What makes Gorillas unique on a safari?
Mountain gorillas play a significant role in their natural habitat and to national economy at large. Mountain gorillas are important for food chain balance through seed dispersal the fact that they are largely vegetarians. Lack of natural balance in the food chain has a negative impact not only to other wildlife species that thrive within the same habitat but also to residents who depend on the natural resources for water, food and others.
Mountain gorilla conservation helps protect not only mountain gorillas but also other endangered species and their habitat for instance variety of floral species, African golden cats, chimpanzees, different monkeys, elephants, golden monkeys, pangolins, birds such as the Grauer’s swamp warblers, hooded vultures a mention but a few.
Mountain gorilla adventures feature as major safari highlight in most of visitors’ travel plans. Besides game drives in the savanna grassland parks, gorilla trekking attracts thousands of tourists to have magical encounter with mountain gorillas. A trek to see these creatures in the wild is best described as a lifetime experience. Increase in their number in the natural habitat means boost in visitor experiences and increase in gorilla safaris as more groups can be habituated and opened for visitors to trek.
Mountain gorillas are world’s star tourist attractions and because of this, they feature as a major source of foreign exchange. To see mountain gorillas, tourists pay for gorilla trekking permit. They are special creatures to catch a glimpse at while on gorilla trip in Africa and they remain not more than 1004 on earth. Mountain gorillas thrive in the rainforest of Uganda that is only in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in the southwest; Rwanda and only in Volcanoes National Park in the northwest and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Virunga National Park in the east. These rare creatures share about 95 percent of their DNA with humans making them our closest relatives in the wild. In Uganda, to trek to see mountain gorillas you require $800 to help you secure a gorilla permit; in Rwanda you need $1500 and $450 in DR Congo.
Jobs have been created to most local residents through mountain gorilla tourism and conservation. They are employed as guides, conservationists, tour operators and many others thus enabling them earn a living. Besides, there is also 20 percent revenue scheme that benefits local residents living adjacent gorilla parks.
In summary, to explore more about significance of mountain gorillas, a trip to Uganda, Rwanda or DR Congo should be a must.