Mountain gorilla trekking is often described as a spiritual safari experience, a perfect encounter that stays with you for the rest of your life. However, for a first-timer, the mystery of the ‘’Impenetrable Forest’’ can be a bit intimidating. Unlike a traditional safari where you sit in a vehicle and then wait for the animals to appear a gorilla trek is an active, physical and then unpredictable journey into the heart of the jungle.
Understanding the rhythm of the day from the early morning briefing to the final breathless moment you see a silverback will help you prepare both mentally and then physically for this bucket list adventure.
The early morning briefing.
Your day begins early, usually around 7: 00 am, at the park headquarters. There is a palpable sense of excitement in the air as travelers from all over the world gather for coffee and a briefing. During this time, the park rangers will explain the rules of the forest, such as maintaining a distance of at least 10 meters from the gorillas and never using a flash on your camera. This is also when you are assigned to a specific gorilla gamily. Some families live close to the park edge, while others are deep in the mountains. If you are concerned about your fitness level, this is the time to speak up; the rangers do their best to match the difficulty of the hike to the physical ability of the group.
Meeting your secret weapon: The Porters.
One of the most important pieces of advice for the first timer is to hire a porter. Even if you are an experienced hiker, the terrain in Bwindi Impenetrable national park or Volcanoes National Park is steep, slippery and then often tangled with the vines. For a small fee (usually around 20 USD), a local porter will carry your backpack and then more importantly, provide a steady to pull you up steep slopes or steady you on muddy descents. Hiring a porter is also a form of the direct community support, providing a livelihood for people living near the park. With a porter by your side, you can focus entirely on the scenery and then the sounds of the forest rather than struggling with the weight of your water bottles and camera gear.
The Hike: Into the Green Abyss.
Once you leave the trailhead, the ‘’trek’’ truly begins. There is no set time for how long it will take to find the gorillas; it could be forty minutes or six hours. You will be led by an armed ranger and then a team of trackers who have been in the forest since daybreak. These trackers follow the ‘’nesting’’ sites where the gorillas slept the night before and use broken branches and flattened grass to find their current location. The hike can be challenging; you will be walking ‘’off-trail’’ through the thick vegetation, which is why it is called the Impenetrable Forest. You can expect to get muddy, sweaty, and then perhaps a little scratched, but the anticipation keeps your adrenaline high.
The ’’Magic Hour’’: finding the family.
When the trackers signal that the gorillas are nearby, a sudden hush falls over the group. You will be asked to leave your walking sticks and bags behind and take only your camera. As you push through the final wall of leaves, you will find yourself in the presence of a mountain gorilla family. The first thing that hits you is their size, especially the Silverback who can weight over 200 kilograms. You have exactly one hour to spend with them. During this time, you might see mothers grooming their infants, juveniles playing like human children or the dominant male calmly chewing on wild celery. They are remarkably peaceful creatures, and as they look at you with deep, brown, intelligent eyes, the ‘’human like’’ connection is undeniable.
What to wear for the safari experience.
To enjoy the safari experience, you must dress the part. This is not the time for shorts and flip-flops. You need long trousers and then long-sleeved shirts to protect yourself from stinging nettles and ‘’safari ants’’. Most experienced trekkers tuck their trousers into their socks to prevent insects from crawling up their legs. A pair of the sturdy, waterproof hiking boots with the good grip is essential for the muddy slopes. You should also bring a light weight rain jacket, as it can rain at any moment in the rainforest, and a pair of the gardening gloves. These gloves are a ‘’pro-tip’’ for the first timers; they allow you to grab onto the branches and then thorny bushes for the balance without hurting your hands.
Essential Gear for your day pack.
Since you could be in the forest for most of the day, your backpack needs to be packed strategically. You will need at least two to three liters of water and a packed lunch, which your lodge will usually provide. Because you can not eat or drink in front of the gorillas (to prevent the spread of the human diseases), your guide will find a scenic spot for a ‘’bush lunch’’ during the hike. Do not forget to pack extra camera batteries and then memory cards you will likely take hundreds of photos in that one hour. Finally, carry a small first aid kit with plasters and some insect repellent, though the mosquitoes are usually not a major problem at these high altitudes.
In conclusion, a gorilla trek is far more than just a wildlife viewing safari activity; it is a physical challenge that rewards you with one of the most intimate and then humbling encounters possible in the natural world. From the camaraderie of the morning briefing and then strenuous beauty of the hike to the breathtaking silence of standing feet away from a giant silverback every moment of the safari is designed to connect you with a species that share 98% of our DNA. While the mud will eventually wash off and your muscles will stop aching, the memory of that golden hour in the misty forest will remain vivid and unchanged for the rest of your life, making every bit of effort and every dollar spent entirely worth it with Adyeri Travel Limited.
