28 May Ultimate Gorilla Trekking Safari in Africa

Gorilla trekking safari in Africa is best done from the three African countries including Uganda and Rwanda which are the two east African countries and Democratic Republic of Congo which is a central African country. There are about 880 individual endangered mountain gorillas remaining in Africa and these are distributed in the four national parks with Uganda having the highest number of gorillas numbering to over 400 individuals.

Gorilla experience in Uganda can be gained from the two national parks of Bwindi impenetrable and the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park both in south western parts of the country around the Virunga ranges.  Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has got the largest number of gorillas with fifteen gorilla groups habituated for trekking in its four sectors hence being ones first priority for gorilla trekking experience within Uganda. Gorilla trekking costs $600 and habituation $1500 per individual per day.

Buhoma sector is the oldest place where trekking was done before the invention of the other three sectors, this has got the most accessible gorillas with groups such as the Mubare the oldest group in the park, Rushegura, and Habinyanja. Rushaga sector has got the largest number of habituated gorillas and it has got groups including the Busingye, Bweeza, Kahungye, Mishaya, Nshongi, Bikingi which is an ongoing group to be habituated.

Ruhija is another sector with a largest bamboo zone and it the swamp which gave the park the name Bwindi is found in this sector,  this sector has got groups including Mukiza, Oruzogo, Bitukura, Kyaguriro which is specifically for research. Nkuringo is the fourth sector within the park and this has got groups such as Bushaho and the Nkuringo group.

The other gorilla group in Uganda is found in the Uganda’s smallest national park but of a magnificent value, this park has got the three Virunga volcanoes including Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Muhavura and Mount Gahinga. The Nyakagezi gorilla group is the only trekked groups in the park and due to the less dense vegetation, visitors who enjoy photography prefer this park since there is a clear view of taking photos.

Further with gorilla trekking safari in Africa, Rwanda offers the second option to those who wish to visit the Africa for gorilla trekking and habituation. Visiting Rwanda will give the incite of how true the African continent is due to the rolling hills spread all over the country hence being named a land of a “Thousand Hills”. Gorilla tracking in Rwanda is one of the best tourist activity which though with a much price tag of $1500 per person par trek.

Tracking is done from volcanoes national park and the country, the park has got different volcanoes with Karisimbi being the highest volcano at 4507m and Mount Sabyinyo being the oldest standing at 3634m, mount Muhabura, Bisoke, Mgahinga, and Mikeno being the other mountains within the park. The park has got different habituated gorilla groups that are tracked by 80 people per day.

These includes the Sabyinyo group which is found around Mt Sabyinyo and it is the easiest, these can be found within two hours of hike, this group is led by Guhonda which is the male silver back weighing around 220kg. Amahoro is another group which is led by Ubumwe and there is a steep climb to find this group, Susa group is currently the largest group and it was once studied by Dian Fossey, this group has got the oldest gorilla known as Poppy who was born in 1976.

Kwitonda group has got three silver backs and it’s found around Mt Muhabura and it comes across from Congo and Uganda to settle around the mountain, Hirwa group has also emerged from other groups and it is one of the newest group within the park and it is found around the foothills of Mt Sabyinyo plus Agashya group and the Umubano gorilla groups hence offering visitors with a choice of which group to track.

The third option to go for gorilla trekking is the DR. Congo, DR. Congo orders Uganda to the west and Rwanda also to the west, Virunga Mountain is where the first national park in Africa Albert National park is found, this was letter rebranded Virunga National Park and this is where the endangered mountain gorillas are tracked, this park has got a number of mountain gorillas.

Visitors to the country can enjoy double gorilla trekking in the two national parks with Kahuzi Biega being the second national park in the country where the Eastern Lowland gorillas can be tracked. Gorilla tracking permits in DR. Congo costs $400 per person per day and per park