While we talk of the best tourist expeditions offered by East African countries particularly Rwanda and Uganda, we cannot fail to talk about gorilla trekking. The activity is common in the magical Mgahinga national park (Uganda), Bwindi Impenetrable national park (Uganda) and Volcanoes national park (Rwanda).
However much gorilla trekking is one of the most loved tourism activities in the region, it has its difficulties in one way or the other. The difficulties vary in terms of climate, region, terrain / landscape, et al.
How difficult is gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda? This is one of the most frequently asked questions by most travelers / visitors and below are the answers to the question;
Trekking mountain gorillas is a sensitive activity that usually requires an early morning briefing at the park headquarters about the dos and don’ts of the activity. This implies that tourists are required to wake up as early as possible to cope with the requirements.
Additionally, trekking gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda requires one to be healthy and free from contagious illnesses such as cough and flu since the diseases can easily be spread. It also requires some degree of physical fitness since it involves leaving the tourist vehicles behind and walk into the deeper parts of the forests. Gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda are usually found in mountainous areas and within deeper parts of the forests characterized by thickets and thorns which usually penetrate light clothing and shoes.
Long hours.
Furthermore, gorilla trekking in Uganda may last for about eight hours (one of the longest tourism activities in East African National parks). This implies that travelers will have to carry lunch boxes, water bottles, spare camera batteries, to mention but a few. This has always proved to be a difficulty to quite a number of tourist visiting the parks.
Tiresome hikes on rugged terrains.
Trekking to see these gorillas in the wild involves hiking through the jungles at altitude of about 2500 to 4000 meters above sea level and walking on extremely steep slopes. Therefore this adventure requires a certain degree of physical fitness and energy hence proving difficulty to some of the travelers, especially the elderly and sickly.
Weather changes.
Differences in seasons or climate changes in respective national parks have made gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda a difficult activity to undertake. This is because, during wet seasons, trails are muddy, tree leaves are watery, full of mosquitos, etc. On the other hand, dry seasons are characterized by sunshine which may at some point be a difficulty to some visitors.
Movement of gorillas.
Gorilla trekking duration in Uganda and Rwanda entirely depends on the movement of these apes and where different families spent previous nights. This makes treks quite difficult in a way that there are no specific routes, no directions and sign posts to locate the gorilla families. It entirely depends on one’s luck and advice of advance party / trackers to find the assigned gorilla family.
In conclusion therefore, gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda has quite a number of difficulties as shown above, however, these difficulties have quite a number of solutions such as early booking, having physical fitness training before embarking on the activity, advice from tour guides and park rangers, wearing protective equipment before embarking on the activity, trekking already habituated gorilla families, to mention but a few. One ought not to be afraid of the activity since the chances of finding a habituated gorilla family are more than 90%.
