How Much is Gorilla tracking Permit?

 

How Much is Gorilla Permit?

One can ask himself or herself this question. What is a gorilla permit?  Before we get to know how much is gorilla permit cost , one need to know what is this gorilla permit all about?  A gorilla permit is paper print or virtual/card   document issued by Government body and  in Uganda by  Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and in Rwanda by ORTPN   authorizing the holder to visit the gorillas in the their natural habitat in this case in Uganda gorilla trekking or call it tracking takes place at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National park. While in Rwanda gorilla tracking take place at Volcanoes National park and IN DRC Congo at Virunga National park.

Effective 1^st July 2020 a gorilla permit in Uganda will cost US $ 700. While in Rwanda the cost of Gorilla permit has been and is still costing US $ 1500. A gorilla permit is a one day visit to the gorillas . A gorilla permit is usually booked  and paid in advance say for some good months or a year before coming. This is done because gorilla permits at time are sold out and to avoid missing out on trekking mountain gorillas it better booking and paying for in advance. Travel  Hemispheres as a ground tour operator in Uganda , Rwanda and DRC Congo will help you to book and secure for  your gorilla trekking permit in time .

 

8 people are allowed to visit one gorilla family . Mature people are allowed to Trek gorillas  and minimum age is 15 years of age allowed to trek mountain gorillas. 1 hour is allowed to view and stay with gorillas  once gorillas are sited.  Trekking can take many or few hours and all depend on the family trekked. Remember gorillas move inside the parks and are not stationed in one place. Your guides  will help you to  lead all the way through until you are out of the forest back to your Lodge.

Do gorillas talk or communicate?

 

Do Gorillas communicate among themselves or call it GORILLA VOCALIZATIONS

 

Twenty-five distinct vocalizations are recognized, many of which are used primarily for group communication within dense vegetation. Gorilla Sounds  are classified as grunts and barks are heard most frequently while traveling, and indicate the whereabouts of individual group members (Harcourt et al. 1993). They may also be used during social interactions when discipline is required. Screams and roars signal alarm or warning, and are produced most often by silverbacks. Deep, rumbling belches suggest contentment and are heard frequently during feeding and resting periods. They are the most common form of intra group communication (Fossey 1983).

Because of the extensive research begun by Dr. Fossey and since carried on by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International and other gorilla conservation groups, the mountain gorilla is one of the most understood of all gorillas. The general consensus of those who work closely with the mountain gorillas is that they are generally peaceful and gentle.

This doesn’t mean that they won’t occasionally charge, scream or show their teeth, to an outsider or within the group itself. Most of these Mountain Gorilla actions are meant to serve as warnings, to ward off danger or to prevent a fight. Mountain gorillas can communicate in a variety of ways, including facial expressions, sounds, postures and gestures. There is the classic chest beating by male gorillas, which is used to show stature, scare off opponents or even to prevent a fight. When the Mountain Gorilla feels threatened they can make a variety of loud sounds, resembling roars or screams. Facial expressions are mostly used as communication. An open mouth with both upper and lower teeth showing means regressions. A closed mouth with clenched teeth could signal anger.

 

One of the nicest sounds is heard when the group is resting after a period of feeding. Mountain gorillas roughly spend 30% of their day feeding, 30% moving, and 40% resting. At dusk, they prepare to settle down for the night and sleep in nests made of vegetation that the gorillas shove under and around them. Forming of nests is mainly the bending of soft trees, breaking mature bamboo sticks and other tree species that have broad leaves to provide a blanket and shield against the cold. Mothers find a comfortable spot where their backs will be supported as they breast feed and cuddle their babies for the night.

Uganda Gorilla Trekking safaris

 Country Uganda is famous for Mountain Gorilla trekking safaris. Uganda is the home of mountain Gorillas found in Bwindi Impenetrable forest and Mgahinga National parks. These 2 national parks are a natural habitat for mountain gorillas and famous for gorilla tracking safaris. We have arranged captivating Gorilla tours of unforgettable mountain gorilla trekking experiences of one’s lifetime. Mountain gorillas stay in families and are habituated for human interaction. Gorilla safaris include gorilla habituation experience and gorilla trekking safaris and tours inside Bwindi impenetrable forest National park and Mgahinga National  Park. Uganda Hosts more than half the population of mountain gorillas living in the world.

Gorilla trekking is and Incredible experience that one may not underestimate as many may think that it is just a walk. But gorillatrekking is carried out in an impenetrable forest of Bwindi forest national park  that has existed for thousand years and is among the African tropical forests that are still intact and exist in south western  Uganda as a country. You will be trekking hills up and down as the topography  of the area is hilly and  with wide valleys . The day begins with briefing from rangers post or park headquarters. The assembling will be  composed of rangers to guide you, trackers and guides. Also strong Bakiga men who work as porters whom individual trackers will hire their services to  help them carry their back packs and even can support you to give you push if will get tired before getting out of the forest.   Will also need good walking shoes  and a jacket call it rain coat as rain may not be ruled out on every day while still deep in the forest. At times this real African rain forest because you may not miss rain almost on daily basis

 

The time taken for trekking mountain gorillas vary .  Time may range from half and hour to 8 hours if not  the whole day. All depends on the movement of these gentle giants in the forest habitat . Rangers will lead you where the family of gorillas slept. Then from here will start walking into their foot steps until you encounter them. It is this process that trackers will be taking you through where will climb hills/mountains and come down into the valleys and repeat the same activity for different hills and valleys. Then your efforts will pay when you hear low grunting  sound followed by another grunt and your guide turns his head and tells you that keep quite and move forward slowly.

 

Remember you are in a thick canopy of vegetation putting on a curtain and visibility is almost limited. Actually at one point when interacting with our clients of Travel Hemispheres she paused this question . Since it  is always dark ( impenetrable forest) are  we going to carry torches to help us provide light? Well I laughed but told the client that during the day you do not have to carry a torch but the canopy above ,allows  limited sun light that will mange to get through and seeing mountain gorillas will be fine.  So here will come time when you see the family of gorillas you have been trekking. Will sit back and watch juveniles  - play rolling and shoving each other across the forest while the other members of the family chewing what they have eaten. Each family has head called Sliverback  mountain gorilla. This  can be seen easily because it the dominant  one with grey hair on its back . Usually the sliverback is usually reserved and will keep on watching you at distance. He may demonstrate  his ability and authority by pushing himself through the family moving forward and backwards his sheer size and stature casting a shadow of respect. He may pose momentarily , flick at one of the juveniles absently or crash to the forest floor but it realizes no body is questioning his authority  yourself will feel a tingle going down your spine.

 

Having watched for an hour viewing your forest hosts then your guide will  tap your shoulders signaling that time is over to start trekking back slowly back to your location of  stay. As move and walk back  will be exalted the life of these mountain gorillas in such cold environments and have existed here from time immemorial .

Mountain gorillas are trekked throughout the year and booking gorillas expedition will require you to purchase and secure gorilla permit in time before  visitation date. Travel hemispheres has been leading in gorilla safaris and securing mountain gorillas on behalf the clients . We offer full packages of gorilla safaris combining them with other wildlife  Uganda safaris. We scale out down budget gorilla safaris that will fit your pockets.

  

What is  a Mountain Gorilla Sliver Back Gorilla?

Mountain gorillas differ from lowland gorillas (Western Gorillas). At first scientists thought there was no difference between these gorillas.  The sliver back  gorilla is from the  is Mature male mountain gorillas of about 12 years that have grown a sliver grey hair on its back. A saddle of grey hair grows on its back after attaining sexually maturity age. Gorillas are very social animals and each group call it a family may have 5 up 30 or 40 members headed by 1 sliver back mountain gorilla.  A such group will have a sliver back or two of them heading the family. Other members of the group may contain females who are wives to the sliver back thus sliver back gorillas are polygamous in nature. Others are Juveniles and infants. The dominant sliver back commands the family and gives protection and other young sliver backs take orders from the head. Orders may include the directions to take while searching for food and if threatened who should fight first . A silver back enjoys the center of attraction at any time in the group or family.