Yes, gorilla trekking is worth the money it costs. Gorilla trekking is the most expensive tourism product both in Uganda and Rwanda. This is mainly because these gentle creatures are very rare and can only be found in four national parks in three African countries like Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. National parks with mountain gorillas include Bwindi national park and Mgahinga in Uganda, Volcanoes in Rwanda then Virunga in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Costs of gorilla permits
Rwanda has the most expensive gorilla permits for both gorilla tracking and habituation which costs USD 1500 each followed by that of Uganda which costs USD 600 then lastly that of DR Congo costing USD 450. Gorilla permits in Congo cost less compared to other places because of low demand for gorilla permits and it’s because of civil conflicts and political fights. Sometimes rangers are kidnapped and killed within the Virunga National Park which scares away tourists from going there hence the high demand in Rwanda and Uganda.
Note; Gorilla permits still cost USD 600 for tracking and USD 1,500 for habituation but starting on 1st July, gorilla permit for gorilla tracking will cost USD 700 after Uganda Wildlife Authority decided to increase its price. This is because of the increased costs, Uganda Wildlife Authority is meeting in the conserving these gentle creatures and the habitat where they live.
Is gorilla tracking worth it?
Gorilla trekking is an adventurous activity that involves going through difficulties through hiking but when you set your eyes on these gentle creatures, you don’t regret why you paid your money for the experience. In order to go for gorilla trekking, you should be physically fit because the activity involves hiking the muddy, slippery, wet, thorny bushes high altitudes of the mountains where these mountain gorillas stay, clients should also expect the use of much energy and discomfort since hiking is done in the tropical rain forests in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Volcanoes National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Virunga National Park. Clients should also expect to use a lot of energy and time when looking for these gentle giants. However, the load of work is reduced by the porters at the destination who are hired to carry some luggage for the clients so clients shouldn’t be worried about anything because the experience is worth it.
Here are the reasons as to why we convince our clients that gorilla trekking is worth the money it costs.
The social interaction of these mountain gorillas is amazing to see especially when they are all together as a family. These mountain gorillas are human-like in behavior. For example, they groom each other, feed their young ones, play with their baby gorillas, silverbacks protect their families since they are the leaders and protectors of their families. All sorts of interactions among the gorillas are amazing to see when you are close to them. Observing the mountain gorillas while interacting amongst themselves makes the experience worth the cost.
Secondly setting your eyes on a silverback/male gorilla is so amazing. This is because it’s physically different from the other family members like the mother gorillas and young ones. This is because it has a silver stripe on its back fur which it acquires when developing into adulthood. They are also big in size as compared to other family members.
In Uganda, 20% of the revenue generated from tourism is taken back to the communities neighboring these attractions, these funds are used to start up projects where community members can benefit from like jobs creation in the park environs, social services hence improving their standards of living and realizing the importance of these gentle creatures. In Rwanda, 10% is diverted back to communities neighboring these parks.
The rest of the revenue is used by the government to improve on the medical services, schools, improving on-road infrastructure among others. The reviews we get from our clients also convince us that the gorilla trekking experience is worth the cost because they are always positive.
The gorilla tracking and gorilla habituation are done under the guidance of knowledgeable, experienced and friendly trackers and rangers who provide all the information you would like to know about the experience and they welcome questions too from the participants of tracking. There is also an increase in the number of tourists coming to both Rwanda and Uganda for gorilla tracking and habituation even when the gorilla permits are expensive. This shows you that the experience is worth the cost.
Gorilla tracking and habituation require porters and local people to carry a backpack for the tourists going for gorilla experience and this provides them with jobs since they earn from the service they provide hence improved standards of living.
In conclusion, the one-hour interaction with the mountain gorillas starts from the time you set your eyes on a gorilla family and it’s designed for our clients to carefully observe the social interaction of these creatures, take photos, record videos and also enjoy the company of the mountain gorillas in their natural home.
Requirements for gorilla tracking and gorilla habituation
· Hiking boots
· Thick socks
· Gaiters to keep ants off your boots
· Walking sticks
