So many people wonder what gorilla trekking is probably when they first hear about it. In this article, i write the definition and meaning of gorilla trekking and how it differs from gorilla tracking.

Gorilla trekking is made up of two words; “Gorilla” and “Trekking”. According to google, trekking means going on a long arduous journey, typically on foot. We all know what a gorilla is so i definitely won’t explain much about that.

So the true definition of gorilla trekking would be going on a long arduous journey on foot in search for gorillas in their natural habitat.

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 independent of the other. The rest share the Virunga Conservation Area.

You can not find mountain gorillas anywhere else besides these places.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest has the highest numbers of mountain gorillas in the world, sheltering over half the remaining population this ape species. It is apparently 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 see what it is like to trek gorillas in either countries.

I have also listed a couple of companies i have used in the past. If planning a gorilla tour, you may want to book with these recommended gorilla safari companies.

For starters, i highly recommend booking Uganda gorilla tours that start from Kigali to cut on distance and probably save money too.

Is Gorilla trekking same as Gorilla tracking?

These two words have different minor meanings but are often used to mean the same. I will try to give a good comparison and hopefully you will know which word to use to express what you want.

Gorilla tracking means tracking gorillas. Its mainly park rangers that go through this process especially during habituation processes or right before clients begin their trek.

Years ago, a gorilla trek would last up to eight hours on some days which turned out to be difficult for some people especially special needs persons. This was because no one actually knew where the gorillas were since they always moved from place to place.

On a few unlucky days, clients would fail to see gorillas after long hours of trekking. Partial refunds were made to compensate the uncertainties.

Nowadays things were simplified! Gorilla trekking has become very simple because of regular gorilla tracking before clients begin their trek.

Several rangers spread out to the forest to search for mountain gorillas then guide your group leader to the right path. This way, you spend less time trekking and also have the guarantee that you will see gorillas.

Clients who book Kigali to Bwindi gorilla trekking can even track gorillas and depart from Kigali in Rwanda on the same day.

So Gorilla Tracking means locating the gorillas in their natural habitat. I already explained the meaning of gorilla trekking in the third paragraph.

Whats the guarantee that you will see gorillas?

The guarantee is 99%. The 1 percent is due to factors that might prevent you from trekking gorillas such as delayed flights, falling sick before the trek, getting injuries that make it hard for you to trek or having infectious diseases that are likely to infect the gorillas.

Mountain Gorillas share over 97% of human DNA and are prone to the same infectious diseases as humans. This is why you have to keep a five to eight meter distance when you are around these primates.

There are several other minor factors i have not mentioned.

If you manage to plan everything the right way and set foot on the park headquarters then you are sure you will see gorillas.

Do you want to see gorillas walking in the bush? You can book your trip with these recommended tour companies.