The forests of Africa are not only defined by their distinct natural beauty and levels of endemism. In a much deeper sense, some of them haven the most significant and compellingly intrinsic experiences and memories, provided by unique and lovely creatures in those forests. This is the story of the gorillas and a gorilla trekking experience within the misty forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Virunga National Park and Parc Nationals des Volcans. Below are some of the most frequent questions asked about gorilla trekking!
What is gorilla trekking?
Gorilla trekking is the act of tracking the gorillas within the forests of the Virunga landscape, across different valleys and hills which make the journey quite long on foot. The trekking thus usually involves hiking and climbing for hours until one reaches the mountain gorillas in their natural environment. Gorilla trekking takes place in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC and is phenomenal, rewarding and and adventurous outdoor activity in the pursuit on coming close to these endemic creatures of an African forest. You get to spend one hour with them after the trekking.
what is gorilla trekking like?
Gorilla trekking involves moving through the forest to track a certain gorilla group under the guidance of armed rangers who keep providing information and porters who help out on the luggage and other activities. The trekking takes between 2 to 7 hours during which you tend to move through different tree species, valleys, hills and ecosystem to achieve an experience like no other, which is the opportunity to spend an hour with the human-like gentle creatures. Once you have found the gorillas, you are allowed to spend an hour observing them and taking photos while maintaining a distance of 8m. The trek may be tiresome in some cases but it is really interesting to navigate through a diversity of sorts in search for the ultimate adrenaline experience.
What to wear during gorilla trekking?
What to wear during Gorilla trekking is the same for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park as well as Volcanoes National Park. Since the area is forested and mountainous, rain and cold are both expected and common. Thus, it is recommended that one wears proper hiking boots, long waterproof trousers, gloves and rain gears. Long sleeved shirts are also good to wear during the gorilla trekking experience. Sometimes it is hot and sunny, so the right clothing would involve also carrying a sunscreen and a sun hat. Insect repellant is also important wear.
what to bring gorilla trekking?
Some of the things to bring during a gorilla trekking tour include the following:
- At least 1-2 liters of drinking water per person during the trekking.
- Camera and extra batteries.
- waterproof bags to protect cameras and other equipment when hiking, just in case it rains.
Your guide should ensure that all your documents are on you by the time you go to the briefing center to be assigned a gorilla group and told about the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking.
Is gorilla trekking in Uganda worth it?
Yes indeed!! Gorilla trekking is worth it due to the lifetime experience and priceless memories that are associated with it despite the price, trek and distance. The trekking caters for all sorts of people, starting from the adventurous, team building enthusiasts, nature lovers, conservationists and hikers among others. All these interests come alive and are fulfilled in just one activity. The idea of seeing the endangered human-like creatures in their natural environment is rare and worth it. These gorillas are not only few but also found in only one geographical area- the Virunga massif, shared by Uganda, Rwanda and DRC. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is cheaper than in Rwanda, but more expensive than in DRC. The money collected directly supports conservation efforts to maintain the mountain gorilla populations or even increase them. Currently, there are only 1063 mountain gorillas alive, according to estimates.
what to take gorilla trekking?
Currently due to COVID-19, it is recommended that you carry masks and a hand sanitizer as a way of following the Standard Operating Procedures in addition to the trekking gear that includes clothing and associated accessories like the insect repellants.
Is gorilla trekking dangerous?
No it is not! Gorilla trekking is not dangerous as people might anticipate. This is because only habituated mountain gorillas are available for trekking. Habituation means that these gorillas have been made to get used to human presence and perceive it as unharmful. The habituation experience takes up to 2 years when rangers, researchers and scientists follow up gorillas every day until they declare them safe for trekking. Gorillas are generally gentle and will resort to fleeing behavior if approached while unhabituated. However, it is recommended to keep a safe distance from the gorillas, unless a gorilla comes near you, touches you or approaches you. In that case, it is advisable to stay calm, crouch down slowly, look aside and act like you don’t possess any intentions of threat. In this way, the mountain gorilla won’t perceive you as a threat and will simply walk away after some time and return to its family. It is also recommended that you avoid certain gestures like beating the chest, looking them into the eyes directly as these might induce retaliation from the gentle giants.
But if you are elderly or unfit, please ensure that you remain safe by requesting for an easier gorilla group to trek. For example Mishaya in Rushaga sector of Bwindi is said to be an easier group.
Is gorilla trekking safe?
Yes, gorilla trekking is safe . All the conditions for protection were well set in the different National parks, including regular patrols by tourism police and the army in areas of the park. In addition, you are always under the protection of armed park rangers who guide you through the forest. And since the gorillas are not inherently dangerous, this makes the gorilla trekking experience safe. The gorilla trekking is safe in both Uganda and Rwanda. However, we cannot guarantee 100% safety in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the reasons associated with military activity and unrest in that part of the world.
Is gorilla trekking ethical?
Yes, gorilla trekking is surely ethical. Dian Fossey, one of the very first people to research about the gorillas actually never wanted the gorillas to be trekked. However, the trekking experience comes with a huge conservation value since part of the money goes into conservation efforts to ensure the well being of the gorillas. It is such efforts that saw the gorillas move from the critically endangered IUCN category to endangered. Furthermore, the trekking experience is another conservation lesson to many trekkers and surrounding communities that enables protected area authorities to inculcate the conservation heart in them. Communities that used to poach in these protected areas are now realizing the intrinsic value associated with them when they work as porters as well as through revenue sharing, since the area authorities share with them a percentage of the money collected. Some of the money goes into road construction and other activities that help the community to develop. However, it is not advisable to trek the gorillas when one is unwell. This is because the gorillas can acquire some of the infections that affect humans.
Important to note is the fact that even though tourism activities like gorilla trekking happen, conservation is still the highest priority and there are strict regulations to ensure that ecosystem integrity is maintained.
is gorilla trekking worth it?
Yes. Gorilla trekking is by all means worth it!! The high conservation value, the exhilarating experience and the time is worth the price paid and even more! Trekking automatically contributes to the conservation of these endangered creatures who can only be found in one part of the world; the Virunga massif. These mountain gorillas cannot survive in captivity and thus cannot be found in zoos. This makes it all the more worth it. When you trek the gorillas, you get an opportunity to spend one hour with them. Even though some find this unworthy of the money, it is important to note that the time limits are for the good conservation value and health of the gorillas to avoid stress and other associated health factors that could spread infection.
Is gorilla trekking worth the money?
Yes surely! It is worth the money, owing to the rare opportunity to see them. Gorillas are only found in the wild. They can’t be found in a zoo so the opportunity of seeing them is thus very valuable.
Where to go gorilla trekking?
In order to do gorilla trekking, you would need to go to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga gorilla park, Volcanoes National Park or Virunga National Park. Mountain gorilla trekking is done in only 3 countries in this world and all these different parks are located in Uganda (Bwindi and Mgahinga, Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park) and DRC (Virunga National Park.) Low-land gorilla visits also happen but this is in the forests of West Africa. Thus mountain gorillas can only be seen on the Virunga Mountains.
What are the gorilla trekking rules?
The gorilla trekking rules in Uganda and Rwanda are the same, with the exception of the testing requirements involved in Rwanda gorilla trekking. All the countries state that a maximum of 8 guests are needed per trek. Others include:
- Please note the age limit of 15 years and above for gorilla tracking.
- Book your permits well in advance as only 8 permits are issued per gorilla group in a day.
- You should be free from infectious diseases such as Flu which can be passed to the gorillas since humans share 98% DNA with gorillas. If you are found to carry an infectious disease you will not be allowed to track.
- Every participant has the chance to hire a trekking assistance (porter) who will help carrying the bags and support whenever it is needed. For the trekking assistant an additional fee of US$ 15 is charged. Even those who consider themselves very old and don’t think they are hikers or adventurous can also successfully visit the gorillas. This can be done through hiring personal assistants to carry your daypack also to assist you in difficult areas.
- Do not use flash photography.
- Littering in the forest is not allowed!
- You are required to maintain a distance of 7 meters when you reach the gorillas. In certain instances the young gorillas may come closer to you out of curiosity to touch you. However, you are not expected to respond because the silverback could respond violently as it tries to protect the young one from you.
In DRC, the maximum number of trackers is 6 and wearing of face masks is compulsory.
Other gorilla tracking guidelines include:
Due to the COVID-19 situation, hand sanitizing, mask wearing and other SOPs should be observed. However, there will be frequent breaks during the trek to avoid the side effects of putting on a mask after a long time. You will however wear the mask when you’ve reached the gorillas.
Noise making and any other form of shouting is not allowed. Keeping the voice low is also recommended until one is hundreds of meters away from the gorillas.
You are not allowed to touch the gorillas.
Eating, drinking or smoking is not allowed near the gorillas.
When you feel unwell need to cough, turn your face away from the gorillas and do so. But if you need to ease yourself, then the guide will dig for you a hole for that which you will cover when you’re done. But if you are generally unwell and need urgent attention, then you will be carried on a stretcher and rushed outside of the forest to a nearby health facility.
What do gorillas eat?
Gorillas feed on a vegan diet that includes fruits, bamboo shoots and stems. They thus selectively eat parts of vegetation. Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) have a dietary range that includes at least 142 species of plant and 3 species of fruit. The fruit species are limited given the mountainous nature of the land and altitude. It is estimated that 86% of their dietary forage includes leaves, stems, and shoots, while 3% is flowers, 2% is fruit, 7% is roots and 2% is attributed to small ants, snails, and grubs.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, lowland gorillas also eat termites and ants, and thus break open termite nests and eat the larvae. The western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) feeds on an estimated 97 species of plant, 67% of which includes fruit, 17% seeds, leaves and stems while 3% are ants and termites. Eastern lowland gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) consume selectively parts of at least 104 species of plant.
Adult male gorillas have a weight of up to 200 kgs (440 pounds) and tend to reach heights of an estimated six feet while standing on both legs. Thus, adult gorillas can eat up to 30 kilograms of forage in a day.
How strong is a gorilla?
Gorillas are very strong primates, stronger than many humans combined. Their use of both arms and legs during movement has resulted into significant strength and muscle tissue in both arms and legs. An adult gorilla could weigh upto 200 kgs and could lift weight of upto 800 kgs (nearly 1800 pounds) Gorilla bones are said to be thicker, longer and 3 times stronger than that of humans. This gives them incredible strength and power. Their teeth bite is also too strong, resulting into 1,300 pounds per square inch.
Some people question the number of men it can take to defeat a gorilla. To give a proper estimate to this, we need to put into account the average strength of both, the nature of fighting and the historical perspective of the fight. Historically, humans only faced gorillas with the use of weapons, with which they could stealthy put down the gentle creatures. However, in a normal fight, gorillas fight wildly even with each other and would exactly do the same if engaged with humans. But considering the fact that gorilla punch power results into a force of between 1300–2700 pounds of force, it would be a huge mistake for man to engage into a one on one fight.
The strength of a gorillas punch is partly due to the arm length and muscle mass (muscle density estimated to be 4 times higher than that of humans) that give it an outstandingly competitive edge. In contrast to this, an average man can throw punches that generate a force of 150 pounds, whereas a professional boxer could go as high as 750 pounds. In addition, the strong canines that frequently tear bamboo stems can be used to destroy any enemy that attempts to challenge the gorillas.
It would be ideally insane to attempt to fight off a gorilla. It is said that a direct punch to the head from the gorilla can result into the destruction of a human skull which requires just 550 pounds to collapse. A punch into other regions of the body could leave injuries and broken bones. This is very easy, given that gorillas have longer arms (30 centimeters) more than humans. According to Nature noon, the arm span in adult male gorillas stretches from 7-feet and 7-inches to 8-feet 6-inches (2.3–2.6 meters) and from 4-feet 1-inch to 4 feet 11 inches (1.25–1.5 meters) in females.
Therefore, it would take a combination of between 12 to 20 men to carefully defeat a single gorilla. Otherwise, it is impossible for a human to defeat a gorilla.
How much can a gorilla bench press?
A gorilla can lift weight of up to 800 kgs (nearly 1800 pounds) on a bench press, in comparison to a well-trained professional that can lift up to an estimated 400 kg (882 pounds) According to Bench Press by Paul Pardner, if a human can bench press their own body weight, a gorilla would be able to theoretically bench press 6 times their own body weight. If a gorilla weighs 300 lbs that takes us to a number of 1800 lbs.
However, for a gorilla to do bench press in the same way as humans would be quite ambitious, given that a gorilla is not actually fit for movement patterns designed by humans for training during bench press. The techniques of minimizing range of motion and torque on the shoulders, retracting the scapulae and setting up with an arch in foot positioning and others require focused intelligence and adjustments in application which might well be out of possibilities by the gorillas in terms of deadlifting.
Why gorillas pound and beat their chests?
Gorilla pound and beat their chests under different circumstances that include when they are threatened, are in danger or for purposes of communication. Thus, the beating of the chest acts as a signal that the gorilla could resort to aggressive behavior if not left alone. Usually when the aggression happens, especially between two silver backs, the victor tends to beat his chest as a sign of victory. This helps to communicate to other females that he is stronger and thus attracts them. Furthermore, the thumping of the chest also helps to indicate a change in direction.
According to the Smithsonian, larger silverbacks have lower frequencies in their pounds and may use chest-beating to signal their social status, strength, and size to others. However, some researchers indicate that chest pounding could be a sign to avoid fights by indicating their body size as a result of the frequency off the beating.
What happens if you start pounding your chest in front of a mountain gorilla?
If it a silverback, the gorilla will most likely pound back in preparation for a fight since pounding could signal your exertion of dominance. However, if it is a female gorilla, it could possibly just have its eyes roll.
What do you call a baby gorilla?
Baby gorillas are called infants, just like the humans, unlike female gorillas that have no specific name. Adult males are called silverbacks while other males are called blackbacks. These infants make their nests in trees, cling to the mother gorilla’s chest or back for up to 6 months. It is also said that the baby gorilla sings and hums as an expression of satisfaction after a meal. Some infant gorillas are twins, in which case the mother gave birth to two baby gorillas.
Gorilla eyes.
Gorillas have shiny mostly-dark eyes that vary in color. Like most primates, they have forward facing eyes which provides for the creation of a 3-dimensional image with a binocular vision. This kind if vision enables a good eyesight which is used to assess depth, distances and finding food. Gorilla eyes are also said to have color vision, given their daytime behavioral habits that help them to find fruits and differentiate forage.
Are gorillas aggressive?
Mountain gorillas and other species of gorillas are generally gentle creatures. However, in terms of danger, threat, attack or other associated nuances, gorillas can exhibit aggressive behavior to defend their territory, show dominance and attract females. The most aggressive gorilla species are the western low land species. Gorilla aggression is usually posed to other gorillas during which bites and wildly gestures come off. However, it can also be pointed towards humans in the case of utilizing provocative gestures like chest thumping, looking them into the eyes and unnecessary shouting.
What are gorilla teeth like?
Gorilla teeth consist of 32 teeth like humans that include incisors, premolars, molars and large canines. The molars and premolars help in grinding and chewing the tough bark of trees while the sharp canines are usually displayed as a threat to fend off enemies and for tearing forage material. Gorilla canine teeth grow up to 2 inches and sometimes have the scary appearance of fangs. These Another similarity that gorillas share with humans in detention is their possession of two sets of teeth: the first ones during infancy which are replaced by permanent teeth.
Which are the gorilla predators and enemies?
The greatest threat to the gorillas are humans, followed by large predators and carnivores that could include crocodiles and leopards. Outside of these, gorillas don’t have natural predators and enemies. The leopards that predate on them usually target young ones and avoid the stronger silverback. Lowland gorillas tend to go to the water to drink and that’s where they come into contact with the ruthless teeth of crocodiles.