Gorilla trekking is an active adventurous activity that involves long and physically demanding walks to find Gorillas in the Wild. However, the elevation or altitude that you will be walking at will differ depending on the type or kind of Gorillas you are visiting;
- Mountain Gorillas found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda & Rwanda live in high-altitude forests at elevations of 8,000 to 13,000 feet (2,400 to 4,000 meters). They have a thicker layering of fur to help them survive at these altitudes. Gorilla trekking in Uganda takes place at altitudes between 1,160 and 2,607 meters. In Rwanda, gorilla treks can reach altitudes of 2,500 to 4,000 meters.
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- Learn more about Gorilla Trekking in Uganda.
- Learn more about Gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
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Eastern lowland gorillas found in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. We don’t organise trips to this part.Western lowland gorillas are the most widespread gorilla subspecies, living in forests and swamplands across central and west Africa. They are found in; Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of the Congo.We don’t organise trips to this part.
- Gorilla trekking In Africa:
- There are only three (03) places in Africa where you can track & find, photograph, and see Mountain Gorillas in the Wild; DR Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. However, Uganda & Rwanda currently remain the safest Places to travel to for Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Africa. We recommend booking your gorilla tour through a local gorilla tour company like Realm Africa Safaris™. We have been listed on the Bwindi Website about Gorilla Trekking.
- For Planning purposes, let’s understand Gorilla Trekking
- What is gorilla trekking?
- Gorilla trekking is a fully active adventure experience that involves hiking up uneven terrain and mountains and through tangled vegetation cover hacked by rangers and porters using machetes to create a temporary passage to the gorillas. The type of gorillas you are trekking to see is the rare mountain gorillas.
- Where to do gorilla trekking?
- Mountain Gorilla tracking in Africa can only be done in three (03) countries; Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo. Uganda and Rwanda are considered the Safest Places to see Mountain Gorillas. DR Congo, unfortunately, suffers ongoing political unrest which makes it unsafe to visit at the moment. (see: Why DR. Congo is considered unsafe for Gorilla tracking)
- In Uganda, Gorillas can be seen in two (02) National Parks; Bwindi Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
- In Rwanda, Gorilla trekking is done in Volcanoes National Park and nowhere else.
- Learn more about the Best Place to trek Gorillas: Uganda or Rwanda?
- What is the Cost or Price Of Gorilla Permits?
- Gorilla Permits in Uganda cost $800 per person to trek in either Bwindi or Mgahinga National Parks
- In Rwanda, Gorilla permits cost $1,500 per person to trek gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.
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**Both permit fees mentioned include; park entry fees, 0ne (01) gorilla trekking permit and guide fees.
- When is the best time to go gorilla tracking?
- Although Gorilla tracking can happen anytime all year round come rain or sunshine, the best time to go gorilla tracking is in the dry season months of June to August and December to February. During this time, the trails and drier and less slippery. Trekkers are likely to enjoy a fairly drier gorilla trekking experience and good weather for photography.
- What to expect during gorilla trekking.
- Your morning on the day of the trek starts with you getting dressed up in the appropriate gorilla trekking gear and outfit (see: Gorilla trekking Clothing & Gear). You will then be transferred by your guide to the respective gorilla briefing point where you will be briefed about gorilla trekking, and the dos & don’ts ( see: gorilla trekking rules). After the briefing, you will walk into the forest and start your gorilla tracking experience in the company of UWA/ RDB rangers who will interpret the plants, birds, insects, and anything of interest in the forest. On finding the gorillas, you will be allowed a maximum viewing and photography time frame of one (01) hour. Return to your starting point for a certificate awarding ceremony. The certificates are souvenirs for you to take back at the end of your gorilla Safari.
- What to pack, bring and wear on your gorilla Safari
- Bring & wear a mask the entire trip (See: Best Mask for gorilla tracking)
- Bring & Use Hand sanitiser the entire trip (See: Best hand sanitiser)
- Sturdy Lightweight walking shoes. the lighter the better. (See: Best shoes for gorilla tracking ).
- Long-sleeved shirt and trousers to provide extra body protection against thorny shrubs.
- Long socks that allow you to tuck your pants in to avoid bugs from climbing into your pants while on the trek.
- Rain jacket in case it rains. Remember you are trekking in a tropical rainforest.
- Gaiters (Optional). Don’t spend On new ones. These can well be substituted with long socks to serve the same purpose.
- A camera for your photographic needs. Don’t spend BIG on a camera. if you own an iPhone, it takes amazing pictures, especially under limited forest light.
- Binoculars (optional). They might come in handy when spotting some forest birds. Your ranger guide will have a pair that he is willing to share.
- A hat (optional). This is to keep branches and leaves let alone bugs from falling into your hair.
- Drinking water. Realm Africa Safaris™ will provide adequate bottled drinking water for the entire trip.
- Packed Lunch. Realm Africa Safaris™ will take care of this. All our trips include meals unless agreed otherwise
- A Day Pack to carry all your items while on the trek. ** We recommend using a porter to carry your day pack for you (see: why to use a porter for Gorilla trekking)
- Uganda Safaris that include Gorilla Trekking
- Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safaris & Tours
