Gorilla Trekking in Africa : All You Need To Know

Gorilla Trekking in Africa: All You Need To Know

Gorilla Trekking in Africa : All You Need To Know : Standing quietly in the lush rainforest watching a gorilla family head by a watchful but benevolent silverback male, this scene will make all the efforts of your gorilla trek disappear in thin air in an instant. Spend one enchanting hour with these gentle giants, in this intimate hour an odd sense of familiarity settles on you. Watch gorilla babies rough and tumble like wrestlers, maternal females gather in groups for grooming, occasionally reprimanding the little ones, while the patriarchal silverback keeps a protective eye on the surrounding.

Gorilla Trekking in Africa offers one of the most profound wildlife encounters on the continent. With a few numbers of gorillas left in the wilderness, gorillas are so rare that trekkers are able to identify them by their individual names, their faces and personalities easily.

Mountain gorillas only survive in their natural habitats, they cannot survive in captivity. Their last remaining populations are only found in the rainforests of Central Africa in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. Thanks to the income earned from gorilla trekking tourism, mountain gorilla populations are slowly in the increase and scouts, individuals who were once poachers of gorillas and other primates are now their protectors and earn a living from safe guarding once what they killed.

Spending time with gorillas in the wild is by far one of the most transformative and up-close wildlife experience in Africa. A face –to-face encounter with these great apes in Africa’s gorilla parks of Uganda, Rwanda and DR.Congo will reward you with soul-stirring memories that will stay with you forever.

Why Go Gorilla Trekking?

Mountain gorillas can only survive in the wild, you cannot not see these primates in a zoo which makes trekking to see them in their natural habitat a one-in-a lifetime journey. Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park are the best places to see mountain gorillas.

Due to deforestation and poaching, mountain gorillas are listed as critically endangered. Their population has dwindled to an estimated 900 individuals, clinging on to survival in these two remote parks.

The political unrest, bush meat hunting and timber have negatively impacted the survival of both mountain gorillas and the western lowland gorillas – the smaller and less shaggy cousins of mountain gorillas. They live in lowland swampland, primary and secondary forests and are critically endangered. Through gorilla trekking tourism, those living around Congo’s Odzala – Kakoua National Park have started to place a higher value on conservation. Thanks to job opportunities and investment in the area, communities are working with research and tourism project towards a stronger future for the Congo Basin and all its inhabitants. Odzala-Kokoua National Park is a sanctuary for about 100 mammal species and one of the most diverse primate populations in Africa.

About Gorilla Trekking

Trekking for gorillas in the mountainous rainforests often means hours of hiking on steep, narrow footpaths and walking through dense jungle behind a scout who slashes a path through the foliage with a machete. To conquer the trek you need to be at least walking fit, the guides ensure you take plenty of breaks and properly equipped for a tough environment.

We recommended well-fitting hiking boots that protect your ankles, double-layered socks (cotton inners and thick outers) plus knee-high gaiters. Please be aware that gorillas are highly susceptible to human illnesses, you will not be allowed to go on a gorilla trek if you have a cold or any other contagious illness.

When To Go Gorilla Trekking?

Rwanda and Uganda share a common climate and although gorilla trekking is considered a year round experience, the best time to visit the rainforests to trek the gorillas is during one of the two dry seasons. Middle December to February and early June to late September are the best periods presenting comfortable trekking condition, still the conditions are very humid and wet with plenty of mud (so don’t forget your gaiters).

In the Congo Basin’s equatorial rainforest, rain is an essential part of ecosystem and its seasons can be aptly described as wet, wetter and wettest. Gorilla trekking in Congo is easier during the low rainfall season, running from June to September, and the gentle rainfall season from December to February. July to August is considered the least wet and coolest time of the year.

Frequently Asked Questions by Travelers

1. Will I Definitely See Gorillas?

Gorillas are closely monitored either by researchers or trackers, because of this they are in touch with them every day. Guided know more or less where the different gorilla families are, and you probably have a 99% chances of seeing them. Of course, there are no guaranteed with wild animals and an overnight thunderstorm or unexpected encounter with a predator may cause a gorilla family to move unexpectedly in a completely different location, but it is likely that scouts will pick up their trail again soon. It is very seldom that travelers don’t find these gentle apes during a gorilla trekking expedition.

When you do find a gorilla family, your ranger will ask you to leave everything but your camera. He will draw you lose enough to observe the gorillas intimately without threatening them. There are no fences between you, only mutual respect.

All the gorillas open for gorilla trekking are habituated to human observers and go about their natural business, foraging, grooming and napping without fear. Do not surprised or startled when a curious youngster comes to you, they are very curious about humans and have a very playful attitude that tests even the patience of their babysitters. The placid nature of the gorilla family is wonderful to see, but remember that your presence is critically observed by Silverback, the patriarch of the family.

We recommend that you spend part of 1 hour taking photos, but at least 20 minutes just observing the gorillas and their family dynamics, you will come away with a far greater sense of having experienced a group of gorillas in their natural habitat.

2. Can I Touch Them?

Absolutely no, yes we understand your instinct and curiosity to touch and cuddle the fluffy and adorable baby. Here are the reasons to why touching gorillas is unacceptable.

• Gorillas are wild animals thus very strong and unpredictable, you can get severely injured.
• Gorilla populations are already under severe threat from poaching,  and human encroachment on their habitat. Plus they are highly susceptible to human diseases. Not only can you interact with them but you will have to keep a distance of at least seven meters (22 feet) at all time. In some instances, wear a face mask. If you are ill, you will not be allowed to go on a gorilla trek, so ensure you are in excellent health before you travel and take precautions not to pick up a bug or virus on the flight over.

Remember, once you find the gorillas, you are allowed only an hour with them so as to not cause them distress. This passes by in a flash, so don’t spend all your time taking pictures, put your camera down after a few minutes and just watch them, grateful that you have the rare privilege of seeing these giants in the wild.

3. Do I Have To Use A Porter?

Yes you need a porter and we strongly encourage you to use one, even if you are fit enough to cope with the terrain, altitude, humidity and your daypack, services of a porter come in handy. For a nominal amount of around usd20, you will providing a livelihood to several inhabitants of a nearby village.

Porters are often former poachers and residents of the villages near the gorillas, without work and the ability to earn a living within gorilla conservation, many will be forced to return to finding and capturing or killing the gorillas for bush meat or illegal wildlife-trafficking trade.  The incentives offered by poaching groups can be very lucrative for impoverished villages with few other ways of earning a living. It is better to graciously accept their help and pay a fee, which they will use to buy necessities at home and also help ensure the continued conservation of gorillas.

4. How Fit Do I Have to Be

Gorilla trekking is a strenuous activity, so the fitter you are, the better. However, this doesn’t mean that you need to be able to complete a triathlon or bench press three times your body to go gorilla trekking.

Trekkers are divided into groups of similar age and fitness levels, and the oldest and least fit people will generally be allocated the gorilla family that is nearest the starting point. The fittest or youngest people will be chosen to find the furthest gorilla group, your guided are very experienced in assessing how the group is coping and will stop when necessary for a break, to drink water, admire a view or even have a snack. Packed lunch contain water and perhaps energy-rich items like roasted cashews or peanuts, bananas, apples, chocolate bars, muffins, small sandwich or bread rolls, and local treats like rolled eggs – a kind of omelet eaten cold.

The trek is always easiest in the dry season. In the wet season, the mud can make trails slippery and the trek tougher. Primates may also seek refuge from the rain in nests or trees, making them harder to find and see. Take lightweight binoculars along to really bring their antics and expressions into focus.

Not all gorilla families will be munching leaves and basking in the sunshine, some will be on the move. And they are a lot better adapted to moving through their rainforest home than we are, so you will need to be able to keep up.

5. Can Children Go Gorilla Trekking

The minimum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo is 15 years. This restriction is in place due to several important factors.

• Children may find it challenging to remain calm if a gorilla mock charges during the trekking experience. While wild mountain gorillas rarely charge, it can happen if they perceive anyone in the trekking group as a threat. However, an experienced and calm tracker can often deter a charging gorilla. Unfortunately, a child may become terrified, scream, or be inclined to run when faced with the intimidating bark of 180-kilogram silver. In such situations, a charging gorilla will typically give chase to a running tourist.
• Children pose health risks during gorilla trekking, as their developing immune systems make them more susceptible to contagious diseases like flue. Since these diseases can be transmitted to gorillas, the consequences can be severe and potentially fatal to the gorilla population.
• Children have limited stamina which could make it arduous for them to complete the entire trek. This is particularly relevant in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Uganda Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where gorilla trekking involves traversing steep mountain slopes and demanding terrain. Gorilla Trekking Experience requires a certain level of fitness and determination, which mature travelers are more likely to possess. Generally adults are better prepared to handle challenges like muddy trails, insects, thick forests and steep inclines.

If you are traveling with children, we recommend booking your stay at a lodge that offer child minding services, special programs for kids or even safe and child-friendly forest walks.

Because gorillas are critically endangered, trekking is carefully regulated in Africa’s gorilla parks. Gorilla permits are costly and hard to secure and cannot be held on provisional basis. Traveling to these remote destination and ensuring the best chances for a successful gorilla trek requires a direct experience and local knowledge that you get from an Africa Safari Experts. Get in touch with our Expert Consultants to help you.