Gorilla trekking is a life time experience that gets you to the gentle giants and a dream come true moment. It however doesn’t guarantee that everything will always go as planned if you are reluctant on personal care. Holiday destination all over the world are guarded but this doesn’t rule out that bad intentioned people also travel too.
Ensure your gorilla trekking permit is secured and with your guide or with you
Its always very comfortable knowing that all items necessary for gorilla trekking are in the right hands. It may break your heart reaching the briefing point early morning after travelling through long distance from home to the destination and nothing was secured. This is if you have booked your gorilla trekking safari through an agent.
Go through the itinerary with your agent or driver guide to ensure you are on the same page of gorilla trekking safari arrangements so that you are not surprised by changes.
In case you booked your Africa gorilla trekking safari and using self-drive, it is best to fly into Uganda or Rwanda at least two days before starting your safari. Use these days to collect your gorilla permit, book a 4×4 vehicle, check if it is in good condition to drive to Bwindi impenetrable Forest or Volcanoes National Park.
In case you misfire on any of the above, you may go into panic and miss-out on this dream come true experience. An Africa trip you may have saved your hard earned money for.
The less baggage you travel with on holiday the more comfortable you get. Although most travelers want to carry bags of clothes to change into while on holiday it may be turn out to be a burden at the end.
It starts with the baggage allowance while on international flight where all flights have a limit. It gets worse if booked on a flying- gorilla trekking package. Most of these are tailored based on scheduled domestic flights.
Most domestic flights in Uganda have a limit of about 10 kg baggage allowance per person per flight. Even other travelers who share the flight going up country are given the same treatment. For you not to be baggage inconvenienced while on your long sought after Africa safari, pack light
Declare Valuables To Your Travel Agent or Lodge Manager upon arrival for gorilla trekking
Looking fancy while travelling for holiday is exciting but for the safety of your valuable, in case you booked a gorilla trekking safari with an agent declare it on arrival. Some hotels or lodges have private storage where they can keep your valuables while on safari.
This is to provide more security to your belongings and also make a quick follow up in case it is misplaced.
In case it is a cellphone, or laptop or any other gadget, ensure you store them in a safe place when you are out of your room. That is if you are sharing room with a stranger, try not to put on display your valuables.
Temptation to taste the local cuisine while on Africa gorilla trekking safari is possible. It is also memorable to talk about life of locals of where you take your holiday however your health first.
Many local food centers are located in towns close to the gorilla trekking parks and on the way but food poisoning must be on your forefront too.
Ask your driver guide to give you chance to taste local food from a trusted place.
Gorilla trekking Africa safari is very sensitive in that one of the rules is no visiting the gorillas in case you have a communicable infection. In case you get food poisoning, you may not be in position to trek the mountain gorillas because the way is tiresome.
Stay Close To People You Travel with For Gorilla Trekking In Africa
Travelling with family or in a group for gorilla trekking is fun but having that extra time away from the rest gives you a personal satisfaction at the end of your trip.
Bwindi Impenetrable forest or Volcanoes National Park have other activities that you can take as a person but do not participate in any without notifying the group leader or your guide.
Much as technology has lifted the burden of getting lost, these are remote areas that may not be traced easily on google maps or even internet connection are very poor.
Watch out for Pick picketers while walking during Gorilla trekking
Nowhere in the world is pick picketer free. Ensure you do not carry a lot of cash on you while on gorilla trekking holiday. In case you visit town centers, leave your belongings in the vehicle or hotel room.
Give no one your credit card details a part from those to whom you awe payments. Upon completing the transactions, reposes your credit card. Recheck your credit card balance on returning home to ensure that no extra transactions occurred without your authorization.
Change is inevitable but while on gorilla trekking safari, change in dates of safari is costly. Gorilla trekking permits are booked according to day and rescheduling them has a time frame according to Uganda wildlife authority or Rwanda Development Board policy.
Rescheduling gorilla trekking days according to your need may be very costly and almost impossible in some cases especially when the day is over booked. You have to utilize the booked dates because gorilla permits are non-refundable terms and conditions apply.
Re- confirm departure flights after gorilla trekking experience
Changes in flight arrangements are possible everywhere. You need to be in position to reconfirm the time your departure flight will be leaving. Changes are at times inevitable and may affect your time plans.
At Arch Safaris and Tours, we reconfirm the flights of our clients with there permission. This is to save them the trouble of over waiting at the lounge or missing out on flights.
Covid-19 swept the health sector the past years and is still spreading. Even if you were immunized, you are still candidate to catching the Corona Virus.
No matter the circumstances, hug no one or handshake during gorilla trekking safari. If you contract the virus, you will not be allowed to do gorilla trekking. The gorillas are highly susceptible to human infections
Hand sanitize as many times as you feel especially if you are from a public place like a market, eating joint, toilets and others. Carry a mask to wear when in front of the mountain gorillas
Sample itineraries for gorilla trekking Africa Safaris
3 day gorilla trekking in Uganda
4 day gorilla and Ngamba Island Safari
5 Day gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking