In Rwanda, gorilla trekking entails hiking through challenging terrain and adverse weather as you get closer to a designated gorilla family in the Volcanoes National Park. For the elderly, there are always native porters and guides available to help you carry your backpacks and alleviate any potential problems you may run into when trekking the gorillas. They will undoubtedly assist you by taking the weight of your luggage off your shoulders so you can focus on meeting the gorillas and photographing these fascinating primates.
However, if you’re wondering whether or not to go gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is challenging, you should be aware that the hike to find the gorillas is always strenuous and dehydrating. As a result, be sure to work off some calories today! Locating the gorillas might occasionally take more than 4 to 8 hours. You can sometimes catch up to the enormous silverback in 30 to 3 hours. Therefore, it is wise to consume an energizing breakfast or bring energizing snacks and drinks with you on the gorilla hike.
Volcanoes National Park is tropical in nature where travelers hike searching for mountain gorillas, and because of the prevalence of tropical insects like tsetse flies and wasps, gorilla trekkers must apply insect repellants to ward off insect bites and preserve their skin. There won’t be any problems on the walk if a guest carefully heeds our advice on what to bring with you and how to dress for gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Please be careful to follow the instructions of your lead guides and park officials as you get closer to the gorillas to avoid any unforeseen issues while in the bush. Naturally, a lot of people frequently inquire about the trek’s difficulty as well as tips for having fun.
How is mountain gorilla trekking organized?
Driving to the park headquarters early in the morning to attend a briefing from the guides on the dos and don’ts of the activity is part of the gorilla trekking process. You then take a car to the location where your designated gorilla family’s adventure will begin. After getting out of the safari cars, you start your jungle hike. The fantastic and challenging scenery, the treacherous slopes, the weather, and the pace of the lead guides and fellow trekkers all contribute to the trek’s difficulty level in this location.
If you’re lucky, you’ll discover that hiking with some gorilla families is a little less strenuous and hence less exhausting. This frequently depends on the movements of the gorillas and where their habitat was yesterday. The difficulty or ease of the hike into the forest will also depend on the thickness of the foliage. In order to build trails where none already exist, several tools will be used to clear any that cannot be seen. Where the thickets are dense, crawling and bending may be used. Using heavier boots is really helpful because, on some wet days, the walkways are on slick ground. This implies that you should carry a walking stick to provide support when needed.
Gorilla trekking tour, which entails walking through dense vegetation to observe gorillas, adds another challenge to the experience. This might not seem too difficult to swallow for individuals who are between the ages of 15 and 50. However, even people beyond that age may not find it difficult to climb for a long time if they practice good physical health on regular days. Make sure to prepare for your gorilla walk days in advance if you plan to go.
Don’t be hesitant to request a break in the jungle when you are on the gorilla trek so that you can rest your back and/or refuel. To maintain your energy levels at their peak, it is advisable that you drink plenty of water and carry some fast calories, such as chocolate and cookies. The good news is that most gorilla trackers find the hike to be easier than they anticipate, whatever tiredness you may experience on the ascent will vanish with the adrenaline rush that follows the first glimpse of the silverback gorilla!