Is Gorilla Trekking Safe in Uganda and Rwanda?

Is Gorilla Trekking Safe in Uganda and Rwanda?

Is it safe to go gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda?. This is one of the frequently asked questions by many travelers planning to go gorilla trekking in Africa.  A pleasant vacation area In Africa, the safest places to go gorilla trekking are Uganda and Rwanda due the fact that pleasant dream vacation experience. However, Uganda still out stands all the three countries and it is ranked the safe and most affordable gorilla trekking destination in Africa.

Highlight about the gorilla trekking in Uganda

Gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda are only done in two amazing Safari Parks namely; In Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks which are strategically located south-western region of the Pearl of Africa and very far from the Kampala city.

To allow a more safe and exceptional gorilla trekking experience in the misty Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the forest was divided into four sectors. Simply to exercise safety of all clients and also to enhance easy management by the Authority. There are four sectors in Bwindi Forest situated in the southern and the northern sections of the park, this because of its enormous size.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is graced with about 23 habituated gorilla families since it holds almost half of the remaining Mountain Gorilla population in the world. And for ease of management, you find these families in the four gorilla trekking regions. Namely;  Buhoma sector, Ruhija sector, Nkuringo sector, and Rushaga sector, there are famously known as the gorilla trekking areas in Uganda.

Uganda gives you an exceptional gorilla trekking dream, espicially if you choose to go gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park. Also the park is home to only two habituated gorilla families, the gorilla trekking experience allows you chance to meet Silver and gold in one place. As in along you your gorilla trekking exercise, grab an opportunity to see the silverback gorillas as well the golden monkeys which is a unique monkey species only spotted in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Highlights about gorilla trekking in Rwanda

It is important to note that, Rwandan gorilla trekking experience takes place in Volcanoes National Park, which is found in the northwest region of the country, covering an area of about 160 square kilometers in size. The Volcanoes National Park is blessed with a predominantly mountainous geography. A magnificent green picture of lofty mountains and lowlands is made perfectly complete by its five Virunga volcanoes mountains. These include; Mountain Muhavura,Mountain Karisimbi, Mountain Sabyinyo,  Mountain Bisoke, and Mountain Gahinga. These are some of  the famous volcano Mountains.

The interesting fact about Volcanoes National Park is that it host about 13 habituated gorilla trekking families open for gorilla tourism to all tourists. They include; the Amahoro family, group 13 family, and Hirwa gorilla family.

Regulations for Gorilla Trekking experiemce in Ugand and Rwanda

All stakeholders taking part in the gorilla trekking experience must obey the gorilla trekking laws and policies that have been put in place in both Uganda and Rwanda. Regardless of whether it is the hotels, travel companies, ranger guides, gorilla researchers, or any other number of entities. The same laws and policies apply to all countries as they have been put up the Management Authorities of Rwanda nd Uganda. Looking at the safety of all tourists, the Rwanda Development Board or Uganda Wildlife Authority, these Authorities emphasize that all the stakeholders must be trained, licensed and registered by the government if they are to be allowed to sale the gorilla trekking experience.

About the Political Stability

Political stability has existed in Uganda and Rwanda for a quite a long period of time. After the war in the 1980s, Uganda’s administration managed to keep things relatively stable politically. Apparently the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the most outstanding gorilla safari destination where you go gorilla trekking without worrying about someone stopping you to rob you or brandishing a pistol at you.

The Uganda government has tried its efforts by implementing key security agencies to participate in keeping all tourists safe in all safari destinations. These include; the tourism police and also the 20% fees that goes to the local communities around the park acts as a driving force to indirectly push the local communities to take part in the conservation measures thus allowing sustainable gorilla tourism and safety towards tourists.

Following the 1994 genocide in Rwanda that affected the economy of the country,. Rwanda started a rehabilitation program for the Rwanda victims, as well as protecting the conservation parks that were impacted including that of Volcanoes National Park is known for it precious wildlife that impact the country in terms of tourism. The main wildlife park and source of foreign cash for Rwanda is Volcanoes National Park. The rangers and other internal security agencies of the Rwandan government secure all activities taking place in the park. Prior to this a collective effort between Uganda and Rwanda focused on gorilla conservation has been established. Since , it is okay for one gorilla trekking family is to go freely from Uganda into Rwanda without encountering any restrictions. Mountain gorillas are free-ranging apes who ramble around the jungle in search of food to sate their hunger. The Nyakagezi gorilla family occasionally wanders into Rwanda while living in Mgahinga National Park.

 How to access the Gorilla Trekking safari destinations

In Uganda and Rwanda, we are extremely glad at the upgraded road networks getting to the gorilla trekking safari from Kampala, Entebbe, or Kigali City or Airport. It is more easier to access the gorilla safari destinations from wherever you are it is easier. One amazing fact about these gorilla destinations is that they are all found in two isolated  conservation area, these include the Virunga Massif( Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda &  Virunga National Park) and  Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda plus Mgahinga National Park are all situated in entirely inaccessible regions.

Gone are the ancients days when in the past that getting to safari parks was some thing difficult, but the roads have been upgraded and improved, and additional building is being done. From the Ugandan metropolis of Kampala, there is some public transportation that goes to Kabale, from where you can take a various connections points to go to Bwindi I Impenetrable National Park. Public transportation is accessible in Rwanda from Kigali City to Musanze, where passengers can then travel to Volcanoes National Park.

There is a daily domestic flight scheduled service operating Uganda safaris, further opening up this formerly isolated region. From Kajjansi Airstrip or Entebbe Airport, you can choose to land at Kihihi Air Strip or Kisoro Airstrip. Those who are averse to long journeys on winding roads have chosen this alternative; however, you must make reservations in advance. Both Uganda and Rwanda have charter flight arrangements.

 Professional Ranger Team in Gorilla Parks

It is a great adventure in the forest to go gorilla trekking with trained and experienced ranger guides. Both the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Rwanda Development Board have given their employees extensive training on gorillas and have even kept them up to date on certain gorillas’ histories. By the time you find the gorillas, you feel a closer connection with them because the rangers readily share information about a gorilla family, making the walk interesting. A team of rangers observes the mountain gorilla families that will be walked in the early morning. Based on their observations, they provide input to the authorities, which escorting rangers use to inform visitors for the day. Like humans, gorillas exhibit variable behavior depending on the circumstances present in the wild.

Research Organizations in gorilla trekking

In both Uganda and Rwanda, a number of local and international research organizations are working to save gorillas. Beginning with the late American philanthropist Dian Fossey, who founded the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda. After she discovered that integrating people in the protection of mountain gorillas is one method to conserve them, her initiative gave rise to gorilla trekking. Some of them take part in gorilla habituation, treating the gorillas, performing checkups on the gorillas, taking a gorilla census over time, and many other activities. These aid in gorilla conservation, which has increased the number of the animals in Rwanda and Uganda, and keep them accustomed to human presence. Gorilla Fund, UNESCO, Gorilla Doctors, and others are a few of the organizations. These groups offer a lot of guidance regarding the gorillas’ way of life and behavior. Over time, this has made gorilla trekking experiences better.

Estimated time to the Airport before gorilla trekking and after Gorilla Trekking

Few hours separate Kigali Airport from Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. On a meandering beautiful road, the trip can take between three and four hours. This explains why a person can get off an early-morning international flight and attend a gorilla trekking briefing at ORTPN the same day. Although Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda is around 8 to 9 hours away from Entebbe Airport, getting there is quicker and simpler with domestic daily flights to upcountry airstrips like Kihihi and Kisoro Airstrip. The domestic flights take about 2.5 hours to get to the airstrips, after which you connect with a transfer vehicle and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a further hour. After a gorilla trekking safari in either Uganda or Rwanda, you can easily connect to the international airport at any time, even on the day of departure.

Limiting the number of Gorilla Trekkers

Gorilla trekking would result in food loss for the mountain gorillas, which are primarily vegetarian. To prevent trampling on the forest, the number of trekkers allowed to see gorillas is restricted to a maximum of 8. Those interested in going gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda must attend a briefing at the ranger station, which is the ORTPN in Rwanda and the Uganda Wildlife Authority park offices in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. The rangers walk you through the procedures for going gorilla trekking as well as the typical gorilla behavior. After that, you are split up into groups of no more than eight trekkers to spend the day following a particular gorilla family. If there were more trekkers, it would be difficult for the rangers to look out for each traveler personally, which could result in some tourists getting lost in the bush or having a less enjoyable experience. The numerous individuals attempting to get a glimpse of the mountain gorillas would make them feel ambushed. The mountain gorillas become agitated by this and hide.

Well Organized administration in Gorilla Parks of Uganda and Rwanda

The Volcanoes National Park is under the control of the Rwanda Development Board. In Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park activities are overseen by Uganda Wildlife Authority. These organizations make ensuring that park rangers are properly trained, maintain park trails, plan and take part in mountain gorilla censuses, and much more. All parties involved in gorilla trekking in either Uganda or Rwanda must abide by the rules established by these authorities. Penalties are imposed on defaulters, and those who work hard are rewarded. All of these work to maintain the parks’ high standards while giving tourists value for their money and protecting gorillas.

Why book with Jeisking Tours for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda?

Jeisking Tours has experience of planning exceptional gorilla trekking trips to Uganda,and Rwanda but we have now expanded to include safaris in Kenya and Tanzania. When you contact us our travel consultants have assisted in giving you reliable information as soon as possible. For a customized gorilla trekking tour to Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park or Volcanoes National Park , simply browse our website or email us for further more inquiries.