When it comes to gorilla safaris, there is a lot to expect. A gorilla safari in Uganda and Rwanda offers nature enthusiasts a lifetime opportunity to immerse themselves in the wild to encounter a group of rare mountain gorillas. After you have adequately prepared for your adventure and now you are fully ready, here is what to expect during gorilla safaris;
Packing right
We believe that the point when you have prepared 100%, it means you are ready to embark on your primate adventure. Packing right is key during gorilla safaris in Uganda or Rwanda. Even on the actual day trek with gorillas, these items are required of all visitors. They include waterproof hiking boots, a valid gorilla permit, gardening gloves, a safari hat, a rain jacket, comfortable clothes, a first aid kit, a sweater, sunscreen, and many others.
Adequate fitness practice
The gorilla trek is a little strenuous and other than practicing to acquaint yourself with the tough altitude, you also need to come along with some snacks and water. The energy boosters are essential to help you enjoy a round gorilla trekking adventure.
Embarking on a long trek & is specific
Gorilla trekking is a long day trek through the jungle. It is not for everyone but particularly for persons above 15 years. A gorilla trek is strenuous and takes hikers about 2-6 hours to navigate via the lush forest in search of a gorilla group in the wild.
Allocation of gorilla groups and park ranger guides.
During your gorilla safari, all visitors are assigned to habituated gorilla families and park ranger guides. Each of the destinations features habituated gorilla groups and in Uganda, you have about 25 groups all open for gorilla trekking and some set for gorilla habituation experience, especially in Bwindi National Park. In Rwanda, primate adventure seekers with a plan to track gorillas have 13 groups to explore.
Verification at the park offices
Carry a valid passport and visa. Beyond gorilla permits, you need a valid passport and visa. These travel documents are essential, especially at the park offices for verification. The gorilla permit is crosschecked against your passport to ascertain that indeed it is you.
Briefing
Regardless of the destination, briefing is expected and is done early in the morning at the park offices by the park official. During the briefing session, expect to learn the different gorilla trekking rules and regulations, etc.
Respect the set gorilla trekking regulations.
During your gorilla safaris, ensure that you respect the set rules and regulations for gorilla trekking. There are multiple guidelines to be followed during gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. They include observing a distance of 7-8 meters away from gorillas, trekking a gorilla family in a group comprising 8 pax, expect to spend a maximum of one hour with mountain gorillas in the wild, when taking pictures –the camera should be free from a flashlight, do not go to track gorillas when sick, and observe low tone when tracking gorillas.
Spend an hour with a family of gorillas.
During gorilla trekking tours, expect to spend a maximum of 1 hour face-to-face with a family of mountain gorillas in the wild. The one hour involves observing the social behaviors, group structure, and photography. This is the most sensational moment of all time when it comes to gorilla treks.
A gorilla trek with an experienced park ranger guide
All gorilla safaris are conducted with the company of an experienced park ranger guide. As per the park authorities, no one is allowed to track gorillas without a guide. The park ranger guides are usually available at the respective parks.
Hire a porter
Gorilla trekking is a strenuous adventure and generally, it is unpredictable. Hiring a porter is a great thing because it relieves you from the heavy load. The porters help carry heavy luggage and at the end of it all, you have plenty of time to concentrate on your gorilla trek. A porter can be hired at the park offices at around USD 15 to 20.
Unpredictable adventure
Gorilla trekking begins early morning and is done once a day. However, be aware that this is a completely unpredictable adventure and may go for 2 to 6 hours. The length of your primate adventure depends on a number of factors including the speed of walking, the nature of the habitat, and the location of mountain gorillas.
During the gorilla trek, you navigate via the undefined paths. There are specific trails designated for your search for gorillas as is the case with game drives in the savanna parks.
When to visit
Mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda can be tracked at any time of the year. But the best time for gorilla trekking is during the peak dry season. This occurs from June to September, then another phase begins from December to February. The dry season is characterized by less rain, clearer skies, thinner vegetation, and other favorable variables. The trails generally become passable due to low rainfall amounts and the thinner vegetation allows you to capture great pictures of gorillas.
Even during the wet or rainy season, the parks are also open for gorilla trekking. The two phases of the wet season experienced by the gorillas run from March, April, May, and October, to November. Heavy rains and dense vegetation cover define the wet season but there are higher chances to engage in a gorilla trek. It is around the wet season when the gorilla safari parks record an abundant food supply for mountain gorillas to depend on.
Plan for your travel.
How to get to your respective destinations for gorilla trekking is essential. Hiring a 4×4 safari vehicle is key for your road trips. Take note that gorilla safari destinations are far from the city centres and renting a car is one way for you to reach these places. The tour operator on the ground is in a position to find for you a comfortable ride for your road trip.
You can also plan for a fly-in vacation to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. All flights to this park begin from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kisoro/Kihihi airstrip.