Gorilla Trekking in Africa: What To Know Before You Go

Gorilla Trekking in Africa: What To Know Before You Go

You're not going to want to wait to check this one off your bucket list. 

After my mom and I visited Tanzania and climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, we pretty much fell in love with Africa more than any other place in the world, and knew we had a lot of ground to cover if we wanted to conquer more of the continent. So where exactly does one even start? There is so much to explore in every country and region in Africa, and because it doesn't have a well developed form of infrastructure or public transportation, it can take a lot longer to get around from place to place. In Europe, you can visit three countries in 48 hours. Maybe even a couple major cities in the States in a single day. In Africa, it might take you 24 hours just to get from the bush to the beach. The best plan of attack when traveling to or through Africa is to set two to three different cities/countries/destinations you want to conquer in a single trip, and then go from there. 

It's extremely difficult to travel through Africa without the assistance from a travel company, so I highly recommend doing your research before booking any activities. We worked with Africa Travel Resource when booking our Gorilla Trekking experience in Uganda and beach vacay in Zanzibar and Mafia Island, and they really helped when providing insight and guidance in advance of our trip. They'll work with you hand-in-hand to ensure every experience or activity is arranged, guided, and scheduled to your liking. Tell them your budget, your dates, what you want to see and do, and they'll create your dream itinerary. 

There are only three countries in the world you can visit to see mountain gorillas in the wild, and those are Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Not to be confused with the Republic of Congo. In Rwanda, the park permits are significantly more expensive than those in the Congo or Uganda, so if you're looking to travel on the cheap, I'd suggest going with the ladder  two countries. Each country only releases a certain amount of park permits per month, so be sure to snag those first and foremost to ensure your entry into the parks, and the opportunity to see the gorillas in the wild.

There are few things in this life I've experienced that were as magical as trekking the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda in search of mountain gorillas. Not only are the forests and jungles lush, green, and filled to the tree top with exotic flora and fauna, but the opportunity to see such a rare and majestic creature in their natural habitat is undoubtedly a once in a lifetime deal. Over the years the gorillas have become habituated, meaning they've become accustomed to humans which allows for an authentic, uninterrupted, and safe experience. You're paired up with a team of two mountain guides, one leading and one in the caboose, two "security" guards, each armed with  an AK-47 and machete, and also have the option to have a porter to carry things like your water thermos, camera, or day pack.

Opting for a porter might not seem necessary, and to be totally honest it's not, however I strongly advise it. Using a porter is a direct contribution to the local community providing them an opportunity to earn money while working, and then they get a chance to see the gorillas up close too. Plus, any opportunity you have to make a personal connection with a local makes the experience that much more memorable, and it's important integrate yourself with the peeps indigenous to the area, listen to their stories, understand their background, and ultimately, support them. I'm pretty sure I have about 487 What's App messages from all the amazing people I've met throughout traveling through Africa, and that's part of the fun (and point!) of travel.

They limit every group up to 90 minutes to spend with the gorillas, as not to disrupt their space. My suggestion here is of course to take all the amazing photos you can (do note that flash is prohibited and the shaded jungle tends prevent the most immaculate of images) but be sure to reserve some time to just appreciate the moment, immerse yourself in the experience, and make mental memories of the absurdity of the fact that you're within arms-length on an entire family of mountain gorillas (!!!).

HOT TIPS: First, whatever you do, DO NOT stand in between a Silverback and it's family. I made this mistake, and about 30 seconds later the Silverback came charging at me. They say if a gorilla comes charging at you to play dead, but you bet your ass I ran like the wind. Second, for a moment as spectacular as this, and if you're making the journey all the way out there, I recommend doing the gorilla trek for two consecutive days. One day is just not enough. I tell people, the first day we trekked was an outer-body experience, but after the second day, we came back with stories to tell. I.e. getting chased by a Silverback gorilla, not once, but thrice. Third, bring gardening gloves and a windbreaker. These two items saved me throughout the two day trek. The jungle floor is very soft and there aren't any pathways, so you really have to grip the vines, trees, and branches to make your way around. Therefore, gardening gloves are KEY to ensure you don't get any splinters or scrapes. It so often rains as well, so that's where a windbreaker or lightweight rain-resistant jacket comes in handy. Want to start dreaming? Check out these adventure outfitters: Uganda Gorilla Tour, Africa Travel Resource, Wild Planet Adventures.