How physically demanding is gorilla trekking? Best trekking tips & advice on how to prepare for gorilla safaris

While on African Holiday Tours, Mountain gorilla trekking is an amazing experience that travelers embrace. The awe-inspring adventure takes visitors into the natural habitat of the endangered mountain gorillas in the three African countries of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the greater Virunga Conservation Area. How physically demanding is gorilla trekking? During the Gorilla trekking tour, travelers hike and navigate through the dense bushes, forests and rugged terrains to find the African primates in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park , Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the Volcanoes National Park.

For those planning to embark on the experience, a requisite physical fitness level is required before visiting the Gorilla Trekking National Parks in Africa. First, possess this question: How physically demanding is gorilla trekking? Looking at  the nature of the landscapes and the distances moved, it is recommended to first attain a good level of fitness before taking part for success adventuring.

If you are athletic, be rest assured to have an awesome moment trekking for gorillas in their natural habitat, just work on securing the Gorilla trekking Permit and embark on the trip to Rwanda or Uganda. Here is a well-crafted article to enlighten you about how difficult mountain gorilla is or  what makes trekking difficult and how best you can prepare for your gorilla trekking tour to Uganda and Rwanda.

 

How difficult is gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda?

The marvels of the gorilla trekking cannot be considered to other wilderness adventures however, many travelers organizing African Wildlife Safaris are interested in knowing; How physically demanding is gorilla trekking?  How difficult is gorilla trekking? For the primate lovers planning gorilla trekking in Africa, a decent fitness level is required if you want to complete the trek. You could be wondering; How difficult is gorilla trekking? Trekking for gorillas is a hectic activity that entails walking over tough terrains and thick bushes in the jungles of Africa. There are many factors responsible for the challenging nature of gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, for example the weather of a particular day, the steep highlands around the Virunga region.

Physical fitness is a key factor to make the trek into the forests for primates either success or difficult. Despite the fact that fitness level is no fixed to a particular standard by the authorities, travelers should ensure that they are in the right physical state before going for gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park or Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This involves making sure that a moderate level of physical fitness has been attained and travel for the trip.

The mountain gorillas are known to reside in the high attitude areas (2500-4000 meters) around the Virunga Volcanoes, therefore for travelers to find the endangered primates, there is need to navigate the highlands and valleys to reach the location of the assigned gorilla family. Finding the allocated family of gorillas is a challenging walk through steep and rugged terrains for long hours. The weather around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Volcanoes National Park is unpredictable, with rainy days coinciding with the gorilla trekking days.

Despite the challenges faced on gorilla trekking tours in Rwanda and Uganda, travelers don’t have much to worry about the success of their trek. There are special arrangements to support those who are unable to complete their trek, there are porters at the Visitor Centers, sedan chairs (African Helicopter) and hiking sticks to ease navigating through difficult terrains.

How best to prepare for a gorilla trekking Safari? Best tips & Advice – How should I prepare physically for gorilla trekking?

Gorilla trekking Safaris consider inclusivity for all people of different physical fitness levels, however, it is desirable for one to prepare adequately before traveling to Africa for the primate tracking activity. Preparing for this adventure will increase your chance of finishing the trek and enjoy the awe-inspiring moments around mountain gorillas. If you are planning for a gorilla trekking Safari tour to Uganda or Rwanda, there are some practices for you to keep fit.

Regular exercise and workouts

Regular exercise and workouts are very important too keep you fit before embarking on the gorilla trekking holiday in Africa. You should embrace the habit of regular workouts in the gym or at home to boast the chances of successful trekking. Working out will help you to keep your body fit and in shape before your gorilla trekking adventure. The muscles will be relaxed and strong for the lengthy walks in the jungles of Uganda & Rwanda, you will not feel muscle-aches, and the hike will be super easy for you.

Practice Cardiovascular Activities

Improve your general body fitness by doing vigorous activities like cycling for at least one hour. Other activities to train your body include swimming among others to make your heart ready for the body draining experience. In fact the best way to prepare for the gorilla trekking trip is allowing your body get used to difficult walks that will leave you exhausted by the end of the day.

Choose nearby gorilla families

In case you are not able to walk on lengthy trips in the forest, endeavor to choose a near by gorilla family that will be easy to find in a short period. The allocation of gorilla families is usually based on your physical fitness levels. We recommend choosing a nearby gorilla family if you are not sure of your fitness levels and ability to hike in the forest.

Carry a good packing list

Like other African Wildlife Tours, carrying recommended items in your packing list when going for gorilla tours is very important.  The items that should not miss in the packing list include right clothing and hiking boots if you are embarking on gorilla trekking tours in Uganda and Rwanda. Since the primate tracking takes many hours, carry some packed lunch or snacks and water to keep hydrated.

Are you looking forward to finding gorillas in the wild? Book for well-made packages to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park for gorilla tours.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like during gorilla trekking?

Gorilla trekking takes places in the mountainous Virunga Conservation Area which forms the territorial boundaries between Uganda, Rwanda and the D.R Congo. However, the region is divided into several national parks that are homes of the endangered mountain gorillas. Depending on the location of your primate tracking tour, your trek will be easy or difficult due to nature of the terrains. As a trek, expect to find difficulty if the gorilla family is on an elevated location because of the slippery trails and the thick bushes that will slow you down. The paths lead to the most impenetrable areas that are very hard to maneuver, sometimes trees fall across the trails and you to find a new place to pass. Despite the difficulties of gorilla trekking, the adventure is worth the money and the time you give it.

How long is the trekking distance on average?

Time is always the only way to estimate the length of a gorilla trekking activity on a particular day which take between 30 minutes to 6 hours. However, some people planning to do gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda may be asking; How long is the distance for trekking gorillas on average? Hiking in the national park for gorillas may force you to walk a considerable distance for some hours as you maneuver through the thick vegetation. The distance moved depends on the location of the group of apes that has been assigned to you, if it is near expect to walk a shorter distance and if it is far away the walk will take a good amount of time( long trek).

On normal gorilla trekking experience will take between 30 minutes to 6 hours to find the family that has been allocated to you although the period is depends on other factors. For long trekking, take time and make sure you are ready to walk physically in the home of mountain gorillas.

Are there steep inclines or difficult paths to navigate?

Gorillas of East Africa are found in the highland areas which are associated with steepp climbs and thick bushes. Those visiting Uganda and Rwanda should expect to move through some of the muddy trails and even climb over the steep slopes. To avoid the inconvenience of trekking on difficult terrains, book for a near location or do exercise and prepare for the unbeatable wildlife viewing experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Volcanoes National Park. Expect to move to high elevations if the gorilla family is up on the steep areas where you will have to hike up the highlands which will increase on the time in the jungle.

What is the altitude like in the gorilla habitat?

It is known that gorillas are fond of the Virunga Mountains in Africa rising to about  4,000 meters above sea level in the countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Trekking for mountain gorillas takes you through the changing attitudes from the highlands to valley as you embark on the experience.For the physically fit trekkers, the assigned gorilla families require steep climbs to be reached and will include hiking into the high altitudes unlike the ones who are not very fit to move on difficult terrains. However, if you are not used to high altitude, moving into the steep areas could pose serious health challenges like altitude fever.

Are there porters available to assist with carrying gear during the trek?

Porters are easily accessible on the day for gorilla trekking as they are always at the Visitor Centers early morning. The porters are well trained to support you through the muddy and steep climbs to enable you complete your trek successfully. We recommend hiring one in case you have luggage on your Gorilla Trekking day in Bwindi or Volcanoes National Park. The porters are the safest option to keep your camera in a good shape since they are experienced and know how to go about the difficult terrains and bushes without falling.

Porters will enable the hike to be faster since you don’t have attention of handling the backpack and equipment which are in the custody of the porter. If you want to hire a porter for the Gorilla trekking safari,  extra charges will be incurred separate from the gorilla permit.

What type of footwear is recommended for gorilla trekking?

Gorilla trekking is a hike into the jungles of East Africa to find the remaining gentle giants in the world. Whereas other African Safaris can be done in the vehicles on game drives, mountain gorilla trekking is done in dense bushes and rugged terrains while waking into the home of the endangered species. Making the best choice of footwear will guarantee you successful trekking and protection from insects, pricking plants and muddy trails.

Ensure that the footwear you choose is capable of handling the difficulties of the jungle on the trek. Good ankle support shoes are highly recommended if you want to avoid the mud and insects from climbing to your foot. The footwear should be waterproof, comfortable and sturdy to enable you navigate through the challenging trails and slippery grounds. The shoes should have a grippy outsole to give you good traction whie searching for the primates.

How long does the gorilla trekking experience typically last?

The duration for a typical gorilla trekking experience is heavily determined by a number of factors affecting the experience. It is without doubt that location of the gorillas and their movement can influence the time spent on the safaris. However, most gorilla trekking trips are known to last between 30 minutes to 6 hours. There is one hour for watching the apes in their natural habitat as well as moving to the visitor center and the wild.