The Ultimate Guide on How to Prepare to Trek with Silverback Gorillas
Like many people, trekking to see the silverback gorillas was number one on my bucket list. Year after year I would think; this is the year I will go, but something always came up. After the few years we have all just experienced, I was done waiting.
Gorilla trekking is not for the faint of heart, especially if you go right after a heavy rainfall (which we did). There were aspects that were more challenging then I imagined they would be, and aspects that were less challenging.
However, seeing these primates in their natural habitat as they play with their families and take care of each other is a surreal moment.
Before you plan your gorilla trekking experience, keep reading!
Months before we left for Uganda, I did a lot of research on how intense the trek would be and what level of fitness I should have. I found mixed reviews, some people saying it was a hard trek, but not difficult, others saying it was the hardest thing they have done.
Here is my experience; you do not need to be a marathon runner or professional climber, but I would say a moderate level of physical fitness is required to be comfortable.
Level of fitness: Cardio is probably the biggest thing I would focus on. I do not go to the gym or do intense workouts and I was a bit out of breath for some parts of the trek.
Gorilla permits: If you are traveling with a tour group, the permit is usually included and the tour company will do the application for you. Our wonderful tour company, Pearl Nature Holidays, did the application for us and obtained the permits. The cost is about $700USD, but it can vary. You must obtain this permit in order to participate in the gorilla trek.
Hiking boots: I would recommend having a really good, comfortable pair of hiking boots. The ground is really uneven in areas so having comfortable and reliable boots is a must. I wore my Karakoram Tech Womens Waterproof Boots which were perfect.
Breathable shirt and pants: I wore a breathable tank top and loose fitting pants from cloud veil. I have never worn this brand before but they are one of the most comfortable pairs of pants that I own. I also wore a light, breathable jacket to cover my arms and chest, as the rangers do have to use a machete to get through some of the jungle, so you are walking through sometimes sharp brush.
Long socks: You also need to wear long socks, as the rangers advise you to tuck your pants into your socks to ensure no critters tag along.
Rain gear: The weather in Bwindi Impenetrable forest can change vey quickly. A rain jacket or poncho is a must for this experience.
Sweater: Being in the mountains, the temperature can drop, especially if it rains. Having a sweater to keep warm is a good item to have.
What to bring:
Camera: We had our iphone 13 pro’s as well as a Canon EOS Rebel T6 camera. Our iphone actually captured pretty good photos, but the video isn’t the best. If I could redo the experience I would have brought a better camera to capture the beauty of these creatures.
Water: Bring a lot of water, you never know how long you will be trekking for and water is about the last thing you want to run out of when you are in a hot jungle. Kris and I had this happen when we were in the Amazon jungle in Ecuador and it is not a pleasant experience.
Snacks: We ended up trekking for 7 hours, so having a snack with us definitely gave us more energy. Our guide packed us lunch, which was great.
Small waterproof backpack: You are going to want to bring a small backpack to carry your water and photography gear. We had a Mountain Warehouse small backpack with an outer waterproof shell.
Battery pack: As I mentioned, we trekked for 7 hours and the last thing you want to happen is for your camera or phone to run out of battery.
What was the experience like?
It is hard to put into words what the experience is like. The trek alone through Bwindi is incredible but seeing the gorillas, as a family, living their normal day to day life in their natural habitat is something you will never forget.
We trekked for 7 hours through dense jungle, with very uneven ground. There were many roots on the jungle floor and areas that looked like they were ground, but were actually just moss and dirt laying on top of hidden holes and slopes. We had walking sticks (I would definitely grab one as they are provided, some people didn’t and I do not know how they made it through) and we used them to hit the ground before stepping, as the ground was misleading and if you had stepped down, you could have slid down the high slopes into the valley. There was a heavy rainfall the day before so the ground was very slippery, I almost made it through the entire trek without falling! There were also porters there; we were not going to hire one as we just had a small backpack, however our guide from Pearl Nature Holidays told us that the jungle floor was difficult to navigate in some areas and the porters knew the jungle inside and out; they knew were to step and where not to, and I am so glad we had or porter with us. He was so patient and helpful and I honestly would have fallen many more times without him there. I am not going to lie, we held hands for a decent portion of the trek as some areas were almost impassable.
How do you find the gorillas?
Early in the morning, hours before you begin your trek, trackers head out into the jungle to find a specific family of gorillas. They always monitor where the gorillas are and follow their paths to find their next destination. Once they find them, they radio the rangers and let them know where the gorillas have landed.
What happens when you find the gorillas?
After trekking for about 4-5 hours, our ranger received word that the trackers had found the gorilla family. We were nearby, so we didn't have to journey too far. Before we made contact, we were instructed to put our face masks on, (the rangers and park authority are unsure if covid 19 would infect the gorillas, so they did not want to take the chance) and the rangers explained the rules around coming into contact.
You have to stay at least 10 feet away from the gorillas at all times to give them their space. Keeping your distance will also lessen the chance that a gorilla feels threatened. If a gorilla does take interest in you, the rangers will tell you what to do
Do not crowd them - the rangers will tell you where to stand
Keep the volume down
Ensure that your flash is off, the gorillas do not like the flash
You are able to view the gorillas for 1 hour only
How did the gorillas react?
They seemed pretty unphased that we were there, they carried on eating as we watched in silence. They would look at you once in a while and make eye contact, and one of the females who was further up on the hill came down and sat right next to Kris and continued eating! He slowly backed away to give her space.
Do the rangers carry guns?
Yes, but they do not use them unless it is necessary. The guns actually are not to protect us from the gorillas, they are only used if an elephant is dangerously close and only to scare the elephant. We had 3 rangers with us and a police officer.
Overall, the gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest was a once in a lifetime experience. I would highly recommend doing the trek if you have ever thought about it. There is nothing like seeing these fascinating creatures in their natural element.