What Level of Fitness Is Required for Gorilla Trekking? Gorilla Safaris: What level of fitness is required to undertake gorilla trekking? A traveler must be at least physically fit before arranging to go gorilla trekking; the agent you are corresponding with must make sure you take plenty of breaks to prepare for a touch environment.
It is advised that our clients bring important goods for the gorilla trekking tours, such as knee-high gaiters, double-layered socks with thick outer layers and cotton inners, and hiking boots that protect your ankles.
Generally speaking, gorilla trekking is safe, but you should read these guidelines to find out how fit you need to be before trekking. However, only three nations in the world provide mountain gorilla trekking: Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Furthermore, gorilla trekking is a demanding exercise; the more fit you are, the more successful you will be. Going gorilla trekking does not require you to be able to perform a bench press three times your body weight.
Groups of trackers with comparable ages and degrees of fitness will be formed, and the oldest and least fit individuals will often be assigned to the gorilla group nearest the meeting location. Don’t worry, you won’t be separated from your loved ones.
However, you must abide by the hiking regulations, which require the quicker walkers to slow down to the slower pace in order to ensure the group’s safety. You will be led by an expert guide who is skilled at determining how the group is handling things.
The guide will pause when needed to take a break, get some water, or take in the scenery as you eat a snack. Water and energy-boosting foods like roasted cashews or peanuts, bananas, apples, muffins, tiny sandwiches or bread rolls, and regional specialties like folded eggs are all included in packed lunches.
The dry season is the best time of year to go gorilla trekking since the trails are less slick and simpler to follow. They then make the pathways slick and the hike more difficult during the rainy season. Additionally, primates may hide in their nests to avoid the rain or to make themselves more difficult to locate. Bring a pair of lightweight binoculars so you can see their faces and antics up close.
Note: You will need to be able to keep up with the gorillas because they are far more accustomed to traveling through their “home” rainforest than humans are.
One of the two dry seasons is the ideal time of year to visit the rainforest. The first season lasts from early June to late September and around mid-December to February. Although the weather is still quite humid, damp, and muddy, this time of year is suitable for trekking.
The Gorilla
The tropical rainforest of the Congo Basin depends on the rain season, which is appropriately characterized as wet, wetter, and wettest. In contrast, the moderate rainfall season, which runs from December to February, and the low rainfall season, which runs from June to September, make gorilla trekking in the Congo simpler. The driest and coolest months of the year are thought to be July through August.
The cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda is USD 800 for foreign non-residents and USD 700 for foreign residents; it is USD 500 for the rest of Africa and UGX 300,000 for East African members.
In contrast to gorilla trekking, which is a one-hour living experience in the gorillas’ natural environment, gorilla habituation, which is only possible in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda, costs USD 1500 per person and gives trackers four hours to spend with the gorillas. Trackers must be at least 15 years old.
Among them are
Gloves for gardening hands
Snacks that provide energy
Repellant for insects
Additional batteries and a camera
neutral-colored long-sleeve shirt
Pants that are waterproof
Enough bottles of mineral water
Bring a rain jacket or poncho.
Boots for trekking
Keep warm clothing on hand.