Gear for Gorilla trekking?
Feb 20th, 2008, 11:30 AM
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Gear for Gorilla trekking?
Heading for Rwanda in a few days.....
Any advice on footwear and clothing for Gorilla trekking? Seems like I have heard about some nice mud up there. Can't imagine beige is applicable in the mountains?
Light hiking boots OK?
Would gaiters help or would they just just get ruined?
Technical Raincoat or beater vs poncho etc?
Other thoughts...? Pack a hearty lunch and plenty of water I presume?
Thanks in advance. I'm getting excited!
Any advice on footwear and clothing for Gorilla trekking? Seems like I have heard about some nice mud up there. Can't imagine beige is applicable in the mountains?
Light hiking boots OK?
Would gaiters help or would they just just get ruined?
Technical Raincoat or beater vs poncho etc?
Other thoughts...? Pack a hearty lunch and plenty of water I presume?
Thanks in advance. I'm getting excited!
Feb 20th, 2008, 12:56 PM
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I used ankle-high hiking boots, waterproof hiking pants, a long-sleeve t-shirt and carried a windbraker-rain jacket as well.
Leather gardening gloves are very important as well to allow you to grip vegetation without getting stinging nettle stings.
Finally, some kind of hiking stick. I brought my own telescoping metal one, and it came in handy because it has a tip that you can dig into the dirt to make it more secure. The rangers will give you wooden sticks to use, but they don't have the tip that can dig in, so I think they are slightly less effective (but still much better than nothing).
Be sure to hire a porter to carry your bag -- not only is it really handy, but you help benefit the local economy through tourism and create incentives for the local people to value the gorillas alive and their habitat undisturbed.
Have a great time, gorilla trekking is an incredible experience!
Chris
Leather gardening gloves are very important as well to allow you to grip vegetation without getting stinging nettle stings.
Finally, some kind of hiking stick. I brought my own telescoping metal one, and it came in handy because it has a tip that you can dig into the dirt to make it more secure. The rangers will give you wooden sticks to use, but they don't have the tip that can dig in, so I think they are slightly less effective (but still much better than nothing).
Be sure to hire a porter to carry your bag -- not only is it really handy, but you help benefit the local economy through tourism and create incentives for the local people to value the gorillas alive and their habitat undisturbed.
Have a great time, gorilla trekking is an incredible experience!
Chris
Feb 20th, 2008, 04:24 PM
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Boreal,
I just saw your hearty lunch comment. I would pack some granola bars or energy bars, but in Rwanda lunch was after the tracking, at a restaurant with my guide--not the gorilla tracker, but my driver from Kigali.
If you are hitching a ride to the ranger station with someone else and their guide, then you may want to bring a more substantial lunch because one probably won't be provided.
For water, I wore a water-bottle holster around my waist so I could take a sip anytime to help prevent dehydration. Thirst and sweating was more of a factor in Uganda than Rwanda.
I took a water resistant backpack with a waterproof cover. It came in handy at least once.
I just saw your hearty lunch comment. I would pack some granola bars or energy bars, but in Rwanda lunch was after the tracking, at a restaurant with my guide--not the gorilla tracker, but my driver from Kigali.
If you are hitching a ride to the ranger station with someone else and their guide, then you may want to bring a more substantial lunch because one probably won't be provided.
For water, I wore a water-bottle holster around my waist so I could take a sip anytime to help prevent dehydration. Thirst and sweating was more of a factor in Uganda than Rwanda.
I took a water resistant backpack with a waterproof cover. It came in handy at least once.
Feb 21st, 2008, 05:26 AM
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Boreal-
I would say a big fat "yes" to good hiking boots. Rain is unpredictable in the Virungas volcanos, more so each time I return. I was there from the 21-27 of January and it rained every day, not at the same time each day, but it did rain which made for muddy trekking.
Depending, gaiters can come in very handy as well. I don't think they'd get ruined, just pretty muddy or wet, depending on conditions.
Leather gloves or similar help to protect the hands from stinging nettles, vines, etc.
A poncho or lightweight rain jacket should suffice. And even rainpants can come in handy to. I had mine in my backpack but never used them.
A hearty lunch isn't as necessary as much as power bars or something light to snack on. Water is definitely on the list.
A footnote on a couple of changes on my recent trip since my trip last year:
The porter fee has gone up from U.S. $5.00 to $10.00 per trek or 5,000 francs. IMHO, it's getting pretty pricey now, having to tip both porters and guides. Guides say they don't need to be tipped, but they do expect it.
PNV has taken the signs down for the gorilla groups and have replaced them with generic signs depicting gorillas and their family structure. This happened during my week there due to a trekker being unhappy he didn't get the group he wanted.
In other words, they now have signs talking about the silverback, blackback, females, juveniles, family life, etc., where the group signs used to be.
They've done this to help alleviate the problem of everyone running to stand in front of certain groups hoping to be able to trek to that group.
Those of you who have traveled there previously, may know where the signs go for each group, as I do. However, newcomers and/or first-timers won't.
I think this is a good move by PNV.
No one can predict seeing one group is better than another and this will help everyone from wanting to go see just the Susa group, which has been part of the problem.
Now, the drivers/guides meet with the PNV folks to determine which group their guests will visit.
I've had enjoyable visits with Amahoro, Group 13, Hirwa, Sabinyio, etc., equal to or better than that of Susa, but people just don't get it until they experience it.
I love all the groups. I can't say one is better than another and I've been on approx. 17-18 treks over the last few years.
PNV has also hired quite a number of new guides. There are still some of my favorites working there but there were lots of new faces I didn't recognize.
Have a great time!
I would say a big fat "yes" to good hiking boots. Rain is unpredictable in the Virungas volcanos, more so each time I return. I was there from the 21-27 of January and it rained every day, not at the same time each day, but it did rain which made for muddy trekking.
Depending, gaiters can come in very handy as well. I don't think they'd get ruined, just pretty muddy or wet, depending on conditions.
Leather gloves or similar help to protect the hands from stinging nettles, vines, etc.
A poncho or lightweight rain jacket should suffice. And even rainpants can come in handy to. I had mine in my backpack but never used them.
A hearty lunch isn't as necessary as much as power bars or something light to snack on. Water is definitely on the list.
A footnote on a couple of changes on my recent trip since my trip last year:
The porter fee has gone up from U.S. $5.00 to $10.00 per trek or 5,000 francs. IMHO, it's getting pretty pricey now, having to tip both porters and guides. Guides say they don't need to be tipped, but they do expect it.
PNV has taken the signs down for the gorilla groups and have replaced them with generic signs depicting gorillas and their family structure. This happened during my week there due to a trekker being unhappy he didn't get the group he wanted.
In other words, they now have signs talking about the silverback, blackback, females, juveniles, family life, etc., where the group signs used to be.
They've done this to help alleviate the problem of everyone running to stand in front of certain groups hoping to be able to trek to that group.
Those of you who have traveled there previously, may know where the signs go for each group, as I do. However, newcomers and/or first-timers won't.
I think this is a good move by PNV.
No one can predict seeing one group is better than another and this will help everyone from wanting to go see just the Susa group, which has been part of the problem.
Now, the drivers/guides meet with the PNV folks to determine which group their guests will visit.
I've had enjoyable visits with Amahoro, Group 13, Hirwa, Sabinyio, etc., equal to or better than that of Susa, but people just don't get it until they experience it.
I love all the groups. I can't say one is better than another and I've been on approx. 17-18 treks over the last few years.
PNV has also hired quite a number of new guides. There are still some of my favorites working there but there were lots of new faces I didn't recognize.
Have a great time!
Feb 21st, 2008, 07:22 AM
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This is great information... exactly what I was hoping for. The glove tip was one I had not thought of. I do have some collapsable LEKI trekking poles, maybe I should throw those in? Thanks again everyone. This is such a useful site!
Water: I was planing on at least one 32oz nalgene or perhaps even a camlebak. Better to have too much water than not enough. Assuming I can buy some large amounts of water in Ruhengeri before hand.
As far as tipping... what is the going amount? Are there different amounts for porters vs the guide? Seems like the $500 fee would cover it but I don't want offend anyone either.
Also, should I expect the Guide(s) to be able to help with some birding as well?
Looking forward to some warm temps in Rwanda as I live in Vermont. Although the skiing has been pretty sweet this year!!! Thanks again all , keep it coming!
Water: I was planing on at least one 32oz nalgene or perhaps even a camlebak. Better to have too much water than not enough. Assuming I can buy some large amounts of water in Ruhengeri before hand.
As far as tipping... what is the going amount? Are there different amounts for porters vs the guide? Seems like the $500 fee would cover it but I don't want offend anyone either.
Also, should I expect the Guide(s) to be able to help with some birding as well?
Looking forward to some warm temps in Rwanda as I live in Vermont. Although the skiing has been pretty sweet this year!!! Thanks again all , keep it coming!
Feb 21st, 2008, 10:16 AM
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boreal-
The tipping of guides, after the trek, is a personal choice. However, you will not be able to use a porter unless you do tip them the $10.
Guides get whatever the trekkers choose to tip. They do get paid decently from PNV, from what a guide told me, so it is up to you as to what to tip them.
I hope the weather is a little more summer-like when you go. It wasn't very nice when I was there. But it still was fun...
You won't see a whole lot of birds while doing the gorilla trekking but some of the guides are very knowledgeable about the birds in Rwanda. You may have better luck birding if you're visiting some of the other parks in Rwanda such as Akagera or Nwungwe.
When do you leave and how many treks are you doing? Are you going anywhere else?
The tipping of guides, after the trek, is a personal choice. However, you will not be able to use a porter unless you do tip them the $10.
Guides get whatever the trekkers choose to tip. They do get paid decently from PNV, from what a guide told me, so it is up to you as to what to tip them.
I hope the weather is a little more summer-like when you go. It wasn't very nice when I was there. But it still was fun...
You won't see a whole lot of birds while doing the gorilla trekking but some of the guides are very knowledgeable about the birds in Rwanda. You may have better luck birding if you're visiting some of the other parks in Rwanda such as Akagera or Nwungwe.
When do you leave and how many treks are you doing? Are you going anywhere else?
Feb 21st, 2008, 04:32 PM
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Thanks again.
Unfortunately, it looks like only one trek. Before going north will have a few days in Kigali area. Then maybe Gisenyi after the trek, definitely Nwungwe, and possibly Kibuye, and/or Akagera I hope. Leaving Sunday and will be there two weeks. I hear the weather has been nice there of late, one can only hope!
Unfortunately, it looks like only one trek. Before going north will have a few days in Kigali area. Then maybe Gisenyi after the trek, definitely Nwungwe, and possibly Kibuye, and/or Akagera I hope. Leaving Sunday and will be there two weeks. I hear the weather has been nice there of late, one can only hope!
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