Top 10 tips for Planning a Perfect Gorilla Trek in Africa

Round The World Magazine

5 years ago

Trekking the gorillas in Africa is an awesome experience that every person should have. Yet, it is not something that you can do without planning.

Going to the other side of the world requires a lot of preparation. Particularly, when going to the wild of central Africa. This is why we have compiled a list of the tips that you have to follow before going and once you arrive there.

Choose your Destination Carefully

You are going to Africa because you want to see the gorillas in their natural habitat. But are you aware of all the options that you have on the African continent? The two main places to see gorillas in Africa are Bwindi forest national park Uganda, and Volcanoes national Park Rwanda.

The first option is only for the most adventurous people. Bwindi offers a jungle-like experience for every person. There are three levels of difficulty: simple, medium and tough. Yet, you don’t always have the possibility to choose the one you want to go on.

If choosing is of importance to you, then you should seriously consider going to Rwanda. This place also offers plenty of safari destinations for those who want to have a close-up experience with nature and wildlife.

Prepare all the paperwork

When planning a trip, people tend to go through the usual checklist: passports, plane tickets, stay, etc. Yet, there are more things to take into account before plunging into the African experience. If you want to see the gorillas, you will need to get a permit.

In the case of the Bwindi Forest national park, there are four sections. And each section will require a specific permit. Depending on the sector, you will need to plan the trip with a lot of time. Some sectors are so booked that you need to get your permit one year early. If you do this at the last minute, there are still some options. But they will be pretty limited.

Make the most out of it

There are plenty of things to do in Africa. So, it makes sense that once you go there you take advantage of all the options available. Those who go to Uganda to see the gorillas usually restrict their trip to the Bwindi Forest. But there is plenty more to see in this beautiful country. You should definitely visit Queen Elizabeth National Park. There, you will be able to admire the large herds of hippos and elephants bathing in the lakes.

Mind the weather

When you plan your trip, you should consider how the weather conditions will affect it. Usually, it is possible to see the gorillas all year round.

But most people prefer to do so during the dry seasons. The large number of tourists who go during these seasons make this experience more expensive at those times of the year. Yet, you have better chances of enjoying your trip then, as you may avoid the rain. In spite of this, even during the dry seasons, there is always some possibility of having some rainfall.

Pack appropriate clothing

What you wear can make a difference in how much you enjoy your trip. Safaris are usually very humid and there is plenty of rainfall. So, wearing solid footwear, such as walking boots, will help you step firmly and avoid slips. What is more, these places are full of bugs. Mosquito bites can make your trekking trip quite uncomfortable. But, if you wear long clothing, you shouldn’t have to worry about this.

Follow the rules

There are plenty of rules that one has to follow to ensure his own safety and to protect the rest. Sometimes, out of curiosity, some people may want to break these rules. This is a big no-no. Mainly, you have to make sure that you are at least 7 meters away from the gorillas.

You also have to avoid looking at them in the eyes because they could feel threatened. And remember that, if something goes wrong, you should never run. Try to show calmness. As always, following your guide’s instructions and not taking pictures with flash are essential. As you can see, this is nothing out of the ordinary.

Try out new options

If you are an adventurer, you may be tempted to go beyond the typical activities and try out new options. For example, you can join the gorilla habituation experience, lion tracking experience, chimpanzee habituation. There, you spend 4 hours with a team of scientists. You will join the teams of scientists that help gorillas to get accustomed to humans. This is a perfect opportunity to see gorillas in their natural state. That is to say before they are tamed to tolerate humans.
On the negative side, you will have to take more precautions. Such as not getting too close. What is more, you will have to pay over 1500 dollars for this experience. And there are very few permits, so you will have to book many months before you go.

Budget

Even though seeing gorillas is something that everyone should experience, it is not an affordable activity. This is why you have to plan ahead of time how much you are going to spend and see if you have enough money. One can always select less days to put the cost low. It’s now possible to plan a 1 day gorilla trek in Uganda from Kigali which is just perfect for a n affordable tour not exceeding USD900 and guarantees seeing the gorillas in the forest. Why planning it is better if your budget is larger than what you are actually going to spend on your safari. Unexpected events can always occur, from slipping in the mud to being attacked by a wild animal. Even though this is not very likely, one has to be prepared.
Planning to visit gorilla in Africa, Wild Rwanda Safaris a local travel operator based in Rwanda offers budget tours in Uganda, Rwanda & Democratic republic of Congo and guarantee an incredible experience with the gorillas up-close.

Stay

Many may think that Africa is quite limited in this aspect. But that’s not true. There are plenty of options for all types of budgets, from luxury hotels to camping in the wild.

Even though choosing the right accommodation for you is key, the aspect that should matter the most is being close to the trailhead. This will save you lots of time and energy. And will end up giving you a better experience than staying in a deluxe place that is far away.

Take meals

Trekking can take many hours, and you are probably going to be hungry after so much exercise. Yet, it is important that you do research about which food is less likely to attract wild animals. Take every possible precaution and let your guides know that you have some food.