Searching for the best training and fitness exercises for gorilla trekking? Here are our most important tips to help you prepare.
Gorilla trekking can be physically demanding, so it’s a good idea to prepare through training and exercise before your gorilla trekking trip. This will help you get used to the kind of landscape you will face during the trek.
Sometimes the paths can be steep, slippery, and muddy. It may take between 3 to 6 hours to reach a gorilla family. You may be assigned to a family that is closer, but since gorillas are wild animals, they move. This means you might walk for longer than expected.
No matter how easy or hard the trek may seem, it’s important to be physically fit. Many travelers who enjoyed gorilla trekking said they trained beforehand, which made the experience more enjoyable.
You can prepare by jogging, walking long distances, going to the gym, or doing any other form of exercise to improve your fitness.
In addition to physical preparation, you need to pack well for the trek. Bring waterproof hiking boots, garden gloves, warm clothes, insect repellent, sunscreen, a raincoat, plenty of drinking water, and energy snacks.
Eligibility Criteria
Gorilla trekking is possible for most people, except for those with infectious diseases or children under 15 years old.
Older people or those with physical disabilities can still enjoy gorilla trekking by using sedan seat stretchers. Trained porters will carry them into the forest, let them observe the gorillas, and then carry them back to the starting point.
Best Time to Go
You can trek mountain gorillas at any time of the year, but some months are better than others. The best time for gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda is during the dry season, which runs from June to September and from December to February.
