Common Gorilla Trekking Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Experience in Africa

Gorilla trekking in the wild is one of the once in lifetime adventure holidays worth saving for. No one wishes to have disaster and bad memories of this world sought after wild experience after spending their hard earned money.

However things can go bad if gorilla trekking is miss managed. Gorilla trekking is a special activity in the world that involves conservation of the only remaining mountain gorillas in the world.  Some rules were set so that humans can enjoy the mountain gorillas without negatively impacting on there existence.

Gorilla trekking Safari mistakes

Booking Overnight Accommodation Before Knowing The Gorilla Permit Area Booked          

Most Cases one may check online and wishes to overnight at a particular accommodation in Bwindi area for the gorilla trekking safari. The location of this accommodation may be in a different area from that of the gorilla trekking permit booked.

Bwindi Forest National Park in Uganda is a vast pristine forest and gorilla trekking permits here are sold based on area. The Norther sector has the Buhoma area and Ruhija area, the southern sector has Nkuringo area and Rushaga area.

The distance from one area to another is further apart yet one must attend briefing early in the morning in order to participate in gorilla trekking for the day. When you overnight in another area, chances of arriving after briefing or not arriving are very high.

This is because of the obstacles that you may encounter on the way like a flat tyre, blocked roads, slippery roads and so much more. The Wildlife Authorities may not allow you to join others in the forest to do gorilla trekking as you may not know how far they have moved.

Such a mistake is likely to deny you a perfect experience on an African safari to the mountain gorillas.

Forgetting Your Gorilla Trekking Permit Card

Leaving behind your gorilla trekking card would be disaster to your gorilla trekking safari experience especially if you planned your own trip.

When you book a gorilla trekking permit with a tour company, they are responsible for all your trip amenities.

At Arch Safaris And Tours, we take up this burden to ensure that you have the best of your sought after gorilla trekking safari with no hardships. Let us put together your exclusive gorilla trekking safari Click Info@archsafarisandtours.com

First time Self Drive To Go Gorilla Trekking In Uganda Africa

Much as google maps have made travel to unknown destinations a little easier, gorilla trekking in Bwindi forest African may be challenging if you are a first timer wishing to do self-drive.

Some of the ground routes to Bwindi Forest National park were built on the edges of highlands creating winding roads.

It’s a perfect plan to use a driver guide who is familiar with these routes as some times the roads are impassable during certain seasons. Some roads may be under construction and blocked off creating heavy traffic. At times some of this information may not be provided online.

Some clients use public transport to Bwindi forest National Park but the chances of losing your baggage area high which may include your travel documents and permits.

Such uncertainties may frustrate you and give you a very unhappy experience on a gorilla trekking safari.

Forgetting To Follow SOPs (Standard Operation Procedures) on Gorilla trekking safari

Covid-19 has disrupted the normal way of life throughout the world but this doesn’t mean we should stop having fun and enjoying travel.

Gorilla trekking rules have been changed slightly and tightened. Although initially the need to volunteer to stay behind in case you feel any illness was a personal choice, currently its compulsory.

Nobody with a slight change in normal temperature without a convincing reason is allowed to do gorilla trekking. Your temperature is checked prior to going into the forest. In case you feel any illness, you must declare to the responsible authorities so that your refund arrangements are processed.

You need to wear a mask and hand sanitise as advised during briefing too. In your gorilla trekking gears, include an extra clean mask to wear while with the gorillas.

Failure to take into action the above rules and you fall prey of any of the above, you may not be allowed to meet the gorillas.  This may also come with a penalty and no refund may be given to you.

Up Setting The Mountain Gorillas During Gorilla trekking

Although the mountain gorillas are wild animals known for being serene, they have feelings too. When you go against the known gorilla behavior, the entire gorilla family may snap.

 Theynormally thump there chests, start hooting uncontrollably, may move on one leg, pull the surrounding plants and move into deeper ends of the park. For sure this act is quite disturbing and unbearable.

Why get to that frustrating extent if you can follow the instructions given by the ranger guide. Try not to touch any infants of the mountain gorillas, donot surround the gorillas as they may feel ambushed.

When in the gorilla territory, they Silverback is the commander in charge so he is watches keenly over the entire gorilla tracking family to ensure safety.

Carrying Souvenir from the forest After Gorilla trekking

Keeping memories of a perfect gorilla trekking safari in Africa is worth the effort but in case you pick something from the forest for this purpose you may not know the repercussions.

Mountain gorillas are so keen and watchful of who has come into there space so try not to do anything odd.

You may pick a piece that is so important to them not even the dumped hairs from there bodies.

What you pick may be medicine that gorillas use to cure some of there illnesses denying them a cure. Such an act may cause some friction between you and the rest of the gorillas in case they notice.

Even the Wildlife Authorities emphase that “carry and leave nothing from the wild except memories and photographs after gorilla trekking”.

Forgetting Your Domestic Flight Time if You are doing A Fly In Gorilla Trekking Safari

 Just like international flights, daily domestic flight have a schedule in case you have booked a fly-in gorilla trekking safari.

Uganda has few domestic flight companies that have morning and Afternoon flights to different wildlife parks. In case you have booked a seat, ensure you arrive at the right time for check in. No extra flight time is given to anyone but those on wait list may take up your seat.

You have to be very vigilant so that you can catch the right flight. In case you are left behind by the morning flight, getting seat on the afternoon flight may be a probability as in some cases flight are over booked.

Even the local people travelling to the countryside book some of these scheduled flights.

Donot give chance to missing your flight to Bwindi forest in Uganda because this may cost you your lifetime gorilla trekking experience.

Even these domestic flight companies donot agree to carry anyone expecting to do gorillas trekking the same day of the flight to Bwindi Forest (Kihihi Air strip). Chances of getting to the headquarters after others have been briefed and are in the forest search are so high.