Chances of Seeing Gorillas in Rwanda

Is it a guarantee to see gorillas on a trek? This is the most asked question by all the travelers planning a gorilla safari to Rwanda. The truth is that there is no single traveler who will guarantee travelers an opportunity to see the mountain gorillas but the chances of meeting and interacting with these endangered species are 99.9%. Since the start of gorilla tourism, there is no record of any traveler who has ever failed to see the mountain gorillas. These primates are ever on the move and their movements cannot be controlled but the travelers are always assured of meeting and spending time with the human’s closest relatives.  It can be so frustrating to pay $1500 in Rwanda and fail to see the world’s primates. Though no guarantee for travelers to see mountain gorillas, there are great chances of seeing these gentle giants, and the reasons for the assurance include;

 

The pre-trekking check by the park rangers.

In the evening hours of each day, park rangers hike into the gorilla parks following up on the gorillas. This assures them of where each gorilla family has spent a night. Early in the morning, the ranger guides, together with travelers, will take the same route where specific gorilla families slept. With this, travelers are 99% assured of seeing the endangered gorillas

Gorilla family allocation systems

In Rwanda and other gorilla parks, gorilla treks are in three categories. The short treks, medium treks, and higher treks.  Gorilla families are allocated to travelers depending on their hiking abilities.  The elderly and physically challenged people are given short gorilla treks, enabling them to see gorillas without hiking for so long. The young and energetic are given high treks, but with the energy, they manage to trek up to where the endangered gorillas are

Early booking and preparations:

For soft reservations and a detailed gorilla trekking strategy, all the guests awaiting gorilla tours are required to book as early as three months before the trekking date. Early booking helps tour operators to secure gorilla permits in time, avoiding any disappointment of failing to get a gorilla permit at a later date. Also during the reservation process, the travelers are reminded to do enough exercises in preparation for the hikes, hence making them ready to move through the jungle with no difficulties. More so the travelers must pack essential items like hiking boots, hand gloves, sunglasses, long pants, jackets, long pants to deal with the unpredictable weather in the forest.

In conclusion, therefore, gorilla trekking is a life-changing experience that happens once in a lifetime. The travelers are assured of meeting these gentle giants in the wild, spend time with them and take as many photos as possible for memories.