Most of the wildlife holiday vacations, probably lead to Africa. Trotters from all over the world flock the continent to venture into the natural wonders that it is blessed with. And doubtlessly, gorilla trekking weighs much more than any other activity on an African safari.
Amidst the immense diversity and versatility that would take a lifetime to explore it all, travelers still opt for Gorilla trekking. With Africa increasingly becoming a renowned destination making waves in the new tourism era, one may think that the most beautiful places in Africa are the most visited ones.
However it’s not the case, the experience that a destination or activity presents makes it worth or unworthy the huge number of tourists. And the fact that gorilla trekking ranks among the top must do things in Africa, most visitors would ask if it is worth to prioritize.
Three of the African countries offer gorilla trekking adventures, namely; Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo are the prime homes of the total population of the remaining endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats in the world, others are in the zoos.
Having visited the Robben Island and the table mountain in South Africa, mountain Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti migration in Tanzania, Namaqualand of Namibia, Victoria falls of Zambia, pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the Omo river in Ethiopia and other African treasures, it’s now time to embark on a gorilla safari in Uganda, Rwanda or D. R. Congo.
Gorilla trekking is one of Africa’s most exclusive wildlife encounters that any adventurous traveler wouldn’t miss. Being endangered creatures, their populations are still in hundreds that they are named and differentiated by their faces and unique personalities.
Mountain gorillas live in the protected stretches of the continent; Bwindi impenetrable rainforest, Mgahinga national park in Uganda, the lush Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in D. R. Congo, all positioned in the great Virunga series of volcanoes in Central Africa.
Gorilla treks in Rwanda, Uganda or D. R. Congo involve narrow hiking trails that go through the thick jungle, having to pave your way out with a walking stick or machete while wiping away the sweat from your face. Hiking up the ranges with just the camera and the thrill of expectation is the tune of every trek before the magical hour of direct encounter with gorillas themselves.
On the gorilla search, expect to see the various unique tree species, other forest wildlife species like the forest elephants, primates like the colobus monkeys, grey cheeked monkeys and baboons. A gorilla trekking trip in Uganda guarantees travelers a cultural encounter with the Batwa ancient pygmies, the first inhabitants of the impenetrable forest in Bwindi.
After minutes and hours of overcoming the glossy black against the luminous green of the rain-forests, finally meet the mighty silverback heading and watching over a habituated gorilla family in the jungle. The thrills are simply unimaginable, all your efforts of the forest trek fume into an instant encounter with these giant apes, a moment that you will remember for a lifetime.
The magical hour that trekkers spend with the gorillas is extremely intimate. It is more like entering a family sitting room, take your snaps and then observe the mighty animals of the jungle in an exceptional close-up.
The one hour can never be enough, but it’s a once in a lifetime hour, one that you can never forget. Looking directly into the red eyes of the formidable silverback, watching the juveniles play with each other, jumping form one tree branch to another simply creates lifelong memories.
Trekkers are usually shocked by the way the silverback jealously protects its family, it can fight to death just to secure its troop. Gorillas play, love and care for each other, they also become angry just like the humans.
They are always amazing moments while trekking the gorillas, and if it’s a safari in Africa and it doesn’t include gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest in Uganda, volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in D. R. Congo, it is not worth it. Gorilla treks in Africa solely furnish the best wildlife encounters that all other trips in Africa couldn’t offer even when summed all together.
