Frequently Asked Questions:
Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safaris
What is the best time of year to view the Mountain Gorillas?
Anytime of the year is good. There is no need to avoid rainy season as it is not much different than other months of the year.If I go gorilla trekking am I guaranteed to view the Mountain Gorillas? How long am I allowed to view them?
All of our guests have always been able to view the gorillas. Rangers at the park monitor the gorillas daily so they always know the approximate location of the gorillas. You are allowed one hour of time to view the gorillas once you arrive in close proximity to them.
What kind of shape do I need to be in? How strenuous is gorilla trekking?
Let us know what kind of shape you are in and we can recommend the gorilla family you should visit. Some of the gorilla families live in close proximity to the park's entrances, while others live deep in the forest. You can anticipate between one and eight hours of hiking depending on which family you visit. Bwindi in Uganda has some steeper terrain than Parc' Nationales in Rwanda. Still, let us know about your physical fitness and we can help you select the right viewing experience.
Should I visit Rwanda, Uganda, or both?
Bwindi's gorillas in Uganda live in a high altitude rainforest, while the gorillas in Parc' Nationales in Rwanda live in a bamboo forest. These habitats result in some behavioral differences and definitely result in different hiking and viewing differences. Budget issues often impact whether our guests visit both parks or only one. If time and budget permit, we recommend that our guests view in both parks. Even so, our guests visiting only one of the parks have fantastic experiences.
Are there rules to abide by when gorilla trekking? What are they?
Yes, the park rangers are very strict in managing gorilla and human contact. The rules include:
- No more than eight guests are allowed to view each of the three habitauted gorilla families at any one time.
- You should maintain a distance of at least seven meters from the gorillas. Do not touch the gorillas or try to make contact. The gorillas will break the rules occasionally. In such cases, don't increase the distance between you and them, but drop back as soon as you can without distrubing them.
- Do not use flash cameras.
- Do not eat or smoke.
- Do not do anything that may cause the gorillas stress or exhibit any behavior thatthey may see as a challenge. Respect their space, speak very quietly, and avoid unnecessary movement.
- Keep in a small group and never surround the gorillas.
- Leave nothing behind but footprints.
What kind of weather can I expect while gorilla trekking?
Days are warm and sunny and there is often a rainshower in the late afternoon, even when it is not rainy season. It is very humid, and can get quite cold at night.