Rwanda Safaris - Gorilla Tours , Chimpanzees & Big Game Safaris

Common Gorilla Trekking Questions & Answers on Rwanda Safaris

Oftentimes, travelers planning to visit endangered mountain gorillas and other wildlife experiences in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have common questions they ask. At Go Rwanda Safaris, we offer you all answers to frequently asked questions on gorilla trekking and other wildlife experiences in Africa. We offer you guidance on gorilla trips, the best time to visit, costings, what to pack, age limit, best places to visit, and how to ensure safety on your African Safari!These include

Where is the best place to trek gorillas

Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo are the only places to see mountain gorillas. The endangered primates live in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the Virunga Conservation Area shared between Mgahinga, Volcanoes, and Virunga National Parks. Travelers are advised to visit any of the four National Parks or do combined gorilla safaris in all national Parks for accurate gorilla trekking comparisons. Bwindi Forest Park in southwestern Uganda has the highest population of mountain gorillas (21 gorilla families), Volcanoes National park Rwanda is the most accessible gorilla park while Virunga park in Congo offers the cheapest gorilla permits at $450

Is gorilla trekking worth the money?

YES, gorilla trekking is surely worth the money. The magical feeling of looking into the eyes of the endangered gorillas makes it the best wildlife experience in the wild. Gorilla trekking is the most done travel activity attracting a high number of travelers to Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo from all parts of the world. Most of the travelers who have trekked gorillas before testify that the expereince is worth every penny and effort

What’s the cost of gorilla trekking

The cost of gorilla trekking varies in each gorilla country. A single permit in Rwanda costs $1500 while in Congo, a permit costs $450. In Uganda,mountain gorilla permit prices depend on the traveler’s nationality. Each gorilla psass in Uganda costs $700 for foreign nonresidents, $600 for foreign residents, and UGX 250,000 for East African citizens. Rwanda, therefore, offers luxury gorilla safaris while Congo offers the most budget gorilla tours. Gorilla permits in Uganda are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority while in Rwanda, the Rwamnda Development Borad is in chareg.

What to pack for gorilla trekking

Travelers visiting gorillas are advised to pack the right wear to ensure safety and a peaceful gorilla trekking experience. The things to carry for gorilla safaris in Africa include hiking boots/shoes, gardening gear, rain jackets, long pants, long-sleeved shirts/blouses, sunglasses, a hat, scarf, and long stockings tucked into the trouser. Other things to carry include insect repellants, a first aid kit, sanitary wear, bottled drinking water, and energy-giving snacks.

When is the best time to trek gorillas?

The dry season in June, July, August, December, January, and February is the best time for trekking mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. There is normally less or no rain during this time which makes it easy to trek and hike through the jungle searching for endangered species. However, you can also trek gorillas in the low season in March, April, May, September, October, and November. The low season attract discounted offers from service providers hence the best best for budget travelers

What is the age limit for gorilla trekking

The allowed age limit for gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo is 15 years. Travelers below 15 years are not allowed to visit and trek the endangered species. The difficulty in gorilla trekking and the endangered nature of mountain gorillas is the reason for the age limit policy

What are the SOPs for gorilla trekking

Since the outbreak of the deadly covid19 pandemic, governments and conservation bodies have put Standard Operating Procedures for gorilla trekking to prevent the transmission of the deadly virus between travelers and the endangered apes. These SOPs include mandatory negative PCR test results, mandatory face masking, sanitizing, keep a distance of 10 meters away from the gorillas. These SOPs and advised along the initial gorilla trekking rules and regulations

How many people are allowed to visit a gorilla family

Each gorilla family is visited by 8 people a day. These people are put in one group and they all set off at once. Gorilla family allocation is done during the pre-gorilla trekking briefing at the start of the trekking day

How much time is spent with gorillas?

The allowed time with the gorillas is strictly an hour. This time is counted from the time traveler set their eyes on the endangered primates. However, travelers can spend over 8 hours in the jungle before meeting the gorillas.

What are the gorilla trekking addons in Africa?

In addition to gorillas, travelers can do other interesting experiences such as game viewing, chimpanzee trekking, volcano climbing, cultural tours, bird watching and nature walks among others