What to Pack for Gorilla Trekking in East Africa
Gorilla trekking is Africa’s most exciting tourist activity and is currently the most expensive safari in Africa. Mountain gorillas are human like creatures that inhabit the Virunga ranges of Central and East Africa. These apes occupy Virunga massif shared between Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
For visitors who are interested in experiencing these majestic gorillas, they can visit Bwindi impenetrable national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda, Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in Congo. Many visitors who want to encounter the gorillas for the first time always have a lot of questions including what to carry when trekking the gorillas in any of these destinations.
This copy will help to answer these questions. It is true that trekking gorillas in the jungle requires a lot of preparations.
Gorilla trekking permit.
Trekkers should not be excited and end up not carrying gorilla permits during the actual day of trekking. In all the gorilla destinations; Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo trekkers are required to present the permits to the park headquarters before proceeding to briefing and to the jungle.
Local currency
It is important to have the local currency of the country by the trekkers, because as they will trek they can meet different people like guides, waitresses, waiters, and local residents who can perform some cultural dances, porters among others. This means you as the trekker you can offer tips with the local currency to the porters, when buying souvenirs and other minor reasons.
Bottled water and some snacks
Gorilla trekking is an adventure that needs the trekkers to be physically fit, and this means it needs enough drinking water and some energy giving snacks to fairly remain strong and be able to finish the trekking. Some of the packed energy snacks can be nuts or dried fruits to can be the trekkers energetic.
Some of the clothing and shoes that are required for gorilla include;
Long sleeved Shirts
These gorilla sites have tropical rainforest and because the trekking is in the morning, trekkers will definitely encounter the coldness and the misty from the thick forest. It is therefore very vital for trekkers to put on long sleeved shirts or Sweater to offer warm during the chill morning. While in the forest this long sleeved shirt or T-shirt can protect the trekker’s arms from falling branches or insects. In most cases this is in relation to the seasons when you want to trek. The short sleeved is recommended when its warm and trekkers are relaxing around the lodges or cottages
Long trousers or pants and wool socks.
As visitors trek in the forest, there are chances that they can encounter thick vines, Scratchy brush, and falling tree branches these are the reasons why long pants or trousers are important to safeguard the legs of the trekkers. These trousers can also allow free movement during the hike in the forest because the legs are covered. If trekkers add the socks it is the perfect deal for the gorilla experience. The trekkers will be advised by the tour guides to tack in the trousers or the pants in to the socks before hitting the jungle in search of the giant mountain gorillas.
Rain Jackets.
With the nature of the jungle, rain is expected any time of the day so no matter of the season. This rain jacket is important because it can help protect the trekkers from rain water while deep in search of the humble mountain gorillas in the natural environment.
Cold weather gloves
The gorilla adventure will take trekkers to thick forests while in the jungle, where they will either get a trail or non but the trekkers will clear a way to pass through. There are points where trekkers will have no option but to grab tree branches using their hands yet some of the trees are harmful to human therefore the gloves can protect trekkers from this harm.
Hiking boots:
Gorilla activities are far different from game drives in savannah areas. Gorilla trekking involves hiking in the jungle, on steep slopes and thick forest while searching for the gorillas. This is so challenging in terms of navigation through the vines, slippery rocks, mud and many other hard attributes of the jungle.
The features of the jungle need hiking boots that are light and water proof so that the experience can’t be a disappointment.
Medicine and Toiletries
Given that each person understands him/herself better than someone else, because of the change in weather, environment and food among others it is common that trekkers can be attacked by Malaria. Therefore it is recommended that trekkers should carry malaria pills along with them during gorilla trekking.
The recommended repellent is the DEET. A vital toiletry is a toilet paper which is crucial to every trekker whether man or woman. This paper can help because there are no toilets in the forest expect in the park headquarters. Use the plastic bag to carry these small items.
Camera
Use the one hour given to you maximally by getting the best images and interact with the gorillas in different ways. It is for lifetime experience that a camera shouldn’t miss in your carry on items when embarking on a gorilla tour. Trek with a camera and make sure the battery can sustain you if not go with extra batteries to replace the run out power as you take as many as possible images of the gorillas.
Camera should not have any flashlight and if it has trekkers are advised to turn it off during the trekking. For the bird lovers carry along the pair of binoculars to watch the birds as you trek the gorillas.
Some of the items that one can also put in to the list of things to park during gorilla trekking include; sunglasses, hat, walking stick, first aid kit, waterproof day pack for document but some of these can be got from the park headquarters.
