How much does spending one hour with the Gorillas cost?      

How much does spending one hour with the Gorillas cost?      

How much does spending one hour with the Gorillas cost? Gorilla trekking is one of the most exhilarating wildlife experiences on earth that offers an opportunity to come face to face with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. Mountain gorillas are a critically endangered species that can only be found in three regions of the world, including Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Imagine getting up close with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitats.

Seeing these critically endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats depends on their natural habitats depends on how much you want to spend with the gorillas. However, in most cases, gorilla trekking allows visitors to spend 1 hour with the mountain gorillas. And for those who want to spend more time with the gorillas, you can opt for the gorilla habituation experience, which allows visitors to spend 4 hours with the gorillas.

Gorilla Habituation experience involves introducing human beings to the presence of mountain gorillas in their natural habitats as they become familiar with human beings. The gorilla habituation experience is only done in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, among all gorilla trekking regions in the world. This makes Bwindi a prime gorilla trekking in the world. However, seeing the Mountain gorillas in their natural habitats requires a gorilla trek and Habituation permits, which are issued by the concerned bodies that aim at the conservation of these critically endangered species.

How much is a gorilla trekking permit?

A gorilla trekking permit is a document that allows visitors to trek to the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat for not exceeding 1 hour. However, the price of spending one hour with the gorillas varies depending on the region you are trekking the gorillas. Below are the costs of the gorilla trekking permits in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In Uganda, a gorilla trekking permit costs USD 800 for foreign non-residents, USD 700 for Foreign Residents, USD 500 for Foreign Residents of Africa, and UGX 300,000 for East African Citizens.

In Rwanda, a gorilla trekking permit costs USD 1500 for Foreign Non-Residents, USD 500 for foreign residents, USD 200 for East African citizens, and USD 200 for Rwandan citizens.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a gorilla trekking permit costs USD 400 for Foreign Non-Residents, USD 200 for East African citizens, and USD 200 for citizens. For Mountain gorilla trekking, a gorilla trekking permit costs USD 400 for Foreign Non-Residents, USD 200 for East African citizens, and USD 200 for citizens.

What does the Gorilla permit fee cover?

The gorilla trekking permit prices are expensive due to the growing demand for gorilla trekking, as well as the need for sustainable conservation efforts, and therefore, visitors are advised to book their gorilla trekking permits in Advance to secure availability of gorilla permits. Below are some what the gorilla permit covers;

• Park entrance fees
• Professional ranger guide and tracker
• Security and safety measures
• Community development initiatives
• Conservation funding (a portion goes to gorilla protection)

The Gorilla Trekking Experience

The gorilla trekking experiences largely begin with a briefing at the park headquarters, which details the rules and guidelines to follow while observing the gorillas and trekking through the forests. Visitors are divided into groups of 8 pax and assigned specific gorilla habituated families and 2 park rangers to provide security and safety. The entire gorilla trekking destination takes about 4 to 5 hours, depending on the nature and location of the assigned gorilla family.

The actual trekking begins as visitors trek into the forests in search of these endangered creatures in their natural habitats, as they navigate through the challenging hikes and slippery trails. Once the gorillas are located, visitors are allowed to spend 1 hour with these creatures as they learn about their way of life and watch them play, groom, and feed.

What to expect during gorilla trekking

Physically demanding Experience: Gorilla trekking is not a nature walk but involves hikes, navigating through dense vegetation and uneven terrain, taking a couple of hours. Therefore, visitors are advised to do physical activities to ensure physical fitness to have a successful gorilla trek.

Spotting different birds: During the trek, a nature lover can be able to spot a variety of bird species including the common and resident bird species of a specie region though the most common are the African Green Broadbill, Great Blue Turaco, Ruwenzori Turaco, Black Bee-eater, Blue-headed Sunbird, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Kivu Ground Thrush, Bar-tailed Trogon, Regal Sunbird, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Handsome Francolin, Dusky Crimsonwing, Strange Weaver, Collared Apalis, Ruwenzori Batis, African Emerald Cuckoo, Black-billed Turaco, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Mountain Masked Apalis, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Western Green Tinkerbird, White-starred Robin, Red-throated Alethe, Lagden’s Bush-shrike and Olive-breasted Greenbul

Unpredictable weather: Gorilla trekking can be done at any time of the year; however, weather conditions can be unpredictable. The recommended time for gorilla trekking is the dry season, which runs from December to February and June to September. During this time, the weather is more favourable for gorilla trekking, are the trekking trails are less challenging.

Frequently Asked Questions about Gorilla Trekking?

QN: Can I book my gorilla trekking permit directly?

Yes, you can book your gorilla trekking permit directly with the concerned bodies for issuing gorilla trekking permits. In Uganda, gorilla permits can be booked from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda, and the Virunga National Park or Kahuzi Biega in Congo. Visitors are highly advised to book their gorilla permits in advance to ensure availability on those trekking dates.

QN: Are children allowed to go Gorilla Trekking?

No, Children are not allowed to do gorilla trekking. However, the minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years in all gorilla trekking countries.

QN: Can I touch a gorilla?

No, touching the mountain gorillas is strictly not allowed since these are wild animals. Gorillas share about 97% of their DNA with human beings and therefore can easily contract human diseases, other respiratory challenges such as the flu. Further, gorillas are calm and peaceful creatures unless provoked. So, touching the gorillas could result in you or others getting hurt.