What is Gorilla trekking? Gorilla trekking means going through a deep jungle in order to find wild gorillas. Before coming across a family of gorillas, participants in the excursion must go through a dense forest, a river, and a stream, as well as some steep hills. Park Rangers who specialize in gorilla trekking frequently cut temporary trails through the underbrush with machetes to lead the tour. Apart from game drive, gorilla trekking is one of the most incredible wildlife activities in Africa. Sometimes it is comparable to or even superior to safari game drives to see the Big 5 (lions, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards, and elephants) in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro crater or great wildebeest migration in Tanzania’s Serengeti national park and Kenya’s Maasai mara national reserve. Because it takes you on an encounter with a creature that resembles or behaves like us humans, gorilla trekking is more expensive and special compared to other African safaris such as game drive and walking safari.
You are only permitted to spend an hour with the gorillas after tracking them. You could observe a troop of gorillas for the entire day if there was no time restriction. Their actions and family structure seem so similar. You’ll watch sly and obstinate young animals scaling small branches, nursing mothers, adults grooming one another, and the dominant gorilla constantly scanning the area for potential troublemakers.
Gorillas relax and eat for a large portion of the day. With the exception of the mothers, who sleep next to their babies, each member of the colony builds a nest for the night as the day comes to a conclusion. A silverback gorilla is in charge of each gorilla troop. Silverback gorillas defend the family from various types of intruders, including leopards and wayward males.
The park rangers will be on hand to provide guidance while you watch the primates. Remember to bring your camera. When photographing gorillas, avoid using flash because it could startle them. Never eat food close to a gorilla; keep at least 7 meters away from them. Just keep in mind that there won’t be a barrier separating you from the primates. They may choose to approach you closely, which may tempt you to reach out and touch them. To avoid alerting mom and the other gorillas, avoid touching a gorilla and stay away from babies.
Because gorillas are typically gentle primates, charging by one is quite uncommon. They simulate charging merely to reaffirm their might. Never flee in the event that a gorilla charges at you. Just keep quiet and present a meek demeanor till it passes. As was already said, almost 50% of gorilla populations have disappeared during the past century. Loss of habitat, poaching, and human diseases pose the greatest threats to them. Gorillas are still killed for their meat and sold to zoos or kept as pets in Central Africa. To safeguard the primates, groups like the Mountain Gorilla Fund and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund are working nonstop.
Why should you go for gorilla trekking safari?
Zoos only have Western Lowland gorillas on display. Only the wild populations of the other three gorilla subspecies (mountain gorillas, cross-river gorillas, and eastern lowland gorillas) can be visited in their natural habitats in the forest. Although they are uncommon, it is thrilling to see them in the wild. Due to the fact that all gorilla species are threatened with extinction, seeing one in the wild is particularly exciting. The fact that gorilla trekking is a means of aiding in the preservation of the species makes it essential as well.
Another reason of why you should go for gorilla trekking is that they are one of our closest cousins. Their DNA resembles ours by 98%. Why visit an elephant park while ignoring a creature that functions and looks like us? In addition, tracking gorillas is far more enjoyable because it takes you deep into the African jungles, where you can spot pure wildness, birds, smaller primates, and other unusual animals.
Where to go for gorilla trekking
There are gorilla treks available in many African nations. You must choose the gorilla subspecies in which you are most interested. In the marshes and rain forests of West and Central Africa, one can find western lowland gorillas. Only Cameroon and Nigeria are home to the Cross River gorilla. Only the Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to the largest gorilla subspecies, the eastern lowland gorilla. Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are home to mountain gorillas.
The most popular tourist activity is trekking with mountain gorillas. Why? Because their homes are in more accessible locations with better infrastructure. Western lowland gorillas are found in extremely secluded, impenetrable forests. One could have to spend weeks making their way through incredibly dense forests to reach them. Trekking with mountain gorillas is also typically safer. It is normally safe to trek with gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. According to experts, one of the finest areas to watch gorillas is in these two national parks.
When you contrast that with the unrest in some regions of West and Central Africa, it becomes clear why visitors feel safer going gorilla trekking in these two nations. We highly recommend going gorilla trekking in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kahuzi-Biega National Park after seeing mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda. You’ll come across an unspoiled environment and a side of Africa that will make you gasp for air.
The best time for gorilla trekking
The gorillas trekking safari is possible all year long. The greatest time to see primates, though, is during the dry seasons because they are found in rain forests. Due to the fact that they are near the equator Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo have two seasons of rain and two seasons of drought. The first dry season typically begins in December and lasts until the beginning of March. Beginning in June and lasting through early October, is the second rainy season. Given that the primates live in rain forests, it is crucial to keep in mind that it may rain at any time of the year. Africa’s rain patterns have shifted as a result of global warming. As a result, rain might fall even during the dry seasons.
What do you need for gorilla trekking?
Even though everyone can go gorilla trekking, you still need to be in decent shape to finish a hike. You should read about gorilla trekking for the elderly if you are an elderly, infirm, or crippled person. In addition, you must be both physically and mentally prepared to finish the task, no matter what obstacles lie ahead. Packing appropriate hiking boots, double-layered socks, gaiters, rain jackets, and bug repellents are all examples of preparation. When embarking on a gorilla tracking expedition, don’t forget to bring water and a light meal. No one will be permitted to go close to the gorillas if they have the flu, a cold, or another contagious illness.
What is the likelihood of encountering gorillas during your gorilla trekking tour? More than 98% of the time, mountain gorillas can be seen in the wild. This is due to the fact that trackers are dispatched before tourists. These early trackers aid in pinpointing the precise location of the gorilla troop and directing the crew in charge of the tourists using radio communications. While there is no certainty that you will observe the primates while tracking, the likelihood is very high.
