Gorilla tracking in Africa Uganda requires you to have prior arrangements to succeed. Some of the mistakes to avoid during gorilla tracking when done may cost you your experience of a life time. You need to be very keen to enjoy the full adventure of the wilderness.
When planning your gorilla tracking safari in Uganda or Rwanda, you need a gorilla permit. The gorilla permit is the entry ticket that confirms your participation in tracking gorillas.
The price for a gorilla permit in Uganda is $700 and in Rwanda the gorilla permit costs $1500.
This cost is used to pay for gorilla up keep, pay ranger guides, 20% is given back to the community.
Try to avoid last minute gorilla permit booking because they are easily sold out. Only 8 per gorilla family are sold per day making them rare to get yet the demand is high.
To play it safe, atleast take 3 months prior to the date of travel latest to book your gorilla permit.
Forgetting Gorilla Tracking gears
When packing to travel for gorilla tracking, you must have a list of the required gorilla tracking gears.
The wilderness is quite tough so you must pack the most comfortable wear to enjoy your safari.
Some of the gears include tracking boots, long sleeved shirt, garden gloves, insect repellent, camera to mention but a few. You feel more relaxed and comfortable when you pack the right gorilla tracking gears.
Donot Forget The first Aid
It is safer to carry personal medication in case you get any injury or fall sick during gorilla tracking.
You may get any cut on your limbs so you need to carry some anti-bacterials, plasters and so much more.
In case of any other personal complications, don’t forget to carry your medication too.
Book Your Airport transfers
On arrival, you need to arrange your airport pick up. At Arch Safaris And Tours, we do arrange your pick up and drop off when requested. You can also arrange your own on arrival but there are some challenges.
Where to spend the night prior to your gorilla tracking safari
Pre-gorilla tracking accommodation allows you to settle into Uganda prior to your gorilla tracking experience. You can spend the night in Entebbe or Kampala.
In case you wish to do some activities like Visit the orphaned chimpanzees in Ngamba Island, tour the Uganda Wildlife Education center (Former Entebbe Zoo), Kampala City tour to mention but a few. All these can be arranged so as to give you time to maximize your time on the African safari.
Bwindi forest in Uganda is a vast forest and also divided into gorilla tracking area. You need to spend the night prior to gorilla tracking in the area close or within the gorilla tracking area on your permit.
This is to avoid early morning panic to get to the point of briefing. Sometimes the roads from one area to another are very slippery.
You may find a tree trunk has fallen across the road requiring you to get it out before proceeding. This is exhausting.
Avoid Carrying credit cards only during gorilla tracking
Although credit cards are used in Africa, it is not widely accepted by everyone. This is because of the lengthy procedures of withdrawing money from them.
Carry a little cash on you that you can easily change into the local Uganda Shilling to be used for personal payments.
A number of Forex Bureaus or banks are distributed with in the country and can offer you exchange at a friendly price.
Avoid carrying your glamourous belongings around
Just like most destinations worldwide, try to keep your precious belongings safe. Carrying them around and show casing them may attract the wrong people who will steal them from you.
Avoid street Food
A lot of street food is sold in Ugandan streets but try to eat in gazette food centers in case you need to eat out. This is to avoid food poisoning in case you eat contaminated food.
Avoid Drinking Tap water
Much as most lodges and hotels have water flowing, try to avoid drinking tap water as it is not safe for drinking directly. A lot of bottled packed water is sold in shops and supermarkets in the country.
Where to report when you loose belonging
At times you may misplace your belonging but try to inform your driver guide. He may try to do some follow up even when you have returned to your country.
Try to recall where you last remember having that item or where you might have forgotten it.
Try to file a complaint to the police in case you have been robbed. You may get assistance too.
A void walking alone
You may want to stretch out and do some exercises while on your gorilla tracking safari. Try to inform your lodge attendants or your guide driver.
This is to ensure that in case you get lost you are easily traced. In case you have companions, try to take the walk together.
Request for a porter Prior to Starting gorilla tracking
In case you feel you may need some assistance while searching for the gorillas, hire a porter to carry your belongings and also give you a push when tired.
Request for Help In case of attack.
At times you may be visited by monkeys or baboons which may cause some chaos in your room. Try to calls for help from the lodge attendants.
In case you are robbed while out of your room, immediately report the case to the lodge officials and the driver guide too.
During gorilla tracking in the forest
Littering the forest is highly forbidden so try to keep the wraps on your treats in your bag so as to dispose them off in the bins.
Try not to feed the gorillas or eat while in front of them. This is because they are wild and they need to look for there own food.
At times human food may not be good for the Mountain gorillas. You need to leave them to feed on the natural food like bamboo shoots, shoft stems, fruits, and so much more.