Gorilla Trekking Certificate is the document issued to visitors for successfully completing the adventurous gorilla trek within any of the gorilla national parks. This document clearly shows the destination from which you undertook your adventure to search for the endangered mountain gorillas, the date of trekking and surprisingly the gorilla group you trekked as a remembrance for such a remarkable experience in the jungle.
Before mountain gorilla treks are conducted, participants are required to present valid gorilla permits upon arrival at the park headquarters and this guarantees entry into the jungles to search for these sought after mountain gorillas. However, possessing a gorilla permit doesn’t mean you will successfully complete the gorilla trek and committed visitors who are able endure the difficulties until finally meeting them and spending time in their presence deserve a reward/certificate hence the idea of “gorilla trekking certificate”.
Generally, gorilla trekking is not as easy as other safari adventures such as game viewing or guided nature walks because they involve hikes through mountainous slopes to search for an allocated gorilla group. This obviously require participants to have moderate fitness levels although the elderly and persons with reduced mobility are also provided chances of seeing these Giant Apes in their natural habitats and in the end receive certificates with the provision of sedan chairs lifted by able-bodied porters.
Who issues the Gorilla Trekking Certificate?
Gorilla trekking certificates for visitors trekking mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the semi-autonomous body in charge of managing and supervising all National Parks and Wildlife Reserves in the country. This same body is responsible for issuing gorilla permits.
Rwanda gorilla trekking certificates for visitors who successfully trek the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park are issued by Rwanda Development Board (RDB), a body also in charge of tourism and other Government Parastatals in the country.
On completing gorilla treks in Virunga National Park within Democratic Republic of Congo, visitors are issued Gorilla Trekking Certificate by Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN).
About Mountain Gorillas.
The endangered mountain Gorillas, also known as “Gorilla beringei beringei” are close relatives to humans sharing 98.2% DNA. These huge creatures are the number one reason why thousands of visitors make trips to the East and Central African countries of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are known for their thick and dark fur to keep them warm as they live in their densely forested, mountainous and generally colder natural habitats.
These Giant Apes are herbivores with 70% of their diet comprising of Bamboo shoots, leaves, fruits, stems, seeds and occasionally termites, ants, insects and different invertebrates.
Best Time for Gorilla Trekking.
The three countries where gorilla treks are conducted are characterized by the same climatic zones and have the same wet and dry seasons. Of these two, the latter is the best time to trek mountain gorillas is dry season between months of June and September as well as December and February when forest floors and hiking trails are drier, less muddy and slippery hence more comfortable for trekkers.
What you need for gorilla trekking tours.
Endangered mountain gorillas occupy the lush dense tropical rainforests that experience downpours even in the dry season hence recommended packing list for these adventures should include wide brim hats, sturdy hiking shoes, energy giving snacks, gardening gloves, binoculars, warm clothing, khaki safari pants, waterproof backpack, long sleeved shirts, water bottle, insect repellant, toiletries (such as toothbrush, toothpaste, sunscreen, deodorant and bathing shower gel), rain jacket, sunglasses, first aid kit and many others.
