Gorilla Trekking Accessories You Must Not Forget

Getting ready for gorilla trekking expedition in Africa is a dream come true experience. To have the full blast of this Africa holiday, one need not to forget packing some essential gears.

 Although there are provision for hiring while at Bwindi Forest or ORTPN in Rwanda, owning your own gorilla trekking gears makes you feel comfortable.

Some of those accessories you don’t need to forget include

A sound proof Camera

For memories that will last a life time, you need to carry a camera with good lenses and sound proof. This is because the only thing that will keep this reality dream present in your life are the photos taken.

Insect repellant

Moving in the forest exposes you to biting nettle like stingers, which may bring blisters to your tender skin. You need to smear your skin with insect repellants to keep them away.

Long trousers and long sleeved shirt

As you traverse the forest trails, you come across different sharp objects and rough surfaces that may injure your skin. Wearing baggy, camouflage trousers will add more protection to you. This is also helpful when you wear long sleeved shirt.

A face mask

Primates can be victims of some human infections so in order to promote the existence of more primates in the jungle, you must wear a mask.

The mask also protects you from roaming around insects that may enter your nostrils.

Insurance

Most of the companies mat offer motor insurance but personal Insurance is up to the clients. You need to buy your Personal Insurance policy like travel insurance or medical Insurance so that you can prepare for the unknown.

Download VPN

Connect your telephone to VPN because your home nets work may be quite hard to access during gorilla trekking in Africa.

In case you are to have a long safari in Africa, it may be quite challenging getting a Network card for the local telecom companies as you need to first register it to function.

Hard cash

In Africa credit cards have challenges so most transactions are done using hard cash. It is best to carry some amount of hard cash that you will change into local currency from the forex

Toiletries

Although some hotels and lodges may be provide services like soap, tooth paste, toothbrush lotions, bathing soap, and more it is more comfortable to use your own. Carry your personal items especially if your skin is very sensitive to anything else.

A pair of stockings

Protecting your feet makes you comfortable while you trek to see the mountain gorillas in the forest. In case it gets cold, you may wear your stockings for extra warmth.

Garden Gloves

As you traverse a network of rivers and slippery ground, you may want to hold your grip on some close by plants. You can use your gloves to secure your grip and also protect your palms from itchy surfaces.

A big brim hat

When searching for the mountain gorillas, you by pass trees that have dripping water from there leaves and branches. In order not to get totally wet, you need to protect your hair with a hat

A poncho or rain coat provides extra warm in the forest as it gets so cold and also protects you from rain.

A light waterproof bag

As it rains in Bwindi Forest without warning, you need to carry a bag where you can secure your belongings from getting lost, wet and dirty.

A torch to use during gorilla tracking

As lights go out in the night, you need a torch in case you need to move in your room in the night. Most lodges for overnight during the gorilla trekking safari are in the wild so getting out of your room alone in the night is not advisable.

4 day Gorilla trekking And Chimpanzee Safari Uganda

Over View

Gorilla tracking is the main activity to do during this safari and later visit the orphaned chimpanzees on Ngamba Island.

Day 1 Road Trip To Bwindi Forest National Park

After and early morning breakfast, your driver guide will pick your from your overnight hotel and take you to Bwindi forest the home of the mountain gorillas.

The drive is quite long but very interesting as you may have the chance to make a stopover at the Equator, in case you are a keen birder, Lwera Swamp is home to the ancient shoe bill.

Continue going passed the rolling hills of Kigezi, by passing mesmerizing rivers, catching a great look meandering rivers that curve on the bottom of huge mountains. 

Arrive late in the evening to check into your lodge

Accommodation: Gorilla Forest camp/ Engage Lodge/ Wag Tail Lodge

Day 2 Gorilla Trekking Experience

Taking your gorilla trekking gears, head to the ranger station for briefing. Do not forget a mask.

Your ranger guide will late escort you into the forest to search for the great apes. The walk if full of interesting entertainers from monkeys, birds, butterflies, huge ancient trees, network of rivers and so much more.

Finally as you draw closer to the where the mountain gorillas may be feeding that day, you may hear them murmur at each other.

Move at least 8 meters closer to them and your ranger guide will instruct you to start taking photos once he has assessed the behavior of the mountain gorillas.

Maximize your stay with the gorillas and watch them do activities like grooming the infants, feeding, combing each other’s hair and so much more.

Finally after one hour, walk back to your lodge to relax.

Note:

Request for packed lunch to be prior to the day handed to you on the day of gorilla trekking as you are not sure about the time of returning to the lodge.

Day 3 Drive back To Entebbe after gorilla tracking

Having had a great experience with the only leftover mountain gorillas in the world, drive back to Entebbe. The drive is quite long and tiresome after a long day searching for the mountain gorillas.

Overnight: Serena Hotel / Lake Victoria Hotel/ Boma Guest House (Bed And Breakfast)

 Day 4 Chimpanzee Visit To Ngamba Island

After breakfast, head to the pier to catch your boat ride to Ngamba Island home of rescued and orphaned chimpanzees.

Take part in feeding them, watch them play and interact with them.

Return to the land to catch up with your home bound flight.

Note

Your return flight must be an evening flight.