Trifter

1.  Be prepared to work.  See that mountain?  You WILL be climbing it.  You won’t know how far until you arrive at base when the trackers tell you where your gorilla group is located that day. Gorilla groups move to a new “camp” every day to find food.

2. A reasonable level of health and fitness is called for, though you don’t have to be super-fit.  In our group of eight six of us were over fifty.  The guides will take things as slowly as you need but, because of the steep terrain, it isn’t long before you feel your heart rate increasing. 

3.  Wear suitable attire.  It’s cool when you set off at 6 am but soon heats up as the morning wears on – and the climb gets steeper.  

• It’s best to dress in layers so you can remove bits of clothing as you go. 
• Wear long sleeves because of giant stinging nettles and thistles.  Gardening gloves are a good idea for the same reason.
• Take a waterproof jacket in your rucksack – Rwanda gets plenty of rain especially in the mountains.
• Wear thick, long socks and pull them over the top of your trousers.  Otherwise stinging red ants will find their way up your legs. 

4.  Invest in a pair of heavy duty walking boots. It’s muddy and slippery up there and especially tricky on the way down.  Wear your boots in before the trek.  We climbed 3000 meters – you don’t want to do it with blistered feet. 

5.  Make sure your travel insurance covers you for high altitudes. 

6.  Take plenty of water in your rucksack.

7.  Take advantage of the “porters.”  These are young Rwandan men who, for a few dollars, are happy to carry your bag.  You’re not allowed to take anything but your camera when you reach the gorillas so the lads will mind your stuff for you.  

8.  Make sure you have a decent camera without a flash.  No flash photography is allowed around the gorillas. 

9.  When you reach the gorillas listen carefully to your guide’s instructions. 

• Keep a distance of seven to ten feet away – yes you CAN get that close.  They are peaceful animals and will pretty much ignore you as long as you don’t do anything to upset them.  Having said that –
• Don’t annoy the teenagers.  This adolescent male got a bit rattled when we got a little too close for his liking.  The photo is blurred because he was moving towards us at quite a rate.  The noise from his chest-beating echoed all around the mountain.  His tantrum was over quickly though and wasn’t as big a deal as it sounds.

• If this happens to you, do not try to run – though with undergrowth higher than your head it would be difficult.  Simply avert your gaze and stand still.

• The forty-stone silverback may turn his back on you, but you mustn’t do the same.
• If you need to cough or sneeze, turn your face away.  It is imperative that the gorillas don’t catch any human germs.
• Don’t touch a gorilla.  They may approach you, especially the babies.  It’s okay to let them touch you.  Actually, I’m not sure how you would stop them and who wouldn’t want a cuddle from this little girl?

10.  Finally, savor each and every moment you have with them.  You’re only allowed to stay one hour before they become stressed.  It was the fastest hour of my life.