What to wear for a gorilla trek in Uganda

What to wear for a gorilla trek in Uganda

What to wear for a gorilla trek in Uganda : Gorilla trekking is among the many activities that are carried out during a safari to Uganda. This activity is done in the Bwindi impenetrable forest national park which is located in the south western part of Uganda.

During a visit to Uganda, gorilla trekking is a popular activity that tourists engage in. other destinations where gorilla trekking is done include Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and also Virunga national park in Congo.

Wearing the appropriate clothing for the gorilla trekking experience in Uganda is important when packing for the safari in Bwindi national park or any destination around. During the gorilla trek, there are different trails which are followed while moving in the Bwindi impenetrable forest.

Some of the items to pack for your gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi national park include hiking boots, long sleeved shirts, cameras and extra batteries for the camera, hiking gloves, waterproof jackets, binoculars, insect repellant and also light weight breathable clothes.

When engaging in a gorilla trek in Bwindi national park in the rainy season, warm sweaters also help to keep you warm while exploring the natural habitat of the gorillas. In Bwindi national park, it tends to be cold in the morning and also in the evening.

Other items to carry along during a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda include lots of water, snacks and also a packed lunch which you can have during the activity as you explore Bwindi national park.

When planning for the gorilla safari in Uganda, it is recommended that you avoid bright colored clothes. Walking sticks are also of great use during the gorilla trekking activity in Bwindi national park especially in the steep areas of the national park. The walking sticks are provided after the briefing of the gorilla trek.

Tipping of the porters and rangers is encouraged during a gorillas trekking safari in Bwindi national park. These tips are a form of appreciation to the porters and rangers for their services during the gorillas trek in Uganda.

If you are planning a gorilla trek during this COVID period other items to bring along for the safari include hand sanitizer and also masks.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park

Gorilla trekking in Uganda in Bwindi national park starts with a briefing by the park officials at the park headquarters. This activity can be carried out at any time of the year during a safari in Uganda.

Permit fees for gorilla trekking in Bwindi national park is at 700 USD. When booking the gorilla permits, booking the permits in advance is a good thing since the permits in some sectors tend to be sold out at certain months of the year.

What to wear for a gorilla trek in Uganda
What to wear for a gorilla trek in Uganda

After a briefing, the tourists can proceed into Bwindi forest to search for gorillas. Rangers and porters accompany the trekkers as they engage in a safari around the national park. The porters help with the extra luggage and also offer help to elderly clients doing the gorilla trekking activity.

The different sectors in Bwindi national park where gorilla trekking is carried out include Buhoma sector, Ruhija sector, Rushaga sector and also the Nkuringo sector. The gorillas which tourists interact with during the gorilla trek in the national park are habituated.

The different gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park include Mubare, Habiyanja, Rushegura, Nkuringo, Nshongi, Mishaya, Bitukura, Nyakagezi, Oruzogo, Kahungye, Busingye and each family has a different number of individuals.

A maximum of 8 people engage in the gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi national park. The groups of people who engage in the gorilla trek vary depending on age and also fitness. The gorilla trek can take 1 hour depending on where the gorillas are.

When you find the gorillas in Bwindi national park, you can enjoy taking pictures of the gorillas. It is recommended to use cameras without a flash when taking pictures of the gorillas. You can also record videos of the gorillas as you watch them in their natural habitat.

Quiet movements are encouraged when spending time with the gorillas during the gorilla trek in Bwindi national park so as to avoid scaring away the gorillas. Tourists during their gorilla trek are also encouraged to keep a distance of about 7 meters from the gorillas.

Feeding the gorillas, touching the gorillas, smoking and drinking near the gorillas during the time spent with the gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable forest is highly discouraged. This helps to ensure safety of both the gorillas and the tourists during their gorillas trekking activity in the national park.

The best time for gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is the dry season around June to October and also in January, February and December. This activity can also be done at any time of the year.

How to get to Bwindi forest national park

Bwindi impenetrable forest is located in the south western part of Uganda and half of the world’s population of gorillas is found in the national park.

There are different ways to get to Bwindi national park and they include driving and also flights. The drive from Kampala to Bwindi national park takes about 8 hours and during a safari, you can make stops at the equator.

Flights to Bwindi national park are also offered to tourists during their safaris in Uganda. The flight takes about 1 and half hours to 2 hours. The airstrips which you can fly to during the gorilla trek in Uganda include Kihihi airstrip and another airstrip is Kisoro airstrip.

Local airlines such as Aerolink offer these flights for tourists to enjoy their gorilla treks in Bwindi national park.

The different accommodations where tourists can stay during their gorilla trekking experiences in Bwindi national park include budget, midrange and luxury lodges. When booking a lodge to stay at during the gorilla trek in the national park, booking a lodge closer to the sector where you are going to engage in the gorilla trek is encouraged.

Visit Uganda and enjoy a gorilla trek as you interact with the gorillas in their natural habitat.

 

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