How To Choose A Gorilla Family To Trek

Each day of trekking, a traveler is allocated to one gorilla family together with other seven clients to make a group of eight. The management of respective gorilla national parks does the allocation of gorilla families considering different factors. Much as a traveler can choose which gorilla family he/she wishes to trek, the park management is fully responsible to allocate these gorilla groups accordingly hence can accept or change the traveler’s choice. In Uganda’s Bwindi forest national park, mountain gorilla families are split in four sectors namely;Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo, which together make up this impenetrable forest. Gorilla family allocation is done every morning during the pre- trekking briefing about the do’s rules and regulations in all gorilla national parks.

Why are mountain gorillas allocated on the actual day of trekking?
As already said, it’s on the day of gorilla trekking that travelers are allocated gorilla families to trek. The unpredictable movements o mountain gorillas from one place to another make it difficult to allocate them before. At the end of each day, groups of trackers hike into the jungle to follow up where different gorilla families will sleep go very early to check on them, and communicate to the park headquarters about the whereabouts of mountain gorillas that morning. Its after this communication that park management decode who to trek which gorilla family depending on the physical fitness, location of the gorilla family and available permits. The following are the factors you should consider before choosing a gorilla family to trek

Location of mountain gorillas
You should first of all know the location of the gorilla family you want to trek. Some travelers read gorilla families on the Internet but mistake those of Rwanda and Uganda. You should first of all understand which gorilla families live in Uganda or Rwanda. If you choose to trek in Uganda, understand which gorilla families live in which sectors, Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the east, Rushaga and Nkuringo in the southern parts of Bwindi forest national park. Extensive knowledge about the location of different gorilla families is very essential for each successful gorilla tour.

The location of your accommodations
Choosing a gorilla family near your hotel/lodge is very helpful. This saves you the hustle of waking up early hence shortening the transfer distance from the lodge to the trekking starting point. Travelers who are trekking gorillas in Bwindi are reminded to book gorilla families’ depending on the location of their lodges. Fortunately, each sector has luxury. Midrange and budge accommodation facilities to serve travelers with excellent food and sleeping services. Much as you can sleep in one sector and trek in the other, its very hectic and time wasting. The long hours of driving from region to another make travelers tired before trekking hence worst experience. Travelers are r therefore reminded to choose gorilla families close to their lodges to ease transfers to and from.

Physical fitness
The traveler’s physical fitness is considered while allocating gorilla families. Travelers are urged to disclose their physical fitness to their guide/park rangers so they can get a gorilla family they can hike. Mountain gorilla hikes are rated as short, medium and tough depending on the ease or toughness of finding them. Some gorilla groups live near and easy to find in the shortest time possible while others live in higher altitude areas hence difficult to trek. Travelers who are physically unfit are given short gorilla treks while the physically fit given gorilla families in a far distance. The travelers failure to disclose his/her physical abilities to the guide may lead to failure to reach where mountain gorillas area. Similarly aged travelers are also given simple gorilla families, which are easily found unlike the young ones who have to hike to areas of higher altitudes since they are claimed to be physically fit and energetic.

The availability of gorilla permit
First consider the availability of gorilla permits for a gorilla group you intend to trek. A permit is a pass to see mountain gorillas without which you cannot be allowed to trek and spend time with these critically endangered species. Each gorilla family has eight 8 permits available everyday for eight clients. Once all permits are booked, you cannot trek that gorilla family. Travelers are therefore reminded to ask about gorilla permit availability and choose a gorilla family depending on the availability of gorilla permit. The cost of gorilla permits varies in each country costing $1500 in Rwanda and $600 in Uganda. Gorilla tours to Congo are currently on halt to first solve insecurity issues in Virunga national park.

NOTE: Gorilla trekking is a best wildlife experience in the wild. Choosing a gorilla family of your choice reward you with a best gorilla tour experience. Book a gorilla safari to Uganda and Rwanda, meet mountain gorillas face to face and enjoy this remarkable encounter that happen once in a lifetime.