Gorilla trekking is a one in a life time experience that involves making a hike to the Virunga Mountains’ slopes where you can encounter the incredible mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Mountain gorillas thrive only in the Virunga region in East Africa that encompasses strictly three countries namely Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. In Uganda, gorilla trekking can only be done in two National Parks namely Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park located in the southwestern region still endowed with the Afromontane lowland forests that harbor these endangered gorillas. In Rwanda, gorilla trekking can only be done in Volcanoes National Park and Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Gorilla trekking starts with your arrival to the gorilla trekking destination, a briefing about the gorilla trekking dos and don’ts is undertaken at the Park headquarters before you delve into the Virunga jungle to embark on the search of the gorillas. The search of these endangered gorillas lasts for about 1 hour to 6 hours depending various factors such as the nearness or proximity of the gorilla family, mobility of the gorilla family and location of the gorilla family one has been assigned to trek. After the gorilla family that one was tasked to trek has been located, an hour is allowed with the gorillas as he or she takes photographs while learning about how they go by their daily life for example feeding, breastfeeding, playful infants, their gentleness and their aggressiveness and violentness in case they feel unsecure and disturbed although this is a rare occasion most especially among the habituated families.
However gorilla trekking is always made less strenuous by a group of rangers moving ahead of the trekkers to find them before they leave their nests and stay with them while they send coordinates to your trekking guide as they try to locate them easily. Gorilla trekking on the extent can be challenging due to several factors for example impenetrable misty jungles, high altitudes to be climbed, unforeseeable weather conditions, rough and rugged terrains and many more though it’s so rewarding having overcome all the above.
Best time for gorilla trekking
One can opt to go for gorilla trekking throughout the year since their movements are not at any time affected by changing seasons although the drier season offers better conditions. Therefore the dry season is the best time to go trekking the gorillas since the weather is favorable and the trails are not muddy and challenging compared to the rainy season. The dry season is in the months of June to September and December to February while the wet season is always in the months of March to May and October to November.