Gorilla Trekking Souvenirs in Uganda and Rwanda

A Gorilla trekking souvenir to travelers who have visited mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda, or those planning to come,  is a document given to travelers after a successful gorilla trekking adventure. The certificate is proof that someone has successfully trekked gorillas in either Uganda or Rwanda. It’s a take-home souvenir that travelers return to their homes with. At the end of every gorilla trek, travelers are reminded not to leave the trekking certificates behind. Check for detailed information about gorilla trekking certificates with Superfine Safaris Limited.

What does a gorilla certificate mean?

A gorilla trekking certificate is not just a piece of documentation but rather an important file that trekkers treasure a lot. The certificate represents the following

Commemoration

First of all, a gorilla trekking certificate serves as a reminder of one’s successful mountain gorilla trekking adventure. When travelers return to their homes, the certificate will always remind them of their face-to-face meeting with the gorillas. The certificate indicates the date when gorilla trekking took place, the national park

Gorilla conservation acknowledgement

A portion of the money paid for the gorilla trekking certificate is used to support gorilla conservation programs in the respective mountain gorilla national parks.  The cost of the certificate is included in the total cost of the mountain gorilla permit in Uganda and Rwanda. Also, some portion of the money is given to local communities adjacent to gorilla national parks. The support of local communities has helped to solve the human-wildlife conflicts in gorilla parks, hence promoting gorilla conservation in the Area.  Your gorilla trekking certificate, therefore, shows your support for mountain gorilla conservation

Souvenir

As said already, the mountain gorilla trekking certificate is a token that travelers take home. It’s a pride that gorilla lovers keep for remembrance of their magical journey with the endangered primates. Most travelers frame their certificates and keep  them safe for remembrance and reference

What is the process of getting the gorilla trekking certificate?

The day starts very early, and travelers transfer to the respective mountain gorilla trekking park.

Registration and briefing

Upon arrival at the national park headquarters, travelers are registered by park wardens and briefed on the dos and don’ts of mountain gorilla trekking. This process also includes gorilla family allocation. Travelers are reminded to disclose their physical abilities to get gorilla families that match with their hiking abilities

The gorilla trek

At 8:0am, the actual gorilla trek begins! Two armed park rangers lead travelers into the jungle forest searching for the allocated gorilla families. The trek takes you through different vegetation zones, up and down hill through the dense forests. No actual time is set for the whole gorilla trek as it all depends on the location of the gorillas and the hiking speed of the slowest person in your group. Rangers move at the speed of the slowest person to avoid leaving anyone behind! The trekking time range is between 2-6 hours.

An encounter with gorillas

After several minutes or hours of trekking through the jungle, you finally meet the gorillas. Aww, it’s a magical feeling you will live to remember! With the silverback gorilla looking at you with no fear, looking at the adult females nursing the babies while blackback and juvenile gorillas run around the whole place, the encounter is indeed memorable. Use this opportunity smartly, take as many photos as you can, capture videos, and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience.  Remember to observe the rules and regulations as directed at the start. The allowed time with the gorillas is strictly an hour

Receiving the certificate

After an hour with gorillas, trek back to the starting point, where you will be awarded the gorilla trekking certificate.  Receiving the certificate is the climax of your gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda or Rwanda.

Who issues the gorilla trekking certificate?

Just as gorilla trekking permits, the certificates are issued by responsible gorilla observation bodies in each country. In Uganda, the certificate is issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority, while in Rwanda it is issued by Rwanda Development Board. The certificate shows the logo of the respective body (UWA or UTB), the national park, the gorilla family trekked, and the date of trekking.  The certificate also bears a certificate of the Executive Director of UWA or RDB and the conservation Area manager of the park in question

What is the cost of a gorilla trekking souvenir?

The cost of a gorilla trekking certificate is included in the total cost of the gorilla permit. This varies depending on which country you are visiting. In Uganda, each gorilla permit costs $800, while in Rwanda it costs $1500.  Superfine Safaris Limited is your reliable travel agency to book and reserve gorilla permits in Uganda and Rwanda

In conclusion, a Gorilla trekking certificate is proof of a gorilla trekking adventure. It’s a take-home souvenir for all travelers who successfully trek gorillas in Uganda

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