Chances of seeing mountain gorillas – Chances of encountering mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda
Chances of seeing mountain gorillas – Many travellers who visit Uganda and Rwanda and participate in Gorilla tracking, pay USD700 for Uganda Gorilla permits and USD1500 for Rwanda Gorilla permits per person per trek would not want to miss to seeing the Mountain Gorillas. Every traveller would like to have the worth of his/her money by having the best and a memorable safari experience. The most asked question is what are the chances of seeing Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks in Uganda and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda?
Chances of seeing Mountain Gorillas in the wild
Chances of seeing Mountain Gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda measure up to 95% chances meaning that, travellers have a higher chance of seeing the Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park known to be a home to half of the world remaining population of Mountain Gorillas, the park has four trial head sectors from which Gorilla tracking takes place, each sector in Bwindi forest has different Gorilla habituated families that has enabled trekkers on Gorilla tracking to see the Gorillas. Bwindi forest alone has 18 habituated Gorilla families and one trekked in Mhahnga Gorilla National Park to make a total of 19 habituated Gorilla families in Uganda, the other remaining Mountain Gorillas are seen in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and also in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The reason explaining why chances of seeing Mountain Gorillas are high is that Gorilla tracking experience is the most valued activity with the highest tourist population in Uganda and Rwanda, therefore the ranger guides already know the location of the Gorillas due to their constant visits and monitoring of the habituated Gorilla families therefore, by the time they live with the tourists in to the forest, there is possibility that they already know the current location of the Gorillas from the previous night. In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Volcanoes National Park, the group of trekkers live early morning in to the forest following the movement of the Gorillas and when they have located the Gorillas, they will inform the park headquarters of the current location of the Gorillas, from there is when the ranger guide and the tourists begin the trek in the forest following from the advanced time who already discovered the location of the Gorillas. These altogether has enabled tourist who come to Uganda and Rwanda to see and have time with the once endangered Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat.
Another reason is that tour operators always advise clients to book their Gorilla permits earlier at least 3 month in advance for the Gorilla tracking, so that the remaining time before travelling can be used for early preparations where clients are advised on what to pack, travelers who may not make it to the Gorillas are advised since Gorilla tracking exercise is a bit strenuous and will require one to be physically fit in order to hike steep slopes. Travellers are given briefing before the start of the exercise so that you are equipped with information about Gorilla tracking ,travelers are advised to take along porters with them on their Gorilla tracking, they help in carrying your rack sack and keeping them for you while you are with the Gorillas in case the hiking seems hard, they can also offer you a push or pull which will help you gain more strength and continue with the exercise , sometimes, they can also help to locate the Gorillas for you.
Another reason is Gorilla tracking is done on habituated Gorilla families, the habituation process lasts for 2-3 years and by the end of this process, the Gorillas are fully used to human presence, therefore when travelers visit them, the chances of them running and hiding from humans are few since they are used to humans. This has helped travelers to also see the Gorillas whenever the visit the habituated Gorilla families.
Gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda has also been made simple for all travelers having interest in Gorilla tracking, in all the national parks where Gorilla tracking takes place, allocation of which Gorilla family you will visit is done according to physical fitness ability and interest to trek the Gorillas. Even those who are not strong enough to hike steep slopes are allocated simpler Gorilla families compared to Travellers who are energetic and strong enough to hike, with the help of porters and sadden chairs has enabled Gorilla tracking to be simple and enjoyable to all the travelers. Those who are a bit scared of not being physically fit, can now trek without fear and have higher chances to see the Gorillas. Therefore, every traveler is entitled to Gorilla tracking regardless of physical fitness or age, even when old, you can full fill your dream of having an encounter with the gentle Gorillas in the thick tropical forest of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks and the Volcanoes National Park.
For more information about chances of seeing the Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks and Volcanoes National Park and all the necessary preparations for your Gorilla tracking safari, do not hesitate to contact Great Adventure Safaris, we will advise you accordingly as you are planning your Gorilla safari and you will be assured of the best and memorable safari in Uganda or Rwanda for the Gorilla tracking.
