Gorilla trekking can be paired with multiple other safari experiences. A gorilla trekking experience lasts for a few hours. Therefore, it is ideal to combine it with other safaris. However, it can also be done alone and deliver the best experience. To answer the question of whether one can combine gorilla trekking with other safari experiences, we need to understand whether the other activities are inland.
Some clients would prefer to combine gorilla trekking with a safari in Kenya and Tanzania or even the Great Wildebeest Migration. Such activities are located in other destinations far from the gorilla destinations. However, this doesn’t mean it’s impossible; no, it can be seamlessly done with an experienced operator in combined tours like Epic Uganda Vacations.
About gorilla trekking
As we break down how to combine gorilla trekking with other safari experiences, we need to understand gorilla trekking first. There could be much circulating information about the topic, but they don’t go deep into facts. Here we shall dive into the details that entail all you need to know about gorilla trekking.
Gorilla trekking involves encountering a family of wild mountain gorillas in their natural habitat for an hour after navigating their challenging terrain. Unlike most other safaris like game safaris, gorilla trekking is a hands-on adventure. Visitors participate entirely in finding the mountain gorillas and chilling in their presence for an hour. You notice we mentioned a family of wild mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas are wild social primates that live in groups called families. At the apex of every gorilla family is a dominant male called a silverback.
Although the gorillas encountered during this experience are wild, they have undergone the habituation process. This process familiarizes them to humans, and they get accustomed to the human presence. The habituation exercise usually lasts for 2-3 years, depending on the characteristics of the mountain gorillas.
Pre-trekking briefing
This experience kicks off with a pre-trekking briefing that highlights the rules and regulations of the activity. It emphasizes the idea of a code of conduct, especially in the presence of the gorillas. This briefing is meant to give all the necessary facts that help to protect the visitors and the gorillas. At the end of the day, we mean to understand that these primates are still wild and must be handled in a certain manner.
A maximum of 8 visitors are allowed to trek a single gorilla family per day. This is meant to reduce stressing the mountain gorillas from frequent visits. Several visitors can also threaten the nature and vegetation of the gorilla habitat. This is because these habitats don’t have trails, and visitors force their way through the vegetation. As much as the experience is fun and adventurous, the priority is to conserve and protect the mountain gorillas and their habitats.
Gorilla destinations
The only known mountain gorilla destination is the Virunga Conservation Area. This conservation area is an extension of the remaining natural habitat of the mountain gorillas. It stretches across three specific countries are shown below.
Uganda
As an award-winning destination, Uganda is the leading gorilla destination. It is the only country in the world that hosts two distinct mountain gorilla protected areas. Gorilla trekking in Uganda takes place in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These parks are situated relatively in the same region.
Bwindi, a powerhouse of gorilla trekking, is about 331 square kilometers. It hosts the largest population of mountain gorillas on Earth. This is why it is a recognized UNESCO site, gaining this recognition in 1994. This was 3 years after its establishment. It harbors about 460 mountain gorillas scattered in about 50 families. However, only about 26 families are habituated and available to trek.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the second gorilla destination in Uganda. It shares a border with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the smallest protected area in the country but also the smallest gorilla destination in the Virunga area. Only about 100 mountain gorillas reside in this park, with one habituated gorilla family. Mgahinga is about 33.7 square kilometers big.
Rwanda
The land of a thousand hills is a modest gorilla destination. Its popularity is derived from selling luxury gorilla trekking tours. This is basically due to its improved infrastructure, from accommodation to roads. The country’s Volcanoes National Park is the only gorilla trekking destination. It offers an unwavering experience with the mountain gorillas.
The terrain in Volcanoes National Park is not steep, with sparse vegetation best for filming tours. This park is the oldest protected area in the region and possibly in Africa after being gazetted in 1925. About 300 mountain gorillas live in this park, living in about 13 families.
The Democratic Republic of Congo
All around the world, the Democratic Republic of Congo has been known for political violence and unrest. As much as this could be true, there is a positive side to the country as an established gorilla destination. The Virunga Conservation Area gets its name from the popular gorilla destination of Virunga National Park in the country.
Virunga National Park is directly on the eastern side of the country on the border with Uganda and Rwanda. The park is estimated to host about 200 mountain gorillas. It is the least visited destination for obvious reasons of political instability. However, that does not take away the fact that it is a gorilla destination that is worth mentioning.
Other safari experiences to combine with gorilla trekking.
The countries harboring the mountain gorillas don’t just offer gorilla trekking alone; there are other safari experiences. These safari experiences include the following.
Game viewing experiences
In almost all the gorilla destinations/countries, there are savannah protected areas. These protected areas are home to a vast concentration of wildlife. This wildlife can be spotted on a game viewing experience. Visitors can combine gorilla trekking and this game viewing experience to get an epic gorilla and wildlife experience. Wildlife species to spot during this adventure include the Big 5 animals: lions, leopards, rhinos, buffalo, and elephants. Other species include hyenas, waterbucks, kobs, oribis, cheetahs, giraffes, topis, warthogs, etc. Popular parks for game viewing are Akagera National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park, among others.
Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee trekking is a hotspot activity to pair with the gorilla trekking experience. It allows visitors to explore the chimp habitats for a one-on-one interaction session with the chimps in the habitat. This experience has a lot of similarity to gorilla trekking, although the species and destinations differ. The chimpanzee trekking experience takes place in Kibale National Park, Nyungwe National Park, Kyambura Gorge, Kalinzu Forest, Budongo Forest, and Gishwati-Mukuru National Park, among others.
Boat cruise
The adventures don’t end with land but also in the water. This is why a pairing between gorilla trekking and a boat cruise is perfect. A boat cruise experience uncovers the aquatic life of the protected areas. Visitors can spot animals like elephants, buffalo, waterbucks, warthogs, and various birds during this adventure. Popular boat cruise areas include Lake Ihema in Akagera, Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth, Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo, Lake Kivu, etc.
Golden monkey trekking
Golden monkey trekking also involves tracking the rare golden monkey primates in their habitats. Like all primate experiences, this trekking is a hands-on interaction with the golden monkeys in their untamed wilderness. It is not as challenging, given their monkeys live on the foothills of the Virunga massif. They feed on bamboo shoots and usually leave a trail of leftovers that gives away their location. Their destinations include Volcanoes National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Canopy walking experience
The canopy walking experience is designated for Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda and can be paired with gorilla trekking. It takes place along the suspended canopy trails that are about 70 meters high. It is a good way to immerse yourself in nature while having aerial views of the park.
Cultural encounters
As a form of responsible tourism, cultural encounters aim at uncovering the unique culture and traditions of the locals. The gorilla destinations are situated in the communities, and during gorilla trekking, visitors can witness highlights of the cultures, especially on the pre-trekking briefing. However, culture encounters paired with gorilla trekking take visitors much deeper into the heritages of these people. For example, the Batwa pygmies in Uganda or the Iby’iwacu cultural village in Rwanda.
Conclusively, gorilla trekking can be combined with many other safari experiences all across the region. Visitors need to determine the particular activities they wish to combine with gorilla trekking for us to plan a perfect package.
