverback. The silverback may appear busy, but he or she is constantly watching you. Due to their generally peaceful nature, mountain gorilla charging is extremely uncommon. They simulate charging merely to reaffirm their power. Never flee if a gorilla charges at you. Just be quiet and act submissive until it passes.
As was mentioned earlier, over 50% of gorilla populations have disappeared over the past century. Poaching, habitat loss, and human diseases pose the greatest threat to them. Gorillas are still killed for their meat in Central Africa and either sold to zoos or kept as pets. Primate protection is a top priority for groups like the Mountain Gorilla Fund and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
Gorilla Trekking in Africa
What Makes Mountain Gorilla Trekking So Appealing?
Zoos only have Western Lowland gorillas on display. Only the three remaining subspecies mountain gorillas, cross-river gorillas, and eastern lowland gorillas can be found in the wild. The thrill of spotting a gorilla in the wild is exciting because they are uncommon. Seeing gorillas in the wild is rare because they are all considered endangered. Because it is a means of aiding in the conservation of gorillas, Mountain Gorilla Trekking is also significant. The revenue generated from gorilla permits is used to fund park ranger training, combat poaching efforts, and infrastructure development for gorilla habitat communities.
The likelihood of gorilla harm decreases when these communities recognize the advantages of tourism. And finally, one of our closest relatives is the gorilla. Their DNA resembles ours by 98 percent. Tracking gorillas is much more enjoyable because it takes you deep into Africa’s jungles where you’ll find pristine wilderness, rare birds, smaller primates, and other unusual creatures. Why go see elephants and ignore a creature that behaves and looks like we humans? The price of gorilla safaris is a topic that might be of interest to you.
Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
Where To Go for Mountain Gorilla Trekking.
Numerous African nations offer Mountain Gorilla Trekking excursions. Choose the gorilla subspecies in which you are most interested. The swamps and rain forests of West and Central Africa are home to Western Lowland gorillas. Only Cameroon and Nigeria are home to Cross River gorillas. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the only location where you can find Eastern Lowland Gorillas, the largest gorilla subspecies. Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda all have mountain gorilla populations.
Tourists prefer to go on mountain gorilla treks. Why? Because they reside in locations with better transportation and infrastructure. Western lowland gorillas reside in impenetrable forests that are incredibly remote.
Volcanoes National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
One may have to travel through extremely dense forests for weeks to get to them. Additionally, it is generally safer to trek with mountain gorillas. It is generally safe to trek with gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The two national parks are regarded as one of the best places to see gorillas. You can see why tourists feel more at ease going Mountain Gorilla Trekking in these two nations when compared to the unrest in some regions of West and Central Africa. We heartily advise going Mountain Gorilla Trekking in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kahuzi-Biega National Park after seeing mountain gorillas. The untainted wilderness and an aspect of Africa that will leave you speechless will be revealed to you.
Volcanoes National Park
When To Go On A Gorilla Trekking Tour?
The entire year is dedicated to Mountain Gorilla Trekking. However, the best time to see primates is during the drier seasons because they are rainforest dwellers. Near the equator are Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Accordingly, they have two seasons that are rainy and two seasons that are dry. Typically beginning in December and lasting until the beginning of March is the first dry season. The second rainy season begins in June and lasts until early October.
Given that the primates live in rainforests, it is important to keep in mind that it may drizzle at any time of the year. Africa’s rainfall patterns have changed as a result of global warming. As a result, rain can fall even during the dry seasons. The forest is less dense and the final encounter with the primates is unaffected by rain during the dry season, which is preferred by tourists. The likelihood of falling is reduced because the forest trails are less muddy.
What Is Required For A Mountain Gorilla Trekking Tour?
Even though everyone can go Mountain Gorilla Trekking, you still need to be in good shape to finish a hike. You should read about Mountain Gorilla Trekking for the elderly if you are elderly, in poor physical condition, or disabled. Regardless of the difficulties that lie ahead, you must also be physically and mentally prepared to complete the activity.
Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Forest
Packing appropriate hiking boots, double-layered socks, gaiters, rain jackets, and insect repellents is considered preparation. When out in search of gorillas, don’t forget to bring water and a small snack. The same diseases that affect humans also affect gorillas. The gorillas will not allow anyone to get close to them if they have the flu, the cold, or another contagious illness.
These days, there is a greater than 98 percent chance of seeing a mountain gorilla in the wild. Because tourists are sent ahead of trackers, this occurs. This highly skilled team of trackers aids in pinpointing the precise location of the gorilla group and directs the team in charge of tourists using radio calls. While there is no guarantee that you will see the primates while tracking, the likelihood is very high.
