So many people wonder what gorilla trekking is, especially when they hear about it for the first time. In this article, I write the definition and meaning of gorilla trekking and how it is different from gorilla tracking.
Gorilla trekking is made up of two words: “Gorilla” and “Trekking.” According to Google, trekking means going on a long and difficult journey, usually on foot. We all know what a gorilla is, so I will not explain much about that.
So, the true definition of gorilla trekking is going on a long and difficult walk in the forest to find gorillas in their natural home.
Tour operator companies like Magical Gorilla Adventures & African Gorilla Tours will organize for you trips to trek with gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo.
Mountain gorillas are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in Congo. Only Bwindi is not connected to the others. The rest share the Virunga Conservation Area.
You cannot find mountain gorillas anywhere else besides these places.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest has the highest number of mountain gorillas in the world. It has more than half of all the remaining mountain gorillas. It is currently the best place for gorilla trekking in the world.
You can read my Uganda gorilla trekking review, Rwanda gorilla trekking review, or Congo gorilla trekking review to know what it is like to see gorillas in each country.
I have also listed a few companies I have used before. If you are planning a gorilla tour, you may want to book with these recommended gorilla safari companies.
For first-time travelers, I highly recommend booking Uganda gorilla tours that start from Kigali. This helps you save on distance and possibly save money too.
Is Gorilla Trekking the Same as Gorilla Tracking?
These two words have small differences in meaning but are often used to mean the same thing. I will try to compare them and help you understand which word to use.
Gorilla tracking means following or locating gorillas. It is mostly done by park rangers, especially during the habituation process or before tourists begin their trek.
In the past, a gorilla trek could last up to eight hours, which was hard for many people, especially those with special needs. This was because no one knew exactly where the gorillas were, since they move around in the forest.
On some unlucky days, tourists would walk for many hours and still not see any gorillas. In such cases, partial refunds were given to cover the disappointment.
Today, things are much easier. Gorilla trekking is now simple because of regular gorilla tracking before tourists begin their trek.
Several rangers go into the forest early to find the gorillas, then guide your group leader to the correct path. This way, you walk for a shorter time and are almost sure that you will see the gorillas.
Clients who book Kigali to Bwindi gorilla trekking tours can even visit the gorillas and return to Kigali on the same day.
So, gorilla tracking means finding the gorillas in the forest. I already explained the meaning of gorilla trekking in the third paragraph above.
What’s the Guarantee That You Will See Gorillas?
The guarantee is 99%. The 1% is due to things that may stop you from joining the trek. These include delayed flights, falling sick before the trek, getting injuries that make it hard to walk, or having infectious diseases that might spread to the gorillas.
Mountain gorillas share over 97% of their DNA with humans. This means they can catch the same diseases that humans have. That is why you must keep a distance of five to eight meters when near them.
There are also a few other small reasons I have not listed.
But if you plan everything well and arrive at the park headquarters, then you can be sure that you will see gorillas.
Do you want to see gorillas walking in the forest? You can book your trip with these recommended tour companies.
Book your Uganda tours with these recommended Uganda tour companies for a well planned safari. Use the Voucher: UTBlog for up to 25% Discounts on Trips.
