Month: December 2019

How Difficult is Gorilla Trekking

How Difficult is Gorilla Trekking

How tough is gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo is always a concern for most travelers booking gorilla safaris to Africa. Upcoming travelers coming to trek gorillas often ask the ease and difficulty of trekking gorillas in Bwindi Forest, Mgahinga, Volcanoes and Virunga National Parks. Well, the trek to see mountain gorillas is undeniably a challenging experience, which is not for the faint-hearted. it entails hiking up and downhill through thick forests which can at times be slippery. The conclusion of how difficult is gorilla trekking is quite challenging. Some travelers find it fun trekking for long while others find it a challenge. Magical Africa Safaris brings you information on the difficulty of gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda the Democratic Republic of Congo to ensure you get the very best gorilla safari in Africa. The difficulty of gorilla trekking depends on various factors some of which are unavoidable. The factors that determine the difficulty and ease of gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo include among others:

1. Location of the gorilla group
How easy or difficult is a trek to see gorillas depends on the location of a gorilla family you are given to trek. Different gorilla families live in areas of different altitudes. Some families live near (few meters from the starting pint)_ while others live uphill’s. For this mater gorilla trekking is categorized into short, medium and long treks depending on the location of a gorilla family. During gorilla family allocation, the elderly and physically unfit travelers are given short treks while the young and energetic are given long treks. the ease and difficulty of gorilla trekking, therefore, depends on where the gorilla family you are visited is located.

2. Travelers physical fitness

How tough is gorilla trekking

Trekking to see gorillas

The traveler’s physical fitness and hiking abilities determine whether the gorilla trek will be easy or difficult. Energetic and physically fit travelers never find gorilla trekking difficulty at all. On the other hand, the physically challenged travelers even find the short gorilla trek to be a difficulty. Future travelers planning to trek gorillas are therefore advised to do physical exercises o ensure physical fitness and avoid difficulty in gorilla trekking when the time comes.

3. Weather conditions
Trekking in the rainy season between the months of March, April, May, October, and November is difficulty compared to dry season between the months of June, July, August, September, and December through February. During the rain season, forest grounds become so slippery and muddy making it difficult to hike through. Travelers planning gorilla safaris in the wet season are reminded to be ready for tough hikes but worth the effort.

4. Gorilla national park
Trekking mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable forest National park is challenging compared to other gorilla parks (Volcanoes in Rwanda, Mgahinga and Virunga park in Congo). Gorillas in Bwindi forest especially in Nkuringo and Buhoma sector hike to areas of higher altitudes, which make it difficult to trek them. The adventurous experience is, however, the best for the young and physically fit travelers who seek to have a challenging experience.

Gorilla trekking tips
• Hire a porter and walking stick

How tough is gorilla trekking

Walking Stick

In order to minimize the difficulty of gorilla trekking, make sure you hire a porter to help you carry the baggage. This makes you lighter easing your treks. porters are hired for$15 a day but their services and a helping hand is worth the penny. Also, porters help to hold a traveler’s hand through slippery forest grounds hence preventing the traveler from falling. More so, ensure to hire walking stick support up and downhill. Walking sticks are found at the p[ark headquarters and can be hired at a very low cost.

• Wear hiking boots/shoes

what to wear for gorilla trekking

Footwear for gorilla trekking

A traveler wearing hiking boots/shoes will find less difficulty in trekking gorillas. Hiking shoes ease movements through slippery muddy forest grounds which at the time making it difficult for those who do not have. Also, hiking boots protect your feet from getting dirty and soaked in mud. Make sure your hiking boots are light and waterproof. However, do not bring brand new and light-colored snickers into the jungle, they will get dirty and worn out.

• Carry enough drinking water and energy-giving snacks
Endeavor to carry enough bottled drinking water to quench the thirst that comes along with gorilla trekking. More so, carry energy-giving snacks, bread, bananas, eggs and the like to keep you strong throughout. a packed lunch is a must-have for everyone trekking to see mountain gorillas. The trekking time to see gorillas is not certain and can last for between 30 minutes to a full day depending on where gorillas will be located that day.

The right answer to how difficult is a trek to see mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo depends on the client. However, despite the difficulty of gorilla trekking, an encounter with these endangered species remains an exceptional experience, which no traveler should miss on his/her gorilla safari to Africa. Contact African Apes Tours & Travel today, book your gorilla tour and enjoy this lifetime experience.

Posted by African Apes in Travel News
Gorilla Trekking For The Seniors/Elderly

Gorilla Trekking For The Seniors/Elderly

Can elderly travelers trek gorillas? Are there gorilla safaris for the disabled? Yes, Senior/Elderly and disabled travelers can also trek gorillas without any difficulties.  With Superfine Safaris Limited, gorilla trekking is very possible for  the elderly/seniors and senior travelers.  If you are senior looking for a perfect gorilla trekking safari, you need not to worry. We offer exceptional gorilla trekking for the elders to Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo with ease. Gorilla Trekking remains the best wildlife experience in Africa, a must-do adventure for most if not all travelers on African Safaris.

Whereas trekking to see mountain gorillas has been ranked as a challenging venture, Superfine Safaris offers you the very best gorilla tours despite your elderly age. Superfine Safaris Limited guides you on the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest and the Virunga Conservation Area ensuring safety of both travelers and the endangered primates.

Who are the senior travelers?

Gorilla Trekking for the elderly

Seniors trekking gorillas

We consider all travelers aged 60 years and above as elders/seniors. In most cases, travelers in this category are less physically fit and cannot hike for long hours and to areas of high altitudes. Superfine Safaris Limited arranges special gorilla trips for elderly travelers to ensure our senior clients enjoy gorilla trekking with no difficulty.

Firstly, we allocate you a senior travel guide with whom you share many things in common. We have a team of senior driver guides who have been in this industry for more than 30 years, with vast experience and knowledge of handling senior travelers. More so, we give you a very comfortable raised safari vehicle with which you will not feel the potholes and bumpy roads of Africa.

Travel tips for elderly travelers
Senior travelers are advised to be free and truthful to their travel agents to ensure proper planning and avoid any disappointments. Be true about your actual years! Senior travelers are encouraged to open up about their actual age so as to get a special treat as of their age. Also, disclose your hiking abilities to your driver-guide.

Travelers are also encouraged to open up about their physical abilities and hiking skills to their driver guides before the actual trek. driver-guide will go ahead to book for you a suitable gorilla family that suite your hiking abilities. In most cases, elderly travelers are given easy to trek gorilla families saving them long hours of hiking to find some gorilla families.

Hire a porter/ walking stick
Porters are very helpful for senior/elderly gorilla trekkers. Whereas hiring a porter is optional, its a must for senior travelers. Porters help to carry bags  and also give a supporting hand for clients through muddy and slippery forest grounds. Also, hiring a porter is an indirect support for local people who earn a living from pottering to improve their standards of living. More still, do not leave a walking stick behind. This eases your hiking through the jungle forests making the whole experience memorable.

Hire sedan chairs
Senior travelers aged beyond 70 years are advised to hire sedan chairs to avoid difficulties during gorilla trekking. There a traveler is carried by a team of 4 local porters to and from the jungle. Hiring a sedan chair costs $400 inclusive of all services to be carried to, throughout and from gorilla trekking. Sedan chairs saves you altitudinal sickness which is common to elderly travelers.

Do physical exercises

Gorilla Trekking for the elderly

A senior exercising for gorilla trekking

More so, elderly travelers are encouraged to do physical exercises as a preparation to trek gorillas. The recommended physicals include walking, jogging, and hiking among others to keep them in good shape. The trek to see gorillas is not a walk away venture but rather a strenuous adventure that entails walking and hiking. Doing physical exercises, therefore, prepares elderly travelers for the actual trek minimizing the challenges that can come up.

Cost of gorilla trekking Tour
There is no actual cost of gorilla trekking tour but prices rather vary from company to company, gorilla trekking destination and other activities inclusive in the itinerary. However, you are ought to know the prices of gorilla permits in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo before deciding where to go for gorilla trekking. Rwanda currently sells the most expensive gorilla permits at $1500 each since May 2017.

In Uganda, a single gorilla permit costs $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents and UGX 300, 000 for east African citizens.   The Democratic Republic of Congo sells the cheapest gorilla permit at $450 hence the best gorilla safari destination for budget travelers. Travelers are encouraged to book and reserve gorilla permits at least 6 months in advance to deal with the high demand for gorilla tour permits in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. Superfine Safaris helps you book and reserve permits

Best time to trek gorillas for the seniors
Whereas gorilla trekking can be done throughout the year, peak/ dry season between the months of June, July, August, September and December to February is the recommended time for senior travelers. During this time, rainfall is minimal which makes treks to see gorillas less challenging. Also, gorilla photography is best done in the peak season, which gives good memories. However, if you are traveling on a budget, them wet season is the best time for you. During this time, service providers especially lodge and hotels give discounted services, which help to cut the costs making it affordable for budget travelers.

Gorilla trekking packing list for senior travelers
Senior travelers are reminded to carry essentials if their gorilla encounter is to be successful and enjoyable. Among the things to carry for gorilla trekking include hiking boots/shoes, gardening gloves, rain jackets, sweaters, Ponchos, hats, sunglasses, energy-giving snacks, neck scarfs, insect repellants and bottled drink water among others. Any traveler with the appropriate packing list is assured of a memorable gorilla tour experience in Bwindi Forest, Mgahinga, Volcanoes and Virunga gorilla parks.

Seniors travelers can also trek gorillas with no difficulty at Superfine Safaris Limited. If you are a senior traveler, just contact us and we shall arrange the best gorilla safari for you to Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo at affordable rates with no difficulty.

Posted by African Apes in Travel News
Gorilla Families in Rwanda – Volcanoes National Park

Gorilla Families in Rwanda – Volcanoes National Park

Having knowledge of Rwanda gorilla groups is very essential for everyone intending to go gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. The small land of a thousand hills (Rwanda) is one of the three destinations where travelers can visit and trek the surviving population of the endangered mountain gorillas. Over time, Rwanda has merged as the leading gorilla tour destination receiving the highest number of travelers coming for gorilla safaris from all over the world. Altogether, Rwanda has 10 gorilla families each of which is visited by a group of eight travelers every day for an hours’ interactions. We advise our potential travelers to have an idea of habituated Rwanda gorilla families before booking a Rwanda gorilla safari to Volcanoes National park. African Apes Tours & Travel brings you a full list of Rwanda gorilla families/groups to ensure a memorable gorilla encounter in the land of a thousand hills. Interestingly, each gorilla family is different and unique in its own kind in terms of size, location, and history of formation. Gorilla groups in Rwanda include:

Susa A Family

Rwanda gorila families

Susa A Gorilla group

Also known as the Kurira gorilla family, A is the biggest and oldest gorilla family in Volcanoes National Park. The family was habituated in 1974 and was the first gorilla family, which Dian Fossey conducted her gorilla research on during her campaign to save the endangered gorillas in the Virunga Massif. The rich history of Susa A gorilla family makes it exceptional from the others. Susa family lives on the slopes of Mount Karisimbi and is one of the toughest to trek gorilla families in Rwanda but the magical feeling of meeting this old gorilla family is worth the effort. Susa A family is headed by Kurira silverback gorilla who plans and decides for the entire family.

Igisha gorilla group – Susa B

Igisha gorilla family was formerly part of Susa A gorilla group till 2024 when Igisha silverback split from his former family to start up his own family, The family has expanded over time due to the fighting skill of Igisha silverback who fights and grabs members form other gorilla families to expand his family. Currently, Igisha gorilla family comprises of over 20 members and is one of the fastest-growing gorilla group in Volcanoes National park Rwanda. Igisha (Susa B gorilla family) lives near Susa River after which it derives its name “Susa”.

Karisimbi gorilla family

Trekked in the slopes of Karismbi volcano, this gorilla family is an amazing one but quite difficult to trek. In most cases, travelers doing a 2 Days Karisimbi hiking get chances of meeting Karismbi gorilla family which is an added advantage. The family currently has over 15 members comprised of the silverback, black backs, juveniles, babies and adult females. Make sure you are physically fit if you want to trek Karisimbi Gorilla family. For this mater, the gorilla family is normally trekked by the youth and energetic travelers who can hike to higher altitudes.

Sabyinyo Gorilla group

Named after Sabyingo volcano, Sabyinyo gorilla family is yet another interesting gorilla family to trek in Volcanoes National park. The family comprise of 12 members who include 2 silverbacks, adult females, juveniles and babies. Sabyinyo gorilla family lives at the base of Mt Sabyinyo and is one the most accessible and easy to trek gorilla family in Rwanda. It’s, therefore, the favorite for the physically challenged and elderly travelers on Rwanda gorilla safaris.

Amahoro Gorilla group

Known as the most peaceful and friendly mountain gorilla family in Rwanda, Amahoro gorilla group is worth visiting. Amahoro locally means “peaceful” which name was derived from the peaceful status of this gorilla family. The family has over 18 members headed by Ubumwe silverback gorilla. Amahoro gorilla family is one of the strenuous gorilla families to trek in Volcanoes National park. It’s not for the faint-hearted but the magical feeling of meeting this peaceful family is surely worth the effort.

Umubano gorilla family

Volcanoes National Park

Umubano Gorilla Family

Locally translated at “live together” Umubano was formerly part of the Amahoro gorilla family. The family is headed by Charles as a dominant silverback who decided to break away from Amahoro family and become independent. Charles silverback fought and defeated Ubumwe (the silverback of Amahoro family) taking with him some adult females and babies to start up his own family (Umubano).

Bwengye gorilla family

Habituated and opened for trekking in 2007, Bwenge is locally translated as “wisdom”. The gorilla family lives at the base of Mount Bisoke and is one of the easiest to trek gorilla family in Rwanda hence the best option for the elderly and physically unfit. Bwenge silverback currently leads the family.

Hirwa gorilla group

Habituated n 2006, the Hirwa gorilla family is locally translated as “Lucky one” whose members broke from Sabyinyo and Agashya gorilla families. Hirwa is so far the smallest gorilla group in Rwanda but trekking it is memorable. In October 2019, Hirwa crossed borders to the Gahinga regions of Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and is now trekked from Uganda. However, 50% of gorilla permits revenue or Hirwa gorilla family is given to Rwanda Development Board, the sole owners of Hirwa family.

Agashya Gorilla Family

Formerly known as “group 13” Agashya gorilla family was named after the 13 members who started this family. Agashya is the current dominant silverback who overpowered and threw away Nyakarima, the initial silverback gorilla. Agashya gorilla group currently has 27 members who comprise of the silverback, adult females, black back and babies.

Ugenda Family

Ugenda is locally translated as “mobile” due to the mobile movements of this gorilla family. Ugenda gorilla family is always on move and hence one of the hardest gorilla families to trek in Rwanda. The family inhabits the slopes of Mount Bisoke and travelers hiking to trek Ugenda family are ought to be physically fit and in good shape. Ugenda family currently has 11 members, which include 2 silverback, black backs, babies and adult females.

Titus gorilla family

Having lived since the time of Dian Fossey, Titus is one of the oldest gorilla families in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National park. The gorilla family is named after “Titus”, the founder silverback and the only survivor of his former group that was lost to poachers before the introduction of gorilla tourism in Volcanoes National Park. Titus gorilla family roams in the slopes of Mount Bisoke and Karisimbi and is a medium hike.
Other gorilla families used for research in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda include:
• Pablo gorilla family
• Muhoza gorilla family
• Isimbi gorilla group
• Gushimira gorilla family
• Mafunzo gorilla group
• Musilikale gorilla family
• Isabukuru gorilla group
In conclusion, therefore, an encounter with anyone of the habituated gorilla families in Rwanda is a lifetime experience every traveler should add on his her bucket list to Rwanda. Contact African Apes Tours today, book your Rwanda gorilla safari and be enjoy this once in a lifetime experience.

Posted by African Apes in Travel News, 2 comments