How Long Can You Stay With Gorillas in the Wild?

How Long Can You Stay With Gorillas in the Wild? Wondering about how long you can stay with the gorillas in the wild? After the long day trek in the jungles and perhaps steep slopes, then you finally come across mountain gorillas can be a mesmerizing moment. One important question many ask even before embarking on an actual trek with mountain gorillas is how long can I stay with gorillas in the wild in Uganda, Rwanda, or Congo?

How long can you stay with gorillas in the wild (Uganda, Rwanda, or Congo)

A maximum of an hour is availed to all trekkers to enjoy up close and personal encounters with a family of mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The 1 (one) hour with gorillas includes observing how these apes behave and taking pictures. The standard 1 hour applies to all destinations where gorilla trekking is conducted in Africa; Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo.

How Long Can You Stay With Gorillas in the Wild? Why 1 hour with gorillas

• The one hour is a set standard to reduce any chances of getting gorillas exposed to infectious human diseases. The contact with airborne pathogens is reduced when visitors only an hour in the wild interacting with gorillas.
• Reduced respiratory droplets transmission –gorillas share 98% of the genetic DNA with humans making them susceptible to most respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis and influenza. This is why the park authorities maintain an hour of interaction with gorillas to limit such cases of the spread of respiratory-related diseases.
• Reduction in fecal-oral transmission. Brief interaction with gorillas plays a significant role, especially in reducing the chances of fecal-oral transmission.
• Minimize skin contact; spending an hour alone with gorillas reduces any chances of visitors having skin-to-skin contact with gorillas.
• Reduction in vector-borne disease transmission. There are higher chances of reducing any exposure of vectors to gorillas like ticks and mosquitoes between gorillas and humans.
• Less stress on the behaviors; The 1-hour is meant to limit the stress or disturbance of normal behavior of gorillas in the wild.
• Good hygiene- it is possible to enforce good hygiene practices such as wearing masks and keeping a distance of 8-10 meters away from gorillas.

How Long Can You Stay With Gorillas in the Wild? Here is more to know

Popular Gorilla Safaris

• 2 Day Gorilla Trekking Congo
• 3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking
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• 5 Days Gorilla and wildlife safari
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• 12 Day Uganda & Rwanda Safari

Gorilla trekking regulations

During the actual gorilla trekking expedition, there are guidelines to be respected. These are often briefed to visitors before they embark on the actual search for gorillas. They include;

• Respect a distance of 8-10 meters away from the mountain gorillas, and this should be done at all times.
• Strictly, an hour should be spent with gorillas in the wild. ‘
• No use of a flashlight camera during photography.
• Maintain your voice low while in the jungles.
• You can be eligible to trek gorillas when you are 15 years and above.
• Direct eye contact should be avoided from gorillas.
• Observe what the park ranger guide tells you when gorillas charge.
• Keep the gorilla environment clean and safe.

The cost of the gorilla permits

Gorilla permits are essential for you to visit gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda, or Congo. Uganda gorilla permits cost USD 800 per visitor, USD 1500 for visitors on the Rwanda gorilla tour, and USD 450 for visitors planning to go to trek gorillas in Congo. A valid gorilla permit is what allows you to have access to a gorilla park to trek gorillas.

Obtaining gorilla permits can be done through local experts such as Maranatha Tours and Travel via info@adventureugandasafaris.com. The other options though stressing include booking via Uganda Wildlife Authority or Rwanda Development Board.

When to visit to see gorillas

Visits to see gorillas are perfectly done during the peak dry season. The dry season occurs from June to September and December to February. The rest of the months are low or off months and are marked by March, April, May October, and November.

Best places to visit for gorilla trekking

The ideal places to consider visiting for gorilla trekking in Africa include Bwindi National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Uganda), Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, and Virunga National Park. If you want to see the Eastern lowland gorillas, then travel to Kahuzi-Biega National Park still in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

What to pack for gorilla tour in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo

The list of items not to exclude on your packing include a hat and sunscreen, long-sleeved shirts, bottled drinking water, flashlight free camera, insect repellents, a first aid kit, a sweater, a camera, wet wipes, a pair of binoculars, long trousers, waterproof hiking boots, a rain jacket, and others.

How many days to see gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda, or Congo?

The number of days a visitor desires to explore gorillas is never restricted. You can spend as many days as you and it is possible to take a short gorilla tour like 3 day gorilla safari to Bwindi Volcanoes National Park, or Virunga National Park.

Is it better to see gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda?

Uganda and Rwanda all provided unmatched mountain gorilla experiences. They differ slightly on some things such as the cost of gorilla permits, and several gorilla families. In Uganda, over 24 habituated families of mountain gorillas all live in Bwindi & Mgahinga while in Rwanda, 13 groups are available for gorilla trekking.

Accommodation options to stay

Places to stay on Uganda gorilla tours include Four Gorillas Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Lake Mutanda Resort, Gorilla Havens Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Safari Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Buhoma Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, and Mahogany Springs.

Volcanoes National Park gorilla safari lodges include Virunga Lodge, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Kwitonda Luxury Lodge, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Kinigi Guesthouse, Muhabura Hotel, Da Vinci Lodge, Bisate Lodge, and others.

In conclusion, gorilla trekking offers a special opportunity for tourists to explore the rare mountain gorillas in the wild. A normal trek with gorillas guarantees you an hour of up close and personal encounters in the wild.

For captivating gorilla encounters, book a gorilla trip with the local expert –Maranatha Tours and Travel. Explore Uganda gorillas, Rwanda gorillas, and gorillas in Congo. We offer the most affordable gorilla tours across gorilla destinations in East Africa.