Gorilla trekking Souvenir Shopping – buy from the local store – directly from the craftsmen (of course women too do make these souvenirs).
Gorilla trekking Souvenir Shopping is the immediate activity for most trekkers after successfully getting to see the mountain gorillas. It’s a tradition that locals will display various handmade art & craft souvenirs of mountain gorilla key rings, Wall mask, walking Sticks, gorilla Badges, Gorilla fridge magnet, fabrics, framed gorilla group photos, bracelets etc…They are hoping they buy something to take home as a souvenir.
MUST I REALLY SPEND ON GORILLA TREKKING SOUVENIR SHOPPING?
I bet you think!! hmmm… I just forked out a lot of cash to finance this gorilla trekking safari – holiday. You are therefore thinking hard about spending any extra dollars on souvenirs. If you were able to pay for a gorilla trekking permit (US$600/$450 in Uganda or US$750 in Rwanda) is spending an extra US$100 on gorilla trekking souvenir shopping going to cripple your savings? Definitely a big NOPE!!
WHY SHOULD I INDULGE IN GORILLA TREKKING SOUVENIR SHOPPING?
Gorilla trekking Souvenir shopping is an act of responsible tourism – we like to emphasise to all travellers. The mountain gorilla population is world-widely threatened with only just a few over 840 still surviving. A lot of conservation strategies have been put into place to ensure the mountain gorillas don’t go extinct. Among these strategies was complete gazetting of the mountain gorilla habitats to protect and control poaching. As a result of the forest being gazetted as a National park, people that once lived in this forest were evicted from the forest and now live outside the protected gorilla parks. Previously hunters and fruit gatherers, these people have had to adapt to a new lifestyle outside the forest, they have been involved in making art & craft pieces that they sell to trekkers as souvenirs to take back with them after a successful gorilla trekking journey to Africa. The money that you pay to them is what they use to pay school fees, buy scholastic material for their school going children.
Special Note: Most – if not all gorilla trekking Countries ( Rwanda & Uganda) accept souvenir export. However, we advise that you check with your country policies on souvenir imports.
Finally ,many hotels & lodges you will be staying at during your gorilla trekking safari – holiday to Africa operate in-house souvenir shops labelled ” African Art & Craft Shop” with preceding statements like “buy a basket to support a woman” just a few actually directly benefit the community – it’s why we like to say “please buy directly from the local store”. Your driver guide will help you identify a chain for the locally owned store and also help you with your gorilla trekking souvenir shopping experience – buy local – Support local community development.
