COMPARING GORILLA TRACKING EXPERIENCE IN DRC, UGANDA AND RWANDA

The democratic republic of Congo houses the lists number of these endangered apes and they live in the Virunga volcanoes national park, the park has 6 gorilla families although many trackers prefer tracking in four gorilla families. In DRC, only four people are allowed to track in each gorilla family, sighting gorillas in Congo is at 5/5 however infrastructures is still problem although it’s steadily becoming politically stable. DRC also houses the western low land gorillas where two of the seven groups have been habituated for guests to track. In Rwanda and Uganda gorilla tracking is limited to eight members per day and arrangements to meet these giants is done every sighting is superb in both countries and a very a big percentage of these remaining mountain gorillas live in Uganda then followed by Rwanda .This is why most of the Uganda Safaris recorded involve trekking these rare primates in their natural habitats.

In Uganda (Bwindi impenetrable national park) and Rwanda (volcanoes national park) you find mountain gorillas. Uganda has over 11 habituated gorilla families ready for tracking each day and two gorilla families for research purpose and you are allocated to a group each day, this means that 88 people can track in Bwindi national park every day in a group of eight members per gorilla group. Rwanda has ten habituated gorilla groups and 80 members are allowed to track in volcanoes national park each.

 Rwanda’s generally regarded as the best destination for gorilla tracking to some trackers who have experienced gorilla tracking in both countries  as gorillasof Rwanda are a bit easy to find and photography is good as compared to the impenetrable forest of Uganda and the Virunga ranges in Congo. for a quick two or three day gorilla trek Rwanda takes it all even a one day gorilla safari Rwanda can be arranged, one has to depart Kigali very early in the morning and arrive at the park headquarters in Kinigi before 7.00am to receive briefings from the park warden, then after proceed to the forest to meet these endangered apes, after the one hour with these apes, depart back to Kigali or airport for a departure flight back home. A one day gorilla safari in Uganda is impossible, from Kampala to Bwindi national park is a drive of about 7-9 hours those who need experience prefer Uganda.

  

Gorillas of Uganda are scattered across different areas of the park, tracking can be done either in the north western side of the forest (Buhoma), North east in (Ruhija) south western part (Nkuringo) and the south west of the forest (Rushaga). Your permit is for a particular area of the park each houses at least 3-4 gorilla families and accommodation is determined depending on which side you’re going to track. Don’t worry; we shall advise you on where to sleep and on permits. For those interested in long tours Uganda is generally the best.

Gorilla permits  in Democratic republic of Congo costs usd$450 and in Uganda gorilla permits are sold according to seasons, in the high seasons gorilla permits costs usd$600 and in the low seasons of April, May and September gorilla permits are at a fee of usd$350 per person per tracking. Tracking in Rwanda is considered the most expensive as permits costs $750 per person per tracking all these cots is inclusive of the ranger guide and a park entry fee. In terms of costs, Gorilla tracking is the most expensive tourist activity in all these three countries, but its regarded as the most done tourist activity, a lot of revenue is collected as many tourists come and have a close encounter with these endangered apes in their natural habitat, this has improved on the wellbeing of the people particularly those who live near the parks.