Why You Should Do Gorilla Trekking After Retirement

Why You Should Do Gorilla Trekking After Retirement

Are you knocking on a retirement door and thinking about a gorilla trekking safari activity you should spend your money on? Gorilla trekking is an exciting activity in which travelers encounter the large and powerful primate mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas are one of the endangered and endemic primate species that are found in the central and east African region. Mountain gorillas are believed to be the closest cousins of man sharing over 98% DNA with man. Tracked gorillas usually go through the habituation process. Gorilla habituation is the training of the gorillas to get used to human presence. This process takes about 2 years as the gorillas are trained in their jungles on how they can be used to the human presence.

Reasons to do gorilla trekking after your retirement

Travelers in their retirement can go for the gorilla trekking and it is one of the exciting activities that helps to take away stress. There are some of the reasons why travelers should do gorilla trekking after their retirement. These include among others but are not limited to the following;  

• Going for gorilla trekking after retirement is a stress reliever where travelers get to learn about the gorillas, conservation, and nature. Most people who are stressed during their work period as they go for a vacation are supposed to engage in gorilla trekking as a form of releaveling stress through getting sounds of nature.
• Gorilla trekking activity is a budget safari activity worth anyone’s investment after Anyone can easily manage a budget gorilla trekking tour. You don’t need to break the bank to participate in gorilla trekking.
• A gorilla trekking safari is an off-the-beaten-path experience. This implies that you will go off designated trails and get up close to nature. Such experiences are best for members who have hit the retirement age.
• Cultural immersion. Did you know that a gorilla trekking tour goes beyond the gorillas? The safari involves an encounter with local communities. Here, travelers have more time to learn about the lifestyle of the local communities surrounding the gorilla destinations. Such encounters are suitable for tourists who have hit their retirement.
• Going for gorilla trekking after retirement offers an opportunity and time to see the endangered and endemic species of mountain gorillas. By visiting the gorillas, you become part of the conservation story. This means that a gorilla trekking safari allows you to help the world even when you have hit the retirement mark.

Tips for a successful gorilla trekking after retirement

Travelers planning a successful gorilla trekking after retirement should adhere to some tips. These include;

• Engage in regular physical exercise to ensure that you are physically fit since the activity is physically demanding.
• Do the activity with an expert safari guide. Expert guides help you to know more about the activity and also experience a lot during a
• Always consider the best means of transport that will take you to the starting point of the gorilla trekking in the park. For instance, use of road transport which is the popular means of transport used to visit the gorilla destinations.
• Ensure sustainable tourism practices that will not affect the environment during the safari.
• Acquire the necessary documents that will all you encounter the mountain gorillas.
• Pack all the requirements needed for the gorilla trekking during the gorilla trekking. Here is a list of what to pack for gorilla trekking.

Where is gorilla trekking done?

After retirement, there are some destinations that travelers can visit to take part in a gorilla trekking tour. Gorilla trekking can be done in East Africa in 3 countries. They include; Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Uganda)

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda at the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the largest protected area of the mountain gorillas since it also has a high number of gorillas. The park is divided into 4 sectors which include Rushaga, Nkuringo, Buhoma, and Ruhija. All these sectors have several habituated gorilla families. In this park, there are about 19 gorilla-habituated families that travelers can track during their safaris. Travelers to encounter the gorillas in the park are supposed to have acquired the gorilla trekking permits. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has about 198 gorilla permits available each day. The price of each gorilla permit costs about 800 USD for foreign nonresidents, 700 USD for foreign residents, 500 USD for the rest of Africa, and 300000 UGX for East African residents.

Volcanoes National Park  (Rwanda)

Volcanoes National Park is a great destination for travelers interested in the Rwanda gorilla safaris which is located in the Northwestern part of Rwanda at the border of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This park holds a history of gorilla conservation works which were geared by Dian Fossey. In this park, there are 13 habituated gorilla families that travelers can encounter during their safaris. There are about 104 gorilla trekking permits in the park. The cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda is about 1500 USD for foreign nonresidents, 500 USD for the foreign residents and rest of the African residents, and 200 USD for the East African residents.

Virunga National Park (D.R. Congo)

Virunga National Park is within the Virunga region and it is located within the eastern side of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The park is one of the oldest parks in Africa with the most diverse ecosystem. In this park, there are about 5 habituated gorilla families that travelers on their safaris can engage in on their safaris. There are about 40 gorilla permits each day for travelers to encounter gorillas.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Uganda)

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is another great destination where travelers on their retirement can encounter the mountain gorillas. This park is located in southwestern Uganda at the border of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo within the Virunga region. In this park, there is one habituated gorilla family that travelers can track during their safaris.

Kahuzi Beige National Park (D.R. Congo)

Kahuzi Beige National Park is another gorilla destination located on the eastern side of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Bukavu. This park is home to the low land gorillas which kind differ from the mountain gorillas. In this park, there are several families of the low land gorillas that travelers can encounter on their safaris.

Gorilla trekking rules and regulations

Travelers on their gorilla, trekking safaris are supposed to know the following before gorilla trekking;

• A group of 8 people are supposed to visit a gorilla family.
• Travelers are supposed to sanitize and put on a mask during a gorilla trekking.
• Gorilla trekking starts early in the morning at 0700 hours with the briefing about the gorilla trekking.
• Travelers are supposed to have a valid gorilla permit that allows travelers to engage in the activity