Tips for Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda.
Gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is widely regarded as one of the most excellent wildlife experiences on the planet. Coming face-to-face with a family of mountain gorillas in their misty, natural habitat is a privileged encounter that requires careful preparation. Because this experience takes place in dense, often challenging terrain at high altitudes, knowing the right strategies, packing the correct gear, and understanding the etiquette is crucial to maximizing your enjoyment and ensuring the well-being of these magnificent creatures with Nyumbu Beyond Journeys.
Physical Preparation.
Gorilla trekking in the Virunga Mountains is a physical safari activity. The trek can range from a relatively easy hour-long walk to a more full-day hike involving moving through thick rainforest, muddy slopes, and thorns, sometimes at altitudes exceeding 3,000 meters (10,000 feet). Therefore, it is highly recommended to engage in moderate physical training weeks or months before your trip. Simple cardio exercises like walking, jogging, or hiking will significantly improve your stamina and comfort during the trek.
Additionally, send your body to acclimate to the elevation by arriving to Rwanda a minimum of one day ahead of your trek to either spend the night in Musanze (close to the park entrance) or in Kigali to adjust to the elevation. When you are well-rested and acclimated to the elevation before your trek, it mitigates your risk of potential altitude sickness and permits you to confine focus on the rewarding trek with the gorilla family rather than on fatigue and the physical exertion. This readiness will allow for you to be in the best body condition to take full advantage of every hour you are with the gorilla family once they are found.
Selecting and Preparing the Right Clothes: Dressing For the Mountain Environment.
The rainforest experience is different than many activities because of the dense, damp, and thorny vegetation typical of the forest so you will want to dress appropriately to protect yourself and remain comfortable. Waterproof gear is a must. This must include a quality lightweight rain jacket and waterproof trekking pants or gaiters to protect your legs from moisture and muddy water. You must also have quality waterproof hiking boots with excellent ankle support and a good grip’ because the trails are typically slick and uneven.
You will also want to have long sleeve shirts and tuck your trousers into socks to protect against stinging nettles and thorns. In addition, durable garden gloves will keep your hands safe when grasping vines, branches, or roots during your climb. Since the weather can change very quickly from cold to sunny, wearing layers is the best approach to enable you to easily modify your clothing while maintaining a comfortable body temperature throughout your trek.
Necessary Logistical and Ethical Guidelines.
Logistics and ethical standards are necessary considerations for a successful trek at the park. Once you arrive at the park headquarters, you are assigned to a gorilla family group. Factors that determine which group you are assigned typically include your fitness level (be sure to discuss any limits with the park staff) and the predicted location of the families. Do make sure to hire a porter at the start. Porters are locals that rely on this work for income, and they can help carry your bag or offer support through difficult areas of the trekking experience, which is a great way to directly benefit the local economy.
With health and safety, mask wearing around gorillas is mandated to reduce the risk of human respiratory disease transmission, as gorillas are susceptible to human disease. Please adhere to the stated minimum distance of 7 to 10 meters from animals. If a gorilla approaches you, either back away slowly or freeze and listen to the instructions of the guide. As a final note, the time with the gorillas is strictly a total of one hour. Use this hour wisely: remember to put your camera down now and then and impartially observe and enjoy the incredible presence of these gentle giants.
Taking pictures.
While the immersion is the main goal, photographing the moment is also important. When photographing, try to do so without disturbing the gorillas, and the simplest way to do this is to ensure the flash is turned off. Flash photography can be frightening and/or annoying to the gorillas. As the open canopy of the forest typically has little light, we suggest the use of a camera with a high ISO capability and a fast lens (low f number).
Be prepared for moisture, because the rain or humidity can persist. Try to cover your camera equipment with waterproof covers or zip-lock bags. Finally, in an hour with a gorilla, you should attempt to get the essential photos in the first 30 minutes, which allows the last half of the time to be spent on simply observing. The quiet or new respect moments often become the most powerful and memorable parts of your entire Rwandan safari.
