Where do Gorillas live? Gorillas are some of the most popular primates in the world and gorilla trekking safari is an intriguing lifetime wildlife adventure that involves going in for guided nature walks, hiking steep and hilly areas, navigating through dense thick rain forests and tracking the rare mountain gorillas where you get to spend quality time with a specific gorilla family for at least one hour.
Gorilla trekking safari is an exciting adventure, quite costly but worth every penny spent. Only roughly 1,000 mountain gorillas survive in the wild today, and only three nations are fortunate enough to have these ape-like primates in their Virunga ranges. All gorilla trekking safari activities are available in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.
Trekkers are given instructions by park rangers and guides on where to track gorillas, what to do and what not to do, and how to make the most of their exciting and unforgettable safari adventure. After that, trekkers are split up into groups of no more than 8 individuals, and each group is tasked with tracking a specific gorilla family in its natural habitat.
Countries and National Parks where Gorillas Live.
Uganda.
Uganda is fortunate enough to be home to nearly half of the world’s remaining 1,000 mountain gorillas, making it one of the most privileged countries in the world. Gorilla trekking safari has become very popular in Uganda as a result of the country’s increased popularity both within and across the continent.
The nation has had nothing but success in the travel and tourism industry, and it is among the best locations to see the critically endangered mountain gorillas. There exist just two locations in Uganda where one can go gorilla trekking: the extensive Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park, which is Uganda’s smallest national park.
With roughly 468 gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the largest habitat for the mountain gorilla species in the Virunga region. This gorilla trekking destination is characterized by hilly terrain and dense rain forests, making it nearly impenetrable as its name suggests.
Gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi can actually take up to five hours depending on the location of the assigned gorilla family group to track. Although tracking gorillas is not always possible because they occasionally venture farther into the dense forests in quest of food, it is typically assigned to the less physically fit tourists.
Rwanda and Congo.
The rest of the two gorilla trekking safari destinations are Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Rwanda is the Volcanoes National Park, which is also the greatest location to see and interact with the critically endangered mountain gorillas. There are roughly twelve family groups that are accustomed to Volcanoes National Park.
Additionally, there are two locations in Congo where one can go gorilla trekking: Kahuzi-Biega National Park for Eastern lowland gorillas and Virunga National Park for mountain gorillas. Because DRC is the only place to go gorilla trekking in Eastern lowland gorillas, it has a unique advantage. In the Virunga National Park, there are roughly eight habituated gorilla family groups: Humba, Lulengo, Munyanga, Rugendo, Bageni, and Nyakamwe.
How Much Does Gorilla Trekking Cost?
Each of the three locations for gorilla trekking has a different gorilla trekking cost. When it comes to gorilla trekking permits, Rwanda is the most costly country. There have been efforts in the country to boost luxury tourism hence it offers high end services for most of its visitors.
In Rwanda, gorilla trekking permits cost approximately $1,500 per person per day; in Uganda, the cost is somewhat lower, at roughly $800 per person per day. At $400, the Democratic Republic of the Congo offers the most affordable gorilla trekking permits.
When to Do Gorilla Trekking.
The reality that gorilla trekking safari involves hiking, long nature walks and navigating through thick dense forests, the best time to do this fascinating tourism activity and have the best out of it is the dry season of the month.
The best time of year for all gorilla trekking safari activities is during the dry season, which runs from June to September and December to February. In addition to being easier to walk through in the mild weather, trekking routes are also less muddy and slippery than they are during the wet, rainy season.
Since the lush vegetation is short-lived, visiting during the dry season offers travelers breathtaking views of the local wildlife and plant life in gorilla trekking destinations.
