Searching for the best training and fitness exercises for gorilla trekking? Here are our most essential tips for preparation.
Mountain gorillas are an endangered species, part of the world’s largest primates, and they share 98% of their DNA with humans, making them close relatives, along with bonobos and chimpanzees.
Gorillas are generally gentle and humble animals but can become aggressive when they are disturbed.
Mountain gorillas have thick and long fur that helps them adapt to their environment, which has very cold temperatures.
They do not drink water because most of the food they consume contains a lot of water. Interestingly, mountain gorillas also fear water and dislike rain, only crossing a stream if there is a log to pass on top of it.
For unknown reasons, gorillas fear caterpillars and chameleons. Even the infants, who are usually curious about crawling creatures, tend to give way or stay away from caterpillars or chameleons.
Training and Fitness for Gorilla Trekking
Mountain gorillas inhabit subtropical and tropical rain-forests in mountainous areas.
They live in social family groups scattered in different locations, and different gorilla families require different fitness levels.
Some mountain gorilla families are easier to trek, while others are more challenging.
Nevertheless, gorilla trekking requires travelers to engage in training and workouts before coming for the experience.
Preparing for the trek helps you become familiar with the landscape you will encounter.
Sometimes the climb can become steep, slippery, and muddy, and it can take 3-6 hours to reach a gorilla family.
Occasionally, you might be allocated to the nearest gorilla family to trek, but nature can be unpredictable, and as gorillas are wild animals, they can move, causing you to trek for more hours than expected.
Therefore, regardless of whether you are trekking the easiest or hardest family, you need to be in good shape.
Many tourists who have enjoyed gorilla trekking always say they engaged in some exercise back home, making trekking gorillas easier.
You can attend fitness classes, jog, walk long distances, or do any exercise that improves your fitness level to ensure you enjoy gorilla trekking.
In addition to being physically fit for gorilla treks, you will also need to prepare a packing list.
Make sure to have waterproof hiking boots, garden gloves, warm clothing, plenty of drinking water, energy-giving snacks, insect repellents, sunscreen, raincoats, and other necessary items.
In conclusion, gorilla trekking can be done by anyone, except for people suffering from infectious diseases or children under the age of 15 years old.
People who are too old for the trek or disabled individuals can hire sedan seat stretchers for gorilla trekking.
They will be carried into the jungle with a sedan seat, set down only to observe the gorilla family, and then carried back to the starting point after the observation.
Best Time to Trek Gorillas
Mountain gorillas can be trekked all year round, but some months are better than others.
The best time for trekking gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda is during the dry season from June to September and December to February.
