If you have been asking yourself for what you need before gorilla trek, then we’ve got you covered on this page. There is no doubt that a gorilla safari is a humbling experience, which happens once in a lifetime. The credibility of a gorilla trekking safari in Africa is proved by thousand of travelers who flock gorilla destinations every year. This is for travelers’ face-to-face encounter with the gentle giants and incredible mountain gorillas, in their natural habitat.
You must carry a valid gorilla permit along with other travel documents such as passports for clarification, as one of the important things you need before gorilla trek. The permit comes along with the receipt bearing the names of the trekker and the sector of the national park.
For the case of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, it could either be Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga or Nkuringo. Without a permit, no one is allowed to trek gorillas, and the permit is valid for one hour and one day. Due to high demand for gorilla permits, travelers are always reminded to book for the permits at least 3 months before the actual travel date, so as to avoid last hour disappointments.
On the day of trekking, you will have an early morning breakfast and then be transferred from the lodge to the Park headquarters. This is for a simple briefing on gorilla tracking rules and regulations, which usually happens as early as 7:00 am.
Gorilla Tracking in other countries and what you need before gorilla trek
While planning to go for a gorilla safari, expect a variety of things along the way, during and after the incomparable thrilling adventure. A gorilla safari in Africa can only be done in three countries, that is, Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This means that a traveler who intends to see gorillas must travel to any one of the three countries.
In the course of a gorilla safari, various happenstances take place, which you should be ready for. To ensure a smooth flow of your gorilla safari experience, we offer you a highlight of things you should expect from the start to the end of the trekking session.
You will be introduced to the dos and don’ts to ensure your safety while with the endangered species. While still there, you will be joined in groups of eight people and then allocated a particular gorilla family.
All responsible government bodies in gorilla destinations legally allow 8 people as a maximum number of trekkers to interact with each gorilla family. These bodies are the Uganda wildlife Authority (UWA), Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Institute of Congolese pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) in Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC respectively.