How many people are allowed to trek a gorilla family?

If you are planning a gorilla trekking safari to Africa and wondering ‘How many people are allowed to trek a gorilla family?’ Only 8 members are allowed to trek a single gorilla family per day. Be it in Uganda, Rwanda or the D.R Congo, only 8 members are allowed to trek a single group of mountain gorillas per day. Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has the highest number of habituated gorilla families – offering the highest number of gorilla permits 152 per a day. There are about 19 habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. If you are wondering How many people are allowed to trek a gorilla family in Uganda? Strictly only 8 members are allowed to trek a single gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Bwindi impenetrable National Park also offer the unique gorilla habituation experience where visitors enjoy up to 4 hours with the gorillas. How many people are allowed to do gorilla habituation? For those who wish to spend more than the normal one hour with the gorillas, there are available gorilla habituation permits (8 permits per day) in Bwindi. For those interested in the gorilla habituation experience, only 4 members are allowed to join the habituation team. The habituation team usually consists of ranger guides, conservationists, and researchers.

If you are planning to embark on a gorilla safari to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, it is important to know that there is only one habituated mountain gorilla family in the park. Only 8 members can trek gorillas in Mgahinga gorilla National Park per day. The gorilla group in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is known as the ‘‘Nyakagezi’’ gorilla group, consisting of a number of individuals with a dominant male silverback, adult females, juvenile males and infants.

How many people are allowed to trek a gorilla family in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park?

If you are planning to visit Rwanda for your gorilla trekking safari holiday tour, you will visit Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Just like in Uganda, only 8 members are allowed to trek a gorilla family in Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park has about 10 habituated gorilla families – offering up to 80 permits per day to visitors. Unlike Bwindi, volcanoes National Park does not offer gorilla habituation. The fact that the number of permits in Rwanda are less than that of Uganda means you need to book your gorilla trekking permit well in advance if you are planning to visit Rwanda, especially during the peak season.

Although Rwanda’s gorilla permit are more expensive (cost $1500) compared to Uganda’s (cost $800) and D.R Congo’s ($450), many travelers still prefer visiting Rwanda for various reasons. However, all the other gorilla trekking destinations especially Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park guarantee excellent gorilla trekking experiences in Africa.

By now if you are still wondering, How many people are allowed to trek a gorilla family? A team of 8 visitors is allowed to trek a single gorilla family per day. This team is always accompanied by professional ranger guides, trackers, porters, and sometimes local guides.

Why is the number of people allowed to trek gorillas restricted to 8 members – Why only 8 peoples are allowed to trek a gorilla family per day?

Having known that only 8 people can trek a gorilla family per day, you might be curious to know why only 8 people? Well, first of all before you embark on a gorilla trekking safari, it is important to know that mountain gorillas are an endangered species with only a few 1000 individuals left in the whole world. Allowing only 8 people to track a gorilla family per a day is a conservation measure that protects both the gorillas and their habitat to ensure their survival and longevity. Here are the top reasons as to why only 8 members are allowed to trek a single gorilla family per day;

To minimize behavioral disturbance

One of the main reasons as to why gorilla trekking is restricted to only 8 members per group each day is to minimize the gorilla behavioral disturbance. This also apply to the limited time allocated to observing the gorillas in the wild. Generally, a large crowd of people is likely to cause discomfort and stress to the gorillas which may lead to alteration in their normal ways and behaviors. By maintaining a small group of individuals, you reduce the stress and discomfort to the gorillas while also ensuring excellent experiences with these gentle giants in the wild.

To protect gorillas from human bone diseases

Mountain gorillas are our second closest relatives after chimpanzees, sharing up to 97% DNA with humans. This makes gorillas vulnerable to human communicable diseases like flue(running nose), cough, and diarrhea among others. There are also set health rules and guidelines which are also meant to protect gorillas from human diseases that perfectly alines with limiting the number of people who can visit a single gorilla family to 8 members. By limiting the number of people who can see a single gorilla family to 8 members, it is possible to protect gorillas from human communicable diseases.

To ensure the sustainability of gorilla tourism

To protect these endangered mountain gorillas and their natural habitat for the future is the other reason as to why only 8 members are allowed to track a gorilla family per a day. Remember mountain gorillas are endangered and only a few individuals exist in Africa.

To ensure a quality gorilla trekking experience

The fewer the number of trekkers, the more intimate and excellent the gorilla trekking experience. When a small group of only 8 members visits a single gorilla group, the experience is so up close and personal with the gorillas since they are comfortable. When encountering your gorilla family in your small group of 8 members, all of you will have a remarkable experience viewing these majestic creatures from various angles.

To ensure the safety of individuals during the trek

Unlike large groups of individuals, a small group of about 8 members can easily be controlled by the ranger guides and can easily adhere to the set guidelines. While trekking mountain gorillas in the wild, you are advised to adhere to all the set rules and guidelines provided to you during the briefing. The ranger guides can easily monitor each individual’s movement in a small group compared to when the group is large.

Gorilla Families in Uganda – Habituated gorilla families that you can trek while in Uganda

Uganda is home to more than half of the remaining mountain gorilla population that resides in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in the southwestern part of the country. There are about 20 habituated gorilla families in Uganda, 19 of which are found in Bwindi and the other one is found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park;

Mubare Gorilla Group
Nkuringo Gorilla Group
Mucunguzi gorilla family
Christmas gorilla family
Rwigi Gorilla Family
Bikyingi Gorilla group
Kutu Gorilla Group
Bushingye Gorilla family
Kahungye Gorilla Family
Bweza Gorilla Group
Nshogi Gorilla Group
Mishaya Gorilla Family
Oruzogo Gorilla Family
Bitukura Gorilla Family
Kyaguriro Gorilla Family
Muyambi Gorilla Family
Katwe Gorilla Group
Rushegura Gorilla Group
Habinyanja Gorilla family

Gorilla Families in Rwanda – Habituated gorilla families that you can trek in Rwanda

Susa Gorilla Family
Karisimbi Gorilla Family
Amahoro Gorilla Family
Sabyinyo Gorilla Group
Umubano Gorilla Group
Kwitonda Gorilla Family
Agashya Gorilla Family
Bwenge Gorilla Family
Hirwa Gorilla Family
Ugenda Gorilla Family
Igisha Gorilla family
Muhiza Gorilla Family

What are the requirements for gorilla trekking?

If you are planning a gorilla trekking adventure safari to Africa, it is important to know some of the basic requirements for gorilla trekking. Be it Uganda, Rwanda or D.R Congo, you need to acquire a gorilla permit to be able to trek the mountain gorillas. Each country has a different price for a gorilla trekking permit and therefore depending on which county you are visiting you will need to purchase a gorilla permit.

The other thing that you need for a successful gorilla trip include the gear; sturdy hiking boots, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and gloves. Binoculars, a camera with a good zoom lens, and rain gear are also recommended for a gorilla safari tour.

Is gorilla trekking worth the money?

Yes. Gorilla trekking is absolutely worth every penny and effort. Trekking to see mountain gorillas in the wild is not only expensive but also challenging, however, after encountering these majestic giants in the wild, you will truly feel the value of money. Most of the money collected from gorilla permit sales is re invested in conservation projects and also shared with the local people living around the conservation areas.