Gorilla trekking in Africa is done in three countries including Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Visiting the mountain gorillas in the wild is one of the most fantastic adventure wildlife encounter on planet earth. KwitaNzina is also the naming ceremony of the mountain gorillas that is carried out in Rwanda and this same activity attracts many tourists and hasbrought high revenues to the country of Rwanda.

The mountain gorillas are also endangered speciesthat makes life experience of seeing these unique primates in their natural habitants so extra ordinary and very beautiful. These mountain gorillas are over 900 individuals and these are remaining in the world according to national geographic, the real number of these primates that are remaining with in the rain forests is 700. The world Wildlife Fund also estimates that the real number of these gorillas that is remaining is
880 individuals and the opportunity of trekking them in these rain forests is a once life time adventure
and one of the greatest wildlife experiences with in Africa.

The best places known for trekking the mountain gorillas in Africa are the three countries that offer this trek in Africa and these include; Uganda, Rwanda and DRC. All these countries are found in Africa. These are also naturally found within the dense rain forests and are all in central Africa. These areas are also forested mountainous areas that are occupied by the African mountain gorillas. The national parks were the tracking takes place include; Mgahinga National park, Bwindi impenetrableNational park, Volcanoes National park in Rwanda.

Bwindi Forest has got 13 gorilla groups and it’s situated in southern Uganda and Mgahinga national park has got 1 gorilla family. The gorilla families that are found in Bwindi include; Mubare, Rushegura, Habinyanja and these are found in Buhoma sector, the Rushaga sector has got Nshogi, Mishaya,Busingye, Kahungwe and Bweza. Nkuringo family has one group called Nkuringo and Ruhija sector has three families including; Buitukura, Oruzogo and Kyaguriro.

Mgahinga National park has also got one gorilla family which is called Nyakagezi and this group moves between Rwanda and Uganda and in last two past years, the group has been staying in Uganda and it has gorillas including the four silverbacks.

Bwindi impenetrable National park is also known to be UNESCO World Site and it’s here in south western Uganda that has half of the gorilla population totalling to 440 that is half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world. This park covers an area of 331km of the thick montane and thelowland rain forests.

Mgahinga National park is also located in the Far East in western part of Uganda and it borders Rwanda just near Volcanoes National park as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo near the Virunga National park. This is also a known gorilla territory that falls in Virunga Volcanoes region and also distances three main central African countries. This national park is the smallest park and is about 34kn forming part of the bigger Virunga conservation Areathat is 434km of the bigger volcanic mountains. This national park is also home to one gorilla family that moves between Rwanda and
Uganda and it’s difficult to be trekked by the tourists.

Within Uganda, these national parks are well managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority and it takes over 12 hours to drive to both of these national parks. This drive gives the tourists the exact picture of what a rural area looks like and also passes through the most beautiful scenery that is so eccentric to the eyes of the viewer. There is also an attractive way of reaching these two parks, by taking a domestic flight from Entebbe Airport by Aero Link to Kayonza Airstrip that is near Bwindi and here the tourists can be driven for a short while in order to be able to access the park.

Volcanoes national park also covers an area of about 125km of fantastic scenic forest that nis covered with mountains as well as the six volcanoes, this is why Rwanda is also known as the land of a thousand hills. There are over 480 mountain gorillas that are found along the border of the Virunga Conservation Area which are within the Virunga Mountains. This conservation area also includes the volcanoes National park that is managed in Rwanda. This is where the great primatologist Dian Fossey who lived and worked with the mountain gorillas.

These gorillas that live here are habituated more than in any other areas and they are used to human beings around them. This national park has got 10 gorilla families including the Susa Gorilla family, Karisimbi gorilla family, Amahoro, Agashya, Sabyinyo gorilla family, Umubano gorilla family, Hirwa, Kwitonda, Bwenge and Ugenda gorilla family.

This national park is also situated in northern Rwanda and its only 80km away from the city of Kigali. Access to this national park is so easy and so quick than getting to Bwindi which is located in Uganda. This national park is 2 and ½ hour’s drive from Kigali and in case you are traveling on a tight budget, you can also opt to take a mini bus to Ruhengeri town which is situated at the park entrance or you can also take a tax.

Gorilla tracking in this national park is so active than in Bwindi Forest, this is because these mountain gorillas move around less some times. This park’s open terrain amid the bamboo forests that allows the light in the environment, which makes an opportunity for taking the photos than in Bwindi forest which is so thick. Tracking of the gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda which is completely different.

Tracking in Rwanda or Uganda is completely different, with in Uganda, a bought gorilla permit gives you a chance to trek that exact gorilla family. In Rwanda, the permit will give you chance to track a particular family and the gorilla group allocated to you depending on many dependant factors. After having the briefing about gorilla trekking, the visitors are divided into groups according to fitness level, age and the location of the gorilla family at the same time.

The real location of mountain gorillas that live in Virunga Volcanoes also keeps on shifting as these primates keep on moving between the forests of Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC. Gorilla trekking is basically selected on the location of gorilla populations at the time of the safari. This is also done by the professional tour operators, and therefore you may find yourself trekking the gorillas in either Rwanda or Uganda which are the most popular destinations.About differences in Prices.

The disadvantage of choosing Rwanda is that its gorilla permit costs $1500 per person as opposed to the $600 in Uganda. And in terms of costs, same tours in Uganda and Rwanda can be competitive and one can find deals in either of the countries. Though you can get a better deal in Uganda since the gorilla permits are cheaper. The common advantage of trekking in Rwanda is quick and easy that the park is situated just near the Airport of Rwanda, it’s also 116km from Kigali city to Volcanoes Park.

The cheap gorilla permits in Uganda and variety of what to do and see. The advantage of tracking in Uganda is mainly the cheap gorilla permits and you are able to combine gorilla trekking as well as the wildlife highlights. A gorilla trekking safari can be mixed with lake Bunyonyi which is so close to Bwindi, game viewing in Queen Elizabeth, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National park, bird watching with in Semliki, mountain climbing on the Rwenzori mountains as
well as wildlife viewing in Murchison falls national park.

Distance in Driving & accessing to the gorillas Bwindi Forest national park is also located way from Entebbe international airport and this also adds more costs while travelling for the side of Uganda. Even though this drive is so long, its scenic and
offers good insights into the rural areas. The short drive in Rwanda is not as scenic as that of Uganda and the visitors can easily access the national park. In case you find this drive so long, then you can fly from Entebbe to Bwindi and then land in the nearby towns of Kisoro and kihihi. Aero Link has got the cheapest and more affordable rates that can facilitate these domestic flights.

In Uganda, the mountain gorillas are found so deep in the forests in groups of between 10 and 20 individuals, with one silverback. Within Rwanda, the gorilla groups range from 9 to 39 individuals including the 1 silverback. Tracking in Bwindi is more challenging given that the gorillas are away and after these treks, the visitors have to take steep slopes out of the forests in order to access their lodges or the hotels.

Rwanda’s gorilla groups are found so close to the park entrance, which needs shorter hikes. However, in Rwanda, you can’t request for a gorilla group to track and the groups might also shift further into the forests. About the political considerations the political stability is an important item to consider when deciding where to go for gorilla trekking ,
these include the local political conditions in these three countries as well as the availability of the gorilla permits.
Uganda;the country is so stable and safe and this is because it has rebuilt itself after the many years
of conflict and unrest most especially in northern Uganda.

Also traveling in southern part of the country is so safe and the country is a peaceful country. Rwanda; this country in the recent years is also politically stable after recovering from the genocide which took place in the early 1990s, volcanoes national park is also safe and well managed by Rwanda development Board, its gorilla permit system is functioning effectively and efficiently. Democratic Republic of Congo: In this country, the civil wars and conflicts are still a problem, and safety conditions need to be checked before visiting the country.

There are also militant groups as well as the army is still fighting in the Virunga area, and the poachers are a big threat to the gorilla population as well as poverty of the people near the national park leading to the habitant destruction. This is also the main reason why many advisory organisations consider this area to volatile for the travellers and therefore recommend the tourists to avoid visiting the DRC.

How does a typical gorilla safari works. It’s also known that trekking the mountain gorillas with in the thick rain forests in central Africa is not an exact science exercise. With finding the mountain gorillas, finding and getting to these mountain gorillas is not as easy as the people think, nor are the guests guaranteed to view them.

This trek to finding the mountain gorillas will take you through very dense vegetation, on the narrow trails with the muddy and steep slopes. This search of these primates can last many hours since these primates move around in the
thick undergrowth shifting deep into the forest at most of the times. Once these gorillas are found, they are enjoyed by the visitors since these are used to human presence.

Starting your gorilla safari, Trekking the mountain gorillas starts so early in the morning,and driving to the boundary of the park for the general formalities before proceeding to the ranger’s station. The tour cars are usually left behind at the ranger station and the walk will start. The group also follows the instructions of the local ranger through farmlands and into the thick vegetation of Bwindi forest national park.

What to know about your gorilla safari It’s also known that one collective noun for gorillas is a whoop, the rangers will tell you about the real family of the mountain gorillas you are to trek. This will also give you the history as well as sharing in
depth the knowledge about the mountain gorillas. The game rangers also trek to the real site where the gorillas were seen the past night and then trace their own movement from there to locate them for the visitors. These gorillas are also monitored daily which helps in keeping track of their locale, safety as well as healthy.

After spending 45 minutes ti 8 hours of challenging search along the muddy tracks, you will then come face to face with a family group of mountain gorillas with in the forest.You will usually put your stuff down and also remain silent as you move in a little closer with your cameras to get an opportunity to view some of these beautiful primates.

The exact Gorilla Encounter This is the real time where the real magic happens as this intimate and unique gorilla expedition unfolds to the guests. You will then have an hour to view these gentle apes at a close range of up to 7
metres in their natural state as you take the photos of them. You will also get chance to watch these fantastic beautiful primates as the feed, groom, play, parent and also interacting with each other. The resemblance which id between the ways these primates behave and also relate with each other as well as their mannerism of the human beings leaves many of the trekkers wondering.

Proceeding after the gorilla expedition After spending your time with the mountain gorillas, it’s now time to return to the trekking station of the rangers. Along the way to and from the gorillas, you can stop and have lunch that was packed as well as water. You will arrive at the station at the headquarters and the guide will transfer you to your
vehicle and make your way back to your booked accommodation.

Disparity of the gorilla experience. Gorilla trekking varies and you never know what will happen on the ground. The real adventure might
also vary depending on the local conditions like the weather, movement of the mountain gorillas,
happenings and the politics. These also tend to be in different locations since these are also wild animals, which means that even though they are habituated to the humans, their behaviours are so erratic. These gorillas might also move into the bush while the visitors are viewing them and this is also beyond your ranger’s control since their movements are not so restricted. The mountain gorillas
carry out their daily activities uninterrupted, however with the young ones showing the curiosity about
the many human visitors.