Primates are relished world wide due to their resemblance to humans, but the 800-pound gorilla only loams in the thick forests and hilly areas of East Africa. A close encounter to these shy and endemic gems can be sighted from the prestigious mountains and thick forests of Africa. It is the only place around the world where one can achieve this dream. People who wish to quench the wanderlust should visit any of the three rich countries – Uganda, Rwanda and D.R. Congo.

Uganda

The Pearl of Africa always protects this title vividly with various gems that it hosts, including being home to half of the population of mountain gorillas found in the world. Unlike other countries with these rare gems, Uganda has two beautifully unique national parks where these magnificent apes can be caught sight of.

Bwindi impenetrable national park

This impenetrable forest is sacred to the lives of majority of mountain gorillas that breath on earth because it is estimated over 400 that are divided into several habituated groups in different sectors.

The first gorilla region in Bwindi national park is Buhoma but visitors have alternatives to three other gorilla sectors that offer equal excitement; Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo with a lot of history resting in the different premises concerning evolution of gorilla families and the sectors at large.

Mgahinga gorilla national park

Historically, this was used to curb the excess bookings that were offered to Bwindi impenetrable national park and currently it accounts for 10% of gorilla trekking activities undertaken in the country.

The only gorilla family in this park was known for crossing boundaries since this national park is in Virunga massif near D.R. Congo – Rwanda borders. While in this park, tourists are sure at admiring one gorilla family called Nyakagezi that has five silverbacks which is a unique feature.

Rwanda

Being part of the Virunga massif gives this country a chance to house the rarely seen mountain gorillas as they take refuge in some of the mountains that make up Virunga ranges. Volcanoes national park, adopting its name from the five peaks of Virunga ranges that are spotted from the park, has about 12 gorilla families that are well habituated.

Each country has a unique way of handling these rare gems, so visitors to this national park get to enjoy baby gorilla naming ceremony called Kwita Izina and also appreciate intensive research that was done by the greatest primatologist of all times Dr. Dian Fossey in protecting lives of these human cousins.

Democratic Republic of Congo

This country is home to three gorilla species hence a visitor can spot the western lowland gorillas, eastern lowland and mountain gorillas while in D.R. Congo. Mountain gorillas are caught sight of in Virunga national park, which is found within the Virunga Massif.

Trekking gorillas in this country comes with a lot of uniqueness; e.g., it’s the only place in the world where orphaned gorillas are well comforted, picking a leaf from fighting human depression and better yet tourists get to kill two birds with one stone as they get to sight both mountain gorillas and lowland gorillas in the same country.

The cost of gorilla permits in each country

Uganda

The cost of gorilla trekking in Uganda is relatively fair compared to her neighbor Rwanda since a single gorilla trekking permit goes for $700 per person. Gorilla habituation is exceptionally done in Uganda and it costs $ 1500 per person for four hours that tourists get to spend with a semi-habituated family of gorillas.

Rwanda

This is a high-end destination since it is the most expensive of all the gorilla trekking countries in Africa. A gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda goes for $1500.

R. Congo

This is the cheapest of all gorilla destinations and any tourist interested in a budget gorilla safari should only save $400 for this permit, valid per person for a particular date.

When to do gorilla trekking tours?

Trekking over dust is much easier to hiking over mud hence the dry season that runs between June to October and December to February are the best for trekking mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda.  In D. R. Congo, May to September and December to February give a proficient treatment to gorilla trekkers.

Other activities to do in these National parks apart from gorillas trekking

Hiking the volcanoes

Three of the four mountian gorilla national parks are in the Virunga Massif which gives tourists the chance to spot on the wonders of the volcanoes. Some of the volcanoes are extinct and the dark smoke given off by the active volcanoes like Nyiragongo offer amazement to tourists who spot it from a far.

Mount. Karisimbi offers the most challenging hike of all the hikes but tourists can also aim for the active Nyiragongo so that they spot on the res hot magma whirling in the mountian and also glimpse on the lava Lake found at the top of the mountain.

Viewing other wildlife

The parks are best known for the mountian gorillas they inhabit however they protect lives of other unique features that can be eyed on while in the park like the gigantic forest elephants, buffaloes, giant forest hogs, bush backs, spotted hyenas among others. Golden monkeys can uniquely be caught sight of by visitors while in Mgahinga and Volcanoes National Park.

Cultural encounters

The Batwa pygmies who once lived in the Virunga can still be seen on the fringes of Mgahinga and Bwindi national parks. Even after being displaced from these forests, their lives still depend on the national parks.

They still stay around the parks hence tourists can learn a lot from their traditions and history like how they hunted, protected their premises and spent their day-to-day life while on a walk through the forest.

Nature walks

There is nothing as good and as refreshing as green, therefore visitors who engage in achieving physical fitness as they unleash the unseen treasures found in the forests hit two birds with one stone. While on a nature walk, visitors get to enjoy the sounds given off by nature’s residents, like birds, elephants goring, butterflies, primates etc. Cool breezes are given off on the shores of lakes, rivers and springs hence no one should miss out on chancing them.