Essentials For Gorilla Trekking
Essentials For Gorilla Trekking are the key items that one needs to engage in the tour activity of gorilla trekking to make it a success. Mountain gorilla trekking is an activity which involves exploring the forest or jungle, following gorilla leads and moving into the gorilla habitat to view gorillas in their natural environment where you will spend one hour with the gorillas. Gorilla trekking is among the major tourist attractions and most popular activity in Uganda, Congo and Rwanda carried out Bwindi impenetrable forest, Mgahinga national park, Virunga National Park and Volcanoes national park.
After paying for a gorilla trekking permit in either Uganda or Rwanda, you need to prepare yourself with different tracking clothes and equipment so that the gorilla tracking experience becomes successful. Gorilla tracking destinations which are Bwindi national park, Mgahinga national park, and Volcanoes national park are located in areas with high elevation hence making these destinations humid, rainy and cold especially during the nights and early mornings with mist. While trekking gorillas in the jungle you can follow small trails in the forest or sometimes trek in the forest with no trails depending on where the gorillas are therefore you need to wear clothing that will protect you from coldness, thorn pricks, insect bites among others.
Gorilla Tracking Permit
This is the most essential for gorilla trekking because it’s a very important and most vital thing needed for trekking because without a gorilla tracking permit you won’t be able to take part in gorilla tracking in any of the national parks in Uganda or Rwanda, therefore, the gorilla tracking permit should be acquired in time and packed as the most important essential when going for gorilla tracking in Bwindi impenetrable national park, Virunga National Park, Mgahinga national park, and volcanoes national park.
Apart from the permit you also need a valid passport which is also used when acquiring a gorilla tracking permit and a visa which allows you to enter the country because without these two you cannot enter the country even if you have already acquired a gorilla tracking permit.
Hiking Boots
This is another essential for gorilla trekking since Gorilla tracking is done in the forest or jungle with no clear trails or path and it can be slippery, muddy, steep, wet especially when it rains, therefore, the lightweight hiking boots are very important when you are thinking on what to pack for the gorilla tracking experience. The hiking boots should reach your ankle so as to give you stability, good balance and support your ankles on hilly and muddy terrain. The rangers in Bwindi national park, Mgahinga national park, Virunga National Park and Volcanoes national park often wear gumboots, rubber boots to protect them from forest insects and prevent their feet from steeping in muddy vegetation in the forest when taking visitors for gorilla tracking, therefore the hiking boots will keep you dry in case it rains, protect your feet from stinging plants, tree branches, insects, stepping in mud among others.
Cotton thick Socks
The tall socks are always tucked into the long trousers to protect your legs from the insects which might enter your trousers like the red fire ants, safari ants among others during gorilla tracking.
Long Sleeved Shirts
When going for gorilla trekking it’s advisable to wear a long sleeved shirt to protect your arms from thorn plants, keep you warm in the morning or evening because these national parks are always very cold during morning and evening hours.
Long Sleeved Trousers
You should wear long sleeved trousers when going for gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda as one of the essentials for gorilla trekking to protect your legs from nettles, thorns, tree branches. The long trousers can either be khaki, waterproof and not too tight so as to give you the ability and freedom of movement when trekking and easy to tuck in the thick socks and hiking boots to avoid safari insects from entering the trousers hence returning from gorilla tracking with no bruises from the plants in the forest. The ladies should wear comfortable bras, cotton undergarments so not to feel uncomfortable since it will be a long and tough hike in the jungle, you should wear clothes with dull colors like green, brown while going for gorilla trekking in the wild because shouting colors like white are not advisable and in case you wear them you will return from trekking when they are all muddy.
Waterproof rain Jacket / Poncho
Most gorilla tracking are tropical rain forests for example Bwindi impenetrable national park, therefore, it can rain any time any day whether it’s in the dry season or wet season hence you need a waterproof jacket to protect you and your camera and other electronic equipment like smartphones, binoculars from the rain. The rain jacket should be light because it can get hot in the jungle during the dry season, therefore, you should be able to keep them in the backpack when it’s hot and protect you even if it doesn’t rain because the forest is always wet due to mist. The poncho is used to warm your body from the coldness when tracking gorillas in the forest due to high elevation or altitude.
Garden Gloves
You should wear thorn proof Garden gloves when going for gorilla tracking because they are very important in that due to rains the forest or jungle can be so slippery and you can protect yourself from falling through holding some itching plants in the forest, tree branches, thorns, nettles, vines among others hence the gloves can protect your hands from getting hurt, scratched, germs while in the jungle however you can take them off when you are with the mountain gorillas so as to take clear photos of the gorillas in their natural habitat.
Energy giving Snacks
When going for gorilla tracking you need to carry packed lunch which is provided by the lodge where you will be staying during your safari, two liters of drinking water because gorilla tracking can take long hours of about 2 to 5 hours searching for the gorillas in higher altitude areas and one hour in the presence of the gorillas and if you are going for gorilla habituation experience which takes a full day you will need 3 liters of water, therefore you will need drinking water and food to boost your energy while in the forest.
Sunglasses, Sunscreen, and a Hat
Sunglasses and a hat are very important essentials for gorilla trekking when going for gorilla tracking in the forest because they can help you in case its very hot and protect your skin from strong sun rays, the hat protects your head and neck from rain in case you have a lot of hair and also helps not to get stuck in the tree branches in the forest. The hat is an important item therefore in case you did not pack one for your safari, you can buy one from the local craft markets around the park from the craft shops hence supporting the people selling and also supporting your hair, head when you are trekking gorillas.
Light Warm Sweater
There is a lot of coldness in the gorilla trekking national parks especially during the rainy seasons, very early in the morning, evening and at night hence the warm sweater will keep you warm at all times where at your lodge or going for gorilla tracking safari.
Cameras
When going on a safari in any destination a camera is an important item to consider, and when going for gorilla tracking in either Bwindi, Mgahinga, Volcanoes you need to charge your camera batteries very well, switch off the flash when taking photos so that you can take as many photographs as possible and capture the moments in the one hour you will be given in the presence of the gorillas hence making your gorilla trekking safari interesting and unforgettable.
Insect Repellent
While tracking gorillas in the forest you will come across different insects like tsetse flies, safari ants among others, therefore, the insect repellent will protect you from these insects and in case you are going for gorilla habituation experience you are advised to carry the insect repellent in your backpack since you will be spending more time in the forest. You can also apply sunblock in case there is part of your body that is exposed.
First Aid Kit
A first aid kit is very important when going on a gorilla trekking safari because it can be of help in case of an injury, muscle strains due to hiking in the forest, allergies or in case you have a certain illness, the first aid kit is used to carry your medication and other prescription medicines like anti-malarial drugs, anti-diarrhea drugs, allergy, painkillers, bandages, liniment among others. This is one of the most essentials for gorilla trekking.
Walking Stick/pole
It’s very important and among the most essentials for gorilla trekking and one must carry a walking stick when going to track gorillas in the jungle because it supports you while climbing up and down on steep and muddy hills. The walking stick can be provided by the lodge, the guide or can be bought from the local market hence taking it back to your country after the safari as a remembrance for gorilla tracking.
Waterproof Backpack
When going on a gorilla tracking safari, the backpack is used for carrying all the equipment for gorilla tracking like food, drinking water, cameras, permit, among others. The backpack should be waterproof so that water doesn’t enter the bag in case it rains. This is one of the most essentials for gorilla trekking that will save your day when it rains.
Hiring a Porter
This is an optional item but very important and advisable to hire a porter at a cheap and affordable fee since you will trek in the steep slopes and the porter will give you a pull or a push on the way and carry your backpack. Porters can also carry people with disabilities in case they want to view the mountain gorillas in the forest. The porters are readily available in all the national parks hence hiring one will mean supporting the families that live around the national parks because some porters are students, fathers, orphans, pygmies among others hence improving on their standards of living.
There are other essentials for gorilla tracking like a pair of binoculars which are very necessary for clear viewing of the some animals like birds, chimpanzees, forest elephants, buffaloes, black and white colobus monkeys among others when tracking the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga national park and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda which help you to have the best and successful safari with life time memories.
