What Is Gorilla Trekking? What is Gorilla trekking? Going through a dense jungle to locate wild gorillas is known as gorilla trekking. The trip’s participants will pass through a dense forest, a river, a stream, and some steep hills before they come across a family of gorillas. In order to lead the tour, park rangers with expertise in gorilla trekking often use machetes to create makeshift trails through the undergrowth. Gorilla trekking safari is among the most amazing wildlife experiences in Africa, second only to game drives. Seeing the Big 5 (lions, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards, and elephants) in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater or the great wildebeest migration in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve can occasionally be on par with or even better than safari game drives. Gorilla trekking is more expensive and unique than other African safaris like game drives and walking safaris because it involves an encounter with a creature that looks or behaves like us humans.
Once you trek the gorillas, you are only allowed to spend an hour with them. If there was no time limit, you could spend the entire day observing a troop of gorillas. Their behavior and family dynamics appear to be very similar. You’ll witness cunning and stubborn juveniles clambering up small branches, nursing mothers, mature gorillas grooming their peers, and the alpha gorilla watching the area intently for possible troublemakers.
For much of the day, gorillas rest and feed. Every member of the colony constructs a nest for the night as the day draws to an end, with the exception of the mothers, who sleep next to their young. Every gorilla troop is led by a silverback gorilla. Silverback gorillas protect their family from predators such as leopards and straying males.
The park rangers will be available to offer assistance as you observe the primates. Don’t forget to bring your camera. Flash photography should be avoided when taking pictures of gorillas as it may frighten them. A gorilla should always be at least 7 metres away from you when you are eating. Just remember that the primates won’t be able to separate from you. They might decide to get up close and personal with you, tempting you to reach out and touch them. Avoid touching gorillas and keep your distance from infants to prevent disturbing mum and the other gorillas.
Gorillas are generally peaceful primates, so it is rare to see one charging. They act like they’re charging just to prove how strong they are. If a gorilla charges at you, never run away. Simply remain silent and behave in a submissive manner until it passes. Nearly 50% of gorilla populations have vanished over the past century, as was previously mentioned. The biggest threats to them are human diseases, habitat loss, and poaching. In Central Africa, gorillas are still killed for their meat and either sold to zoos or kept as pets. Organizations such as the Mountain Gorilla Fund and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund are always working to protect the primates.
Why should you go for gorilla trekking safari?
The only gorillas on display in zoos are Western Lowland ones. Visits to the natural habitats of the three other gorilla subspecies mountain, cross-river, and eastern lowland are restricted to their wild populations. Seeing them in the wild is an exciting experience, even though they are rare. Seeing a gorilla in the wild is especially thrilling because all gorilla species are in danger of going extinct. Additionally indispensable is the fact that gorilla trekking contributes to the conservation of the species.
The fact that gorillas are among our closest cousins is still another reason to go gorilla trekking. Their DNA is 98% similar to ours. What use is it to go to an elephant park and ignore a creature that looks and functions just like us? The fact that trekking gorillas takes you deep into the African jungles, where you can see birds, smaller primates, and other unusual animals, makes the experience even more enjoyable.
Where to go for gorilla trekking.
Gorilla trekking safari is possible in many African countries. You have to decide which gorilla subspecies most interests you. Western lowland gorillas live in the marshes and rain forests of West and Central Africa. The Cross River gorilla is only found in Cameroon and Nigeria. The eastern lowland gorilla, the largest gorilla subspecies, is found only in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mountain gorillas are found in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Trekking with mountain gorillas is the most well-liked tourist activity. Why? Because they have better infrastructure and reside in more accessible areas. The very remote and uninhabitable forests are home to Western lowland gorillas. To get there, one might have to travel through extraordinarily dense forests for weeks. In general, trekking with mountain gorillas is safer. In Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, trekking with gorillas is typically safe. These two national parks are among the best places to see gorillas, according to experts.
You can see why tourists feel safer going gorilla trekking in these two countries when you compare that to the unrest in some parts of West and Central Africa. After witnessing mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda, we heartily recommend going gorilla trekking in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park of the Democratic nation of the Congo. You’ll encounter pristine landscapes and an aspect of Africa that will leave you panting for air.
The best time for gorilla trekking.
You can go on a gorilla trekking safari year-round. However, because primates live in rain forests, the best times to see them are during the dry seasons. Uganda, Rwanda, and the Congo experience two distinct seasons of rainfall and two distinct seasons of drought due to their proximity to the equator. Usually starting in December, the first dry season lasts until the start of March. The second rainy season runs from June to the beginning of October. It’s important to remember that rain can fall at any time of the year because primates inhabit rain forests. Global warming has caused changes in Africa’s rainfall patterns. Rain may therefore fall even during the dry seasons.
What do you need for gorilla trekking?
You still need to be in reasonable physical condition to complete a walk, even though anyone can go gorilla trekking. If you’re an old, sick, or disabled person, you should read up on gorilla trekking for the elderly. You also need to be mentally and physically ready to complete the assignment, regardless of the challenges that may arise. Preparation includes bringing appropriate hiking boots, rain jackets, gaiters, double-layered socks, and bug repellent. Remember to pack water and a light meal for your gorilla tracking expedition. If someone has the flu, a cold, or any other contagious illness, they will not be allowed to get close to the gorillas.
How likely is it that you will see gorillas on your gorilla trekking tour? Mountain gorillas can be spotted in the wild over 98% of the time. This is because trackers are sent out ahead of tourists. By using radio communications, these early trackers help locate the gorilla troop precisely and guide the crew responsible for the tourists. Although there’s no guarantee you’ll see the primates while tracking, there’s a good chance you will.