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GorillaTracking in Uganda Rwanda or D.R. Congo
is open to tourists from the age of 15 years. Several reasons have been stated
to back this up like
The terrain
where mountain gorillas live is ragged with some steep slopes which may be
quite a challenge to someone below the age of 15 years. You need some fitness
to hike to the mountain gorillas.
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| Gorilla Trekking Age Limit |
You need to
pack and carry some gorilla trekking gears that may exert some weight on your
tired body while in the wilderness. This may exhaust you before getting to meet
the gorillas therefore delaying the entire group as the ranger guide follows
the slowest trekker.
Several
other animals live in the forest like reptiles, frogs, birds, creeping plants
that may frighten a person below the age of 15 years while in the forest. Besides mountain gorillas are usually
agitated by noise in the forest which makes them move further into deeper ends
of the forest therefore prolonging the journey
When in the
presence of the mountain gorillas, it is an adrenaline stimulating moment where
different people respond differently to this first sight. I can’t say it is not
quite frightened but exciting at the same time. However you do not need to show
the gorillas that you are scared this makes them feel suspicious especially the
silverback which is supposed to protect the family and this may lead to change
in the gorillas’ mood.
5 Day Primate And wildlife Uganda
Safari
On this 5
day primate and wildlife safari, you will visit Bwindi Forest National Park for
gorilla trekking, head to Queen Elizabeth national park for game drive and
launch cruise. Enjoy Chimpanzee tracking too.
Day 1 Drive To Bwindi forest National
Park
On the first
day, drive through the eye captivating countryside and before you know it there
will be a change in the freshness of the air you breathe away from town chaos.
Depart Entebbe or Kampala city early in the morning, enjoy breakfast at the equator,
take photos standing on both sides of the earth. Perform the water experiment
which is so mesmerizing.
Carry on passed several baboon troupes that
may give you something to laugh about with there acrobatic moves. The drive may
be quite long but very entertaining and enjoy African massage arriving late in
the evening to check in to our room.
Accommodation: Clouds Lodge/ Gorilla
Forest camp/ Engage Lodge/ Bwindi View Bandas
Day 2 Gorilla Tracking Experience
Rise up early for breakfast them proceed to
the ranger station for gorilla trekking briefing. You will be placed in groups
of 8 trekkers per gorilla family. The Ranger guide will follow the pace of the
slowest trekker in order for everyone to enjoy each moment. Before starting the
trek, request for a porter to assist carry your baggage as the trek at times is
quite tedious especially if the gorillas are moving fast and into fur spots. As
you trek into the forest, you may be greeted by a number of birds that and if
you are a keen birder, you may easily identify them by sound and appearance.
The monkeys
also differ as there blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, grey tailed mangabey, red
tailed monkeys to mention but a few. Several ancient trees and plants species
are present for botanist to identify.
As you get
closer to the mountain gorillas, you may here them murmur and pull some shrubs
. When you finally get up close, your guide may request you to lower your
voices and start taking some photos. Watch how they take care of each other
especially in case the gorilla trekking family has an infant. They feed them on
breast milk and protect them so highly. The mothers also comb the hairs of
there infants and keep checking for any pests. Of course the silverback may try
to show his top rank in the family.
After an
hour return to the lodge to relax.
Day 3 Drive to Queen Elizabeth
National park
Leaving
Bwindi Forest with only photos and memories of our meeting the mountain
gorillas drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. May go through the Ishasha sector of the
park, may get to see several animals
like tree climbing lions, leopards, the
kobs, buffaloes, bush bucks, warthogs the list is endless. The park has a
wonderful back drop of Rwenzori ranges. In case it is a clear day you could see
the ice tops on the mountain up high in the sky. Check into your lodge.
Accommodation: Mweya safari Lodge/
Katara Lodge/ Simba Safari Lodge
Day 4 Game Drive and launch cruise
Rise up
early in the morning for the morning game drive to the Crater Lake area. You
may have a chance of seeing the earlier risers come to life while the nocturnal
rush to get back to there day hiding like the hippos. The amazing network of
dry and wet crater lakes is picturesque. One of the noticeable lakes is Lake
Nyamunuka with a putrid smell of rotten eggs.
Drive
through the park with a chance of seeing a number of birds, the vegetation
variation, may meet a pride of lions, buffalo herds, a leopard, warthogs the
list is endless
After lunch,
head to the pier for a launch cruise on Kazinga Channel. Wow this is heaven on
earth as a number of bird species flock the banks, wild animals are also common
visitors here and this is where you may meet incredible herds of elephant,
buffaloes, lions, warthogs and so much more.
Return to the
lodge keeping only memories and photos of our safari.
Day 5 Chimpanzee Tracking
muujjjEarly
in the morning, take breakfast and head to Kyambura gorge for chimpanzee
trekking. Chimpanzees are the closet relatives of humans and there behavior is
similar to that of humans.
Chimpanzees
are led by alpha male and live in communities. To get to the chimpanzees, you
will have to hike to the gorge. Return to the lodge and relax.
Day 6 Drive to Entebbe
Having completed
the entire primate and wildlife safari itinerary, it is time to get back home drive
to the airport to catch up with our return flight.
Gorilla
trekking holiday tops most of the buckets lists of most travel addicts in the
world but a few succeed in securing gorilla trekking permits because of there
scarcity and conservation reasons.
The mountain
gorillas are some of the still surviving ice age animals which existed with the
dinosaurs, aliens and so many other fased out animals species. Meeting the
mountain gorillas is one of the memorable safaris and a privilege too as you
stand to be one of the lucky 8 people to be in there company that day.
What to Pack for Gorilla Trekking
Just like
any other trip, you must prepare for gorilla trekking carrying the right gears.
Long
trousers are a must because mountain gorillas live in the jungle where there
are biting nestles as well as pricking and piercing surfaces.
A poncho or
rain coat because it may rain at any time of the day without warning
A hut to
cover up your head and protect it
Tracking
boots to protect your feet from the rough and boggy surface of the jungle.
Gloves
assist you in getting hold of the slippery surfaces and in case you fall, your
hands re protected
A flash less
camera is the only evidence of you holiday in the Mountain Gorilla land.
Insect
repellant will save you from stinging insects
To mention
but a few
How to book Gorilla Trekking Safari
Gorilla
Trekking is only a sure deal when you have fully paid for a Gorilla permit. The
price for a gorilla permit in Uganda is $700 while in Rwanda, the gorilla
Permit costs $ 1500
A 4x4 safari
vehicle is another component
Safari guide
must be knowledgeable to
Fuel or Gas
Book your in
bound flight on for the day before the start of your gorilla trekking safari
and also your outbound flight must be a night flight or a day after the Gorilla
trekking safari to avoid panic.
Best Time for Booking a Gorilla
Trekking Safari
Gorilla
trekking is done throughout the year but there are tourism peak seasons and low
seasons. During the peak seasons the prices for all the safari packages are very high yet during the low seasons, the
prices for the packages my differ.
You need to
book a gorilla trekking permit atleast 3 months in advance of travel to prevent
last minute panic as only 8 gorilla permits are released for tourism per day.
Gorilla
trekking in Uganda or Rwanda is open to everyone but you must be at least 15
years of age
However it’s
not a good idea to track gorillas when you have a cold for conservation
reasons.
Do some
exercises to keep fit because the topography of Bwindi Impenetrable Park and
Volcanoes National Park is volcanic. While in the jungle, you hike and get done
the valleys, bypass numerous rivers as this area is a water catchment surface.
What to Do And Not To do while with
the mountain Gorillas
Conservation
is the main reason why few people are allowed to be with the mountain gorillas
each day, you must be ready to follow the instructions.
Do not
trample on the grass use the tails because the mountain gorillas entirely feed
on foliage for survival.
If you eat
anything while in the jungle, do not liter because the mountain gorillas may
eat anything and die. This is a great loss.
In case you
have a cold, be kind to these animals and say before starting the search
because they are highly susceptible to human infections which may turn into
death.
Keep up with
the other group to avoid getting lost in the jungle.
In case you
need to ease yourself, its best to ask the ranger guide to dig a hole for you
and afterwards you have to cover beyond recognition to keep the environment
clean and protect the animals that may be curious of what you have covered.
Keeping your
voices low while you trek to see the gorillas gives you enough chances of
seeing the mountain gorillas since they get to notice your presence before you
do.
