Questions Usually Asked About Mountain Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda
Much has been known about mountain gorillas in Rwanda, both past and the upcoming trekkers usually ask several questions about mountain gorilla trekking and on how to ensure a better trekking experience. The mountain gorilla trekking experience have drawn many people involving travelers, researchers, school children, and conservationists all aimed at obtaining in-depth information about mountain gorillas. There are about 900-mountain gorillas surviving in the whole world, which make an encounter with these endangered species a remarkable experience for all travelers.
The Price of a Mountain gorilla permit.
About the cost of a gorilla permit, each country that is Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have different costs for the gorilla permit. The price of a gorilla permit in Uganda costs 500usd, Rwanda at 1400usd and 480usd in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Regardless of the difference in permit costs a trek in any destination is unique and different in its own way. Getting the permit at a discounted rate is an advantage for budget trekkers helping them to save some money for other purposes.
The best time to trek.
As mountain gorillas live in the tropical rain forests where there are slippery and muddy grounds, the dry season is the best time for trekking. This is between the months of June to September and then December to February. Gorillas can also be trekked during the wet season to make the trip more adventurous , memorable,and enjoyable . Trekking in the wet season is cheap since permits are discounted to a cheaper rate.
The dressing code for trekking.
Dressing code right for trekking is very helpful and important for every trekker. One has to be wearing hiking boots for easy movements in the slippery grounds and to avoid bites by ground insects, long-sleeved shirts, stretching trousers/panties for the ladies and hand gloves for protection against thorny bushes , sunglasses, hats to protect from direct sun, rain jackets and warm light jackets to provide warmth in the cold forest weather and unpredictable rainfall.One has to be with a walking stick because of the slippery ground. Once a trekker is properly dressed for the jungle, an extraordinary experience is assured.
The dos and don’ts of trekking.
One should keep a seven-meter distance from the mountain gorillas is a must do for all trekkers. Gorillas are the closest relatives to human beings sharing approximately 99.8% DNA making them susceptible to human genes. The distance is meant to prevent the spread of human-wildlife communicable diseases such as flue and cough which are so harmful to the endangered species. More still, trackers are recapped to avoid any close contact with the gorillas even if the endangered species approach trekkers. Non-flash light cameras are the only cameras allowed while taking photographs.
What is the trekking time?
In regards to trekking time, it starts in the early morning after a simple briefing by the park rangers/guides. Once the trekking begins, there is no specific time to spend in the jungle but vary depending on the movements of gorillas and where they slept the previous night. This means that fortunate trekkers can meet the gorillas in a short time as 30 minutes to one hour or else as late as 6 hours if not the whole day. However, whether it takes short of a long time, trekkers are 99.9% sure of meeting the gorillas.
Where mountain gorillas live.
Having only 900 mountain gorillas surviving in the whole world, many people have continuously wondered where these endangered species reside. Mountain gorillas dwell in only two destinations, which are Bwindi impenetrable forest national park in Uganda and the Virunga conservation area shared between Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda, volcanoes national park in Rwanda and the Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This means that for one to see the endangered species, he or she must visit one of the two destinations or the three countries.
Items included in the gorilla trekking permit.
The permit is an inclusion of the park entrance fee, the money for the park rangers who guide during the trekking and other services in the national park except for the accommodation. This means that a permit covers the park entrance and the money for the Rangers.
The age limit for gorilla trekking.
Only tourists aged 15 years and above are allowed to trek mountain gorillas. It’s a mandate that everyone below the age limit (15yrs) cannot be allowed to trek even when he/she has paid or has traveled with a group of other trekkers.
All tourists are advised to read carefully and understand all the above frequently asked questions about gorilla trekking and get appropriate answers before confirming any gorilla trip to Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. All travelers coming to see mountain gorillas should be aware of all the above for an enjoyable and memorable experience with no question unanswered and no interest unfulfilled.
