A gorilla trekking experience involves a visitor taking a walk through the forest in search for gorillas. Bwindi impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park are the iconic places for having a gorilla trekking experience in Uganda.
Gorillas are semi-human species that are often visited in Uganda since she has the greatest number of Mountain gorillas, which are numbered slightly over 1,000. However, in Africa, mountain gorillas can only be sighted in Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. Most gorilla trekking are made in Uganda as there is a variety and can easily be sighted here. Over 10,000 tourists come from multiple countries to Uganda just to spend an hour with these fascinating species.
In Uganda, gorilla trekking is $800 and you can get an ultimate safari when you come to the Pearl of Africa for gorillas.
Is $800 worth it in Uganda?
Uganda offers value compared to other gorilla trekking destinations: In Uganda, gorilla trekking is relatively affordable compared to other destinations such as Rwanda whose permits are $1500. The experience is further interesting because of the trails you take on see these species.
In Uganda, there are a variety of places you can go to for this experience such as the four sectors of misty forest of Bwindi namely Nkuringo, Rushaga, Ruhijja and Buhoma, and the entire volcanic slopes of Mgahinga national park, with the landscapes that add adventure beyond the trek.
It is adventure beyond the price tag: $800 does not only cover the permit but also accommodation, meals, transportation, park guides that will make you gorilla trekking safari more adventurous. The beautiful scenery in the gazette areas, the expert park guides and rangers, give you a sense achievement and you start to feel you experience equaling the cost.
It is a once in a life-time encounter: You will not always find mountain gorillas in every part of the world you go. You might, but they may not be as available as they are in Uganda, as she offers up to slightly above 1,000 species. Coming face to face with a mountain gorilla gives you great insight of the how these animals live. For example, you can experience hoe they socialize with each other, rustling of the forest as the silver back moves from tree to tree and watching playful infants.
This is something one will enjoy once in a life-time, especially when you set foot on the soil of the Pearl of Africa.
Gorilla trekking funds the conservation of this wildlife also has community impact: The $800 paid for gorilla trekking permits is not only used for facilitating the experience but also helps in conserving the mountain gorillas. Ensuring they are well taken care of, supporting anti-poaching patrols, habitat protection and supporting rangers.
The $800 also helps to support the immediate community of Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks through funding of different projects such as erection of schools, roads, health care, and water projects among others. The money paid basically goes back to the community so as to ensure progress and development.
Memorable experience: You do not only go home with a bunch of photo graphs in your gallery, but you get a intimate experience with these species. Many visitors describe the gorilla trekking experience as one of the most powerful experiences and encounters because viewing gorillas in the wild is not something everyone has opportunity to do, making it worth every dollar spent.
Conclusively, gorilla trekking is not just an activity for enjoyment but an initiative to learn about one of the world’s most iconic and rare animal species, and its protection and preservation, making it worth every penny spent on it.