How difficult is gorilla trekking? How long is a trek to see gorillas? Am I fit enough for Gorilla trekking? These were just a few of the questions that come to the mind travelers when planning a gorilla tour in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. Although gorilla trekking is considered one of the most fascinating wildlife experiences, it is not like your normal game drive or visit to the local zoo. Gorilla trekking involves hiking through difficult terrain, thick vegetation, water bodies, hills and valleys. The activity can be very challenging and strenuous leaving one exhausted and with sore knee especially if they are not used to
walking for long hours. The activity is not just about hiking in well paved and predictable tracks. Once has to deal with biting insects, thorns and thick forest. Rain and Altitude sickness is also a real worry in some of the parks.
The greatest advice we would give a traveler is to prepare mentally before embarking on gorilla trekking. Prepare for unpredictable weather, terrain and changes in plan which is common in some developing countries. Though strenuous for some and especially the unfit, 98% percent of people eventually complete the activity.
For some, the thing which makes gorilla trekking very thrilling is the experience of hiking through unknown territory and tropical forest. They love the opportunity to spot birds, smaller primates and the beautiful scenery. Some even enjoy the adventure of sliding in the mud or hiking up steep cliffs just to see the primates. We have known several travelers who got disappointed because they found the primates too soon hence missing the fun of trekking for hours.
How long is a walk to the gorillas? How tough is Gorilla Trekking?
How long does gorilla trekking take? The time taken tracking mountain gorillas can be quiet unpredictable. We estimate anywhere between 30 minutes to 7 hours before locating a particular gorilla family. The length of gorilla trekking will depend on many factors. One is the gorilla group you are 
allocated and the location of the group on that day. Whereas some gorilla families live close to the park offices and lodges, most of them are on the move and may go deeper into the forest or park. There are even some gorilla families that keep moving away each time trackers get closer to them before eventually settling. This is especially so for those who choose to go for the gorilla habituation experience. The gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi allows visitors more time with the gorillas that are still undergoing the habituation process. Visitors who plan to do double gorilla trekking (tracking for more than one day) are assigned different gorilla families each day. They will notice a difference in the time taken to locate the groups as well as their overall behavior. It is very important to select your accommodation near the area where your selected gorilla family is known to be living. This is especially so if you are tracking gorillas in Bwindi.
Bwindi is just one of the four national parks where gorilla trekking is arranged. Gorilla trekking can also be done in Mgahinga National Park of Uganda, the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in Congo. Each destination has its difficulties. In Bwindi, tourists have to deal with rivers, streams and thicker forest. Travelers to Mgahinga and Volcanoes National Park have to contend with the mist, higher altitude and bamboo forests.
In order to have the best gorilla trekking experience, it is important to go prepared. Acquire the right hiking boots, clothing, rain jackets, a hat, hand gloves, insect repellents, sun glasses and any other thing that will make you more comfortable while tracking the gorillas. Don’t forget to carry light snack and enough drinking water to keep you hydrated. If you are an elder, you need to book your gorilla safari months in advance. This is to allow you tour operator to plan an easier trek for you. If you book late and in the peak season, you might find that the closest gorilla groups are booked.
level of fitness for gorilla trekking – How hard is gorilla trekking?
How fit do you need to be for gorilla trekking? In order to deal with the challenges of tracking mountain gorillas, you need to be fit enough. Gorilla trekking involves hiking through thick forests, hills and 
valleys to locate a gorilla family. This doesn’t mean that those who are less fit cannot track the primates. In fact, most people who do gorilla trekking have average fitness levels. Gorilla trekking for elders is possible with the help of hiking sticks, porters and sedan chairs. It is important for the elderly to book their gorilla trip early in advance so that they can be assigned an easier trek and also reserve a sedan chair. These Sedan chairs are designed for the aged or disabled but anyone can choose to use them. The Sedan chairs and eight porters to carry it may cost about $500.
All travelers are encouraged to hire the services of a porter in case they fill unfit or have heavy luggage 
(cameras, binoculars etc.). Hiking for long distances can make even small bags appear heavy. The porters will also help with climbing difficult sections of the hike by pulling you up or lending a hand when the hike get challenging. Hiking sticks are given free of charge at the beginning of the trek – Take them like gold even if you are fit for you will thank us later. Always follow advice of the Rangers right from the time of briefing, while hiking and also when with the gorillas so that you have a great experience. We hope that by now, you have stopped worrying about your level of fitness and if you can complete the activity.
How to improve your fitness for gorilla trekking?
Regardless of how fit you may consider yourself to be, it is not a good idea to underestimate the importance of being mentally prepared before gorilla trekking. If you doubt your ability to hike for long distance but are relatively in good shape you should do the following to improve on your endurance ahead of your trip for gorilla trekking.
Stretch: Stretching helps improve mobility and may prevent unnecessary injuries to body joints or muscles. Stretching also helps with flexibility and reduces the possibility of waking up with sore muscles.
Do some walking and hiking: Before your gorilla safari, try to prepare your body for long hikes by walking for long distances outside your home, in parks or if possible the nearest forest in your home area. If you leave in a mountainous area which is also forested, that would be a perfect training ground. Start with shorter distance and increase it with time. Ensure that you put on the same hiking gear that you would use while tracking the gorillas so that your body used to their weight. You can also decide to walk from your office up to your home if time and weather permit. The idea is to prepare your body to deal with long hours of walking.
We can conclude by saying that the level of difficulty of gorilla trekking depends on your overall fitness and the gorilla family you are assigned to on the day of the trek. Even if you were to track the same 
family on different days, the experience and level of difficulty would be different. It is also important to note that the park Rangers will move at your pace and not let anyone stay back. The Rangers know exactly where the gorilla groups are located by sending an advance team of trackers to find out the exact location of the gorilla families. It is for this reason that the chances of seeing the gorillas are very high. Almost anyone can do gorilla trekking as long as they are not sick or with a transmittable disease. The elderly and physically challenged can also go for gorilla trekking if they let their tour operator know in advance for better planning. All in all, regardless of how long the trek is, you will find the experience memorable and worth all the effort.
