WC Travels:Why Clay Travels: SAFARI, “GORILLA VIEWING”

BY CLAY LARROY

In the world of traveling, there are plenty of great resources available to both new and experienced travelers alike. There are many websites, guides, books, videos, and other resources available. By writing this blog I hope that I am providing valuable information about wonderful vacation destinations. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

Encountering the gorilla in its natural habitat is an extraordinary experience. The distinction between the observer and the observed is blurred, and you never know just how near the gorillas will venture for a closer look! For animal and nature lovers, the opportunity to meet a mountain gorilla face to face can prove to be the experience of a lifetime.

A gorilla safari is not for the timid traveler. It is an extremely active journey in parts of the world that have been inaccessible to most travelers. In order to ensure a successful trip, you will need to do your homework before choosing a safari company that suits your needs. This TRO guide will provide you with the information you need to know to get a start on planning your African adventure. Please read this guide in conjunction with the more general TRO Safari guide for additional information.

There are two species of gorilla, the western gorilla and the eastern gorilla. In each of these broad classifications, there are two subspecies each. All are endangered, some critically. The western gorilla species is comprised of the Cross River gorilla and the western lowland gorilla. The eastern gorilla species is comprised of the eastern lowland gorilla and the mountain gorilla.

The western lowland gorilla, although endangered, has the highest population count and a wide range through the rainforests of Central Africa in Cameroon, the south-west corner of the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Angola. The Cross River gorilla, however, is critically endangered with fewer than 200 animals living on the Nigerian-Cameroon border. The eastern lowland gorilla, also known as Grauer’s gorilla, is found in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. With only about 650 left in existence, the mountain gorilla has struggled to survive in the region of Africa’s Great Lakes, spanning Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The gradual deterioration of the habitat of each species endangers the viability of their populations. Likewise, the civil strife that has raged in these areas intermittently for decades has taken its own toll on the non-human primates as they have fallen victim to the poaching for meat and animal trafficking that has arisen with the lack of legal protection and lawlessness. Finally, the gorillas share a propensity to succumb to human illnesses, most recently to an ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nevertheless, it is possible to view these tremendous animals safely and humanely, affording the local economies an incentive to protect the remaining populations.

A gorilla safari is particularly fulfilling because of the species" human characteristics: bipedalism, intelligence and expressive faces, to name a few. Further impressive is the gorilla’s size. Male silverbacks can measure up to six feet tall when standing upright and weigh 400-500 pounds; the width of their chests spans up to five feet! Although historically depicted as vicious by Hollywood (The mountain gorilla served as the inspiration for King Kong.), the species is quite peaceful, spending most of its time eating vegetation, such as herbs, leaves and bamboo.

Because of their gentle nature, gorillas have responded well to habituation, or the act of making wild animals accustomed to humans over time. As a result, they act naturally while being observed by small groups of tourists. Be forewarned, however, that if the predominant male thinks his family (which includes his mates and their offspring) is in danger, he will not hesitate to attack an offending human.

Since mountain gorillas have been meticulously observed since the 1950s, their location is pretty well known. About half of the population resides in an extinct volcanic region called the Virunga Range. This area boasts three parks that feature mountain gorilla tracking: DRC"s Virunga National Park, Rwanda’s Volcans National Park, and Uganda’s Mgahinga National Park. The rest of the mountain gorilla population lives in Uganda’s Bwindi-Impenetrable National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Please be aware that the gorilla groups are nomadic and do not stay in one area of the park. And when, for example, the gorillas move from the Ugandan area of the park to the Rwandan area, tracking in Uganda is postponed. Because of civil unrest, TRO can not recommend any travel to the DRC. However, both Uganda and Rwanda offer mountain gorilla safaris accompanied by military guard in the national parks. Lowland gorilla safaris in Gabon and Cameroon are popular and in regions that are politically stable for viewing lowland gorillas.

Travelers should be aware that a vigorous debate surrounds gorilla safaris and habituation. There are those who argue that tourism exploits the gorilla populations and deprives them of the sanctity of their habitat. However, it is the opinion of TRO that tourism may well be the last hope of these great animals. For years, poachers have ruthlessly hunted the gorilla to for food as well as their hands and heads for souvenirs. Poachers have sold off baby gorillas in illicit trade. Tourism brings much needed dollars into the local economies and gives the government a reason to protect the gorilla as a resource. So long as only healthy humans visit the gorilla populations in controlled situations, tourism protects the gorilla.

All African countries require passports of visitors and most, but not all, require visas from most foreign visitors. While travelers can often obtain a visa upon arrival, it is recommended that they obtain a visa beforehand. And as with any active vacation, travel insurance covering trip cancellation, trip interruption and medical emergencies is suggested.

Unlike other safaris, gorilla tracking typically requires rigorous hiking in undeveloped terrain. Thus, it is important that a traveler be in adequate physical condition to cope with the demands of the itinerary. In addition to considerations of the physical demands of a safari, the traveler should be aware of the necessity to protect against indigenous disease such as malaria. As early as possible in the planning stage, the traveler should consult a physician to determine what shots and other precautions should be undertaken prior to travel.