There is hope for the reopening of gorilla trekking tours in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo in the near future. Whereas gorilla safaris to Africa have been suspended till further notice in a bid to protect the endangered mountain gorillas from catching the deadly Coronavirus, there is hope for the continuity of gorilla safaris Congo after the defeat of this pandemic. At present, there are no ongoing gorilla trekking tours in Africa to Bwindi Forest, Mgahinga Gorilla, Volcanoes and Virunga National Parks. However, travelers are requested not to cancel but rather reschedule their gorilla tours to a further date. Fortunately, gorilla destinations especially Uganda and Rwanda are doing great in fighting and preventing the spread of Corona Virus. YES, much as corona cases have been registered in these countries, no death has been reported while new recoveries are reported every day. This gives hope that in the shortest time ahead, Uganda and Rwanda will be Corona Virus-free and the situation will be back to normal. Mountain gorilla National Parks will be reopened for tourism and travelers will freely visit and enjoy the magical encounter with the famous mountain gorilla to share this lifetime experience. It’s unfortunate that most home countries of gorilla trekkers have been infected with Corona Virus, all travel by road, water, and air have been banned till further notice.
Why mountain gorillas?
Suspending all visits to see mountain gorillas was crucial for sustainable gorilla tourism in Africa. YES, mountain gorillas share over 98% of human genes which makes them close relatives to people. The close relativeness between people and mountain gorillas make them susceptible to human diseases. More so, mountain gorillas are the most visited primates in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo attracting a high number of travelers from all parts of the world. The many visits to these primates put them at risk of capturing communicable diseases including Corona Virus.
What about the already booked gorilla permit
Had you booked a gorilla permit already? Are you wondering what next? no worries. Government tourism bodies i.e Uganda Wildlife Authority in Uganda and Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda have relaxed gorilla permits rescheduling with no penalty. Travelers are free to change and reschedule their gorilla trekking dates to any future date of their convenience. However, a traveler who wants to cancel the trip will not get any refund on the gorilla permits.
How to Protect from CoronaVirus?
1. Keep a distance of at least 1 meter away from a person suspected to have CoronaVirus
2. Use Masks to protect your respiratory system
3. Ventilate the area more often
4. Do not visit Markets and cultural centers
5. Eat only cooked foods
6. Drink only bottled water
7. Clarify the epidemiological situation when planning a trip
8. Thoroughly wash your hands with alcohol-based sanitizer. Hand washing Must be regularly
9. Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth
10. Covering your mouth and nose is recommended
11. Stay home, avoid crowded places (markets and churches)
12. Avoid using public transport means
13. Self-isolation if you have any symptoms of corona Virus
14.Seek medical services the moment you develop any symptom of Corona Virus
Cost of gorilla safaris in Africa
The cost of gorilla safaris in Africa is not certain. Gorilla Trekking in Uganda is different from that in Rwanda and so in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The cost of gorilla tours in Africa depends on different factors first of which include the cost of gorilla permits in each country. At present, Rwanda sells the most expensive gorilla permits at $1500 for all travelers. In Uganda, gorilla permit costs vary depending on one’s nationality. Uganda gorilla permits cost $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 for foreign residents and UGX 250,000 for East African residents. More so, the cost of a gorilla tour may be high depending on the choice of accommodation, number of days and the add on activities. Also, each travel operator charges a different service fee.
Rules of Gorilla Trekking in Africa
At the start of each gorilla trekking day, travelers are gathered and introduced to the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking. These rules apply in all gorilla trekking destinations to ensure the safety of the endangered gorillas and travelers. These include:
1. Keep a distance of seven meters’ away from the gorillas to avoid close contact
2. Avoid direct contact with gorillas. This makes them scared and uncomfortable
3. Do not trek gorillas while sick. Any traveler with any sign of cold, and flu is not allowed to trek gorillas
4. Keep your voices low. Do not make noise while with the gorillas
5. Do not use flashlight cameras
6. Keep within your group (Do not move alone in the jungle)
7. Keep calm when gorillas charge at you, step back and move away slowly
8. Do not litter in the park, Leave only the footsteps
9. Do not touch the gorillas
In the shortest near future, we hope for the total defeat of Covid19 in Uganda and Rwanda and the whole of Africa. Gorilla trekking tours in Africa will resume as before giving you a chance to enjoy this magical experience.
