Is gorilla trekking experience worth the cost?

Is gorilla trekking experience worth the cost? Tracking mountain gorillas in the wild is everyone’s dream. It is a magical experience worth your money, time, your trip to Africa and it is totally distinct from the usual game drives in Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park or Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Mountain gorillas dwell only in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). They remain fewer than 1063 individuals today with nearly half of them thriving in Uganda. In Uganda, gorilla tours to see these rare apes are only conducted in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Gorilla safaris in Rwanda are carried out in Volcanoes National Park also well-known as Parc Nationale des Volcans. In the DRC, tourists on gorilla trekking tour can explore the jungles of the Virunga National Park to see these unusual apes. Amazingly, visitors on Congo gorilla safaris can also incorporate mountain gorilla adventures with Eastern lowland gorilla trekking experience in Kahuzi-Biega National Park.

Is gorilla trekking experience worth the cost?

Gorilla trekking experience is worth the cost, time, energy and your visit to Uganda, Rwanda and DRC to view mountain gorillas. Firstly, mountain gorilla conservation and protection initiatives require financial support. A portion of the money generated from gorilla trekking permits is used to facilitate research activities especially on their health status, treating these apes and also help habituate different gorilla families.

The cost of gorilla trekking permits also covers park ranger fees who tirelessly work to ensure these endangered primates and other wildlife species are well-protected in their natural habitat. Note, mountain gorillas remain not more than 1063 in the world and they exist only in 3 African states; Uganda, Rwanda and DRC. They still remain highly threatened due to poaching, habitat loss and human infectious diseases.

The cost of gorilla trekking permits in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC covers park ranger guide and advance park trackers services. On actual gorilla trek, every group of 8 visitors is assigned to an armed and experienced park ranger guide. This is to ensure you are safe while in the wild to search for mountain gorillas. The park trackers are usually sent early to ascertain the location of gorilla families before visitors start their trek at 8:00am.

Gorilla conservation is a collective responsibility and to ensure the set goal is achieved, respective conservation authorities have to involve local communities adjacent to gorilla safari parks. In Uganda for instance, 20% of the fees collected from visitor is given back to support local community projects as a way to help boost gorilla and wildlife conservation as well as help the local residents embrace gorilla tourism.

After a long day of search, you will have one hour to strike your imaginations with a habituated gorilla family. An encounter with a group of these massive is such a mesmerizing experience and can’t be equated to any amount.

The cost of gorilla trekking permit also includes park entrance fees to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Volcanoes National Park or the Virunga National Park. This allows you to engage in a trek to interact with a habituated gorilla group family during the one hour of magical encounter.

The overall cost of gorilla trekking safari covers accommodation, transport, safari driver guide and gorilla permits. The cost of gorilla permits in Uganda isn’t the same for Rwanda or DRC. In Uganda, gorilla permits are issued at US Dollars 700 if you are a foreign non-resident, US Dollars 600 for foreign residents and Uganda shillings 250000 for East African citizens.

Rwanda issues out her gorilla trekking permits at US Dollars 1500 and in DRC, you can book for a gorilla permit at US Dollars 450. You are advised to book for your gorilla permit in Uganda, Rwanda or DRC early enough and don’t wait to do things at a last minute.