Mountain gorilla trekking is a once in a lifetime and a very unforgettable experience where one trek through thick vegetation, and steep and challenging mount slopes to encounter the gorillas in their natural habitat. Gorilla trekking is only possible in the Virunga region and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The Virunga region is comprised of three gorilla National Parks namely Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is known to harbor half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population and the highest number of habituated gorilla families followed by Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and therefore standing out to be the best gorilla trekking destination. One can also trek gorillas in Mgahinga National Park of Uganda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. For one to trek gorillas, he or she must plan ahead of time with a professional tour operator to embark on a successful gorilla safari from France. Therefore there are steps one should follow in preparation for gorilla trekking in the above gorilla destinations from France which include the following;
Endeavor to obtain the necessary documents which may include;
A valid passport; it’s one’s mandate to ensure that he/she has a valid passport that is 6 months ahead of one’s planned dates of travel.
A tourist visa; one should check for travel requirements to any of the above gorilla trekking destinations. For instance, people travelling from France require a tourist visa to access gorilla destinations. Visas can be obtained online or from embassies of gorilla destination countries in France for example Ugandan embassy, Rwandan embassy, and others. However one can also apply for an East African visa that will allow you access to East African countries which are the host gorilla trekking countries. The visa allows you up to 30 days of stay.
A valid yellow fever vaccination card; yellow fever is one of the killer diseases that can badly affect mountain gorillas. Therefore for one to visit these gorilla countries, he/she must have been vaccinated against yellow fever and must present a valid yellow fever vaccination card.
Travel insurance; purchasing comprehensive travel insurance is necessary since it helps one cover his or her medical emergencies, evacuations, trip cancellations, and many more.
Pack appropriate gorilla trekking items; these items may include waterproof hiking shoes, long-sleeved shirts and trousers, insect repellants, waterproof raincoat, face mask, garden gloves, binoculars, and a camera with extra batteries to mention but a few.
Currency and finances; it is advisable to make currency exchange into local currencies for example Uganda shillings, Rwandan Franc, and Congolese Franc depending on the country one is visiting for gorilla trekking. However many visa cards and credit cards are accepted, so it is advisable to carry some local currency cash with you while traveling to remote parts of the country.
Planning and confirming your itinerary; this is where your tour operator plays a crucial role in helping you decide on the number of days for your safari as well as the activities one would wish to complement with gorilla trekking. Accommodation types are decided here as well as meal types, modes of transportation, and many more.
Gorilla trekking permit; this is a card issued by the government regulating bodies of gorilla National Parks in their respective countries for example the Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda, Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda, and the Virunga Tourism offices in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Gorilla trekking permits are booked in advance prior to the needed dates with a help of tour operators on ground like Glory summit tours and travel. The gorilla permit is an essential document for gorilla trekking since possessing it is the only way one can access gorillas in their natural habitats. A gorilla trekking permit in Uganda for foreign non-residents per person costs 800USD, 1,500USD in Rwanda and 400USD in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Gorilla trekking experience
Our driver guide is always waiting to receive you upon your arrival at the airport, take you through a briefing about your gorilla safari while highlighting your expectations before you hit the road to your gorilla trekking destination. Accommodation facilities are always booked in advance implying that they will be waiting and ready to receive you. Early in the morning, you are transferred to the Park headquarters for a briefing which is mandatory about what is expected of you during gorilla trekking. Important information is communicated by Park rangers including safety guide lines, how to behave while close to the gorillas for example keeping a 7 meters distance away from the gorilla family. A specific gorilla family is assigned according to one’s physical fitness and ability since accessing some gorilla families may require strenuous hikes through challenging and thick mountain slopes. Gorilla trekking can range from a few minutes to around 6 hours depending on the location and movement of the gorilla family one is visiting. Experienced trackers and rangers are always available to lead you through dense forests, steep slopes slippery and muddy trails to encounter these gentle giants in their natural habitat. Encountering your assigned gorilla family is the most exhilarating moment where you will have a maximum period of an hour observing and taking pictures of these magnificent creatures. This is an opportunity for you to learn about their lifestyle such as feeding, social interactions, grooming and as the little ones play and wrestle. After an hour of interaction with the gorillas, you will trek back to your starting point while you spot other wildlife like forest elephants, various bird species, forest hogs, other primate species and many more waiting to receive your gorilla trekking certificate. This will mark the end of your gorilla trekking to be driven back to your next safari destination or to the airport for your flight back to France waiting to share stories and memories with family and friends while reflecting on the experience.
