Mountain Gorilla Trekking - An Out of the Ordinary Travel Experience
By Frank Dalotto
Gorilla trekking is becoming increasingly popular as a tourist activity. Global soft adventure travelers are beginning to add gorilla safaris to their "Bucket List" or "Before I Die" lists as a must do. With only fewer than 700 mountain gorillas remaining in existence, you don't want to wait too long.
The gorilla is the largest primate, weighing as much as 600 lbs or 275
kg. An attractive feature of the mountain gorilla safari is the limited
group size usually not more than 8 travelers to a group.
A one day gorilla trek can take anywhere from one to seven hours, and
are led by experienced and knowledgeable guides and security guards. It
is advised that you book with a reputable tour operator out of Rwanda
or Uganda. The range of accommodations can run from budget to luxury tent
camping with in-tent bathrooms and hot water, and fine dining.
Where Are the Mountain Gorillas located?
The mountain gorillas are located in Africa along the bordering countries
of Rwanda, Uganda and The Congo (DRC).
In Rwanda, the Volcanoes National Park (Parc National des Volcans) is estimated to be the home of approximately 350 of the 700 endangered mountain gorillas. The recent war, poaching and landmines have further endangered the survival of the mountain gorilla but the good news is that with Rwanda's return to stability, the fate of the gorillas has improved and gorilla trekking is prospering. Access to (Parc National des Volcans) is from the Ruhengeri with stunning views of Gahinga, Muhabura, Karisimbi, Mikeno, Sabyinyo, and Visoke volcanoes.
Ruhengeri is a 90-minute drive from Kanombe International Airport in Kigali. In Uganda, the Bwindi National Park, famous for its population of Mountain Gorillas. It is located in the Rukiga Highlands, near the Western Rift Valley and is a very popular destination for gorilla trekking. Created in 1991 Bwindi's Impenetrable Forest is the home to close to half of the world's remaining 600 Mountain Gorillas. The name "Impenetrable" definitely applies here, with dense vegetation and vines in a lush rain forest. In The Congo (DRC), there are some mountain gorillas in Djomba and Bukima. However, at this time extreme caution is needed when travelling to the Congo as its history of instability and violence has reduced the tourist industry and visitors to a crawl.
Who typically goes on a Mountain Gorilla Trek?
Mountain gorilla trekkers range from 15 (minimum age) to 80 years old who are in good physical condition, and are generally people with an interest in having a unique experience unlike any other. They can be simply vacation travelers, photographers, students, and culturalists.
How strenuous is it?
The group, usually no more than eight, moves at a pace geared to the level of all the hikers in the group. The make-up of groups is generally done with consideration given to physical ability.
When to Go?
The rainy season is from March to April and from October to November, but the gorilla's habitat is in the rain forests and it can often rain at any time of year.
Travel can be slower in the rainy season but the views are often better. Gorilla tracking can be muddier, but not impassable. In the mountainous areas it is much colder than on the plains and the rainfall is greater. Just don't be too rigid on this and you should go when it is most convenient, as the rain which is often for short periods, is part of the great experience.
Frank Dalotto is a freelance writer and travel consultant. His specialty is writing articles about New Jersey leisure activities and soft adventure travel. Frank is the publisher of New Jersey Leisure Guide http://www.new-jersey-leisure-guide.com and Soft Adventure Tourism http://www.soft-adventure-tourism.com His academic credentials are: MBA, Pace University BSEE, University of Missouri
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