Can I Use Flash Photography During a Gorilla Trek?
The Flash Photography Rule on a Gorilla Trek Last year, I found myself standing in a muddy rainforest in Uganda. My legs were shaking from a four-hour hike. My jacket was soaked through. And then, maybe twenty feet away, a mountain gorilla looked right at me. Not in an aggressive way. More like he was […]
What Should I Do If a Gorilla Charges at Me?
What Should I Do If a Gorilla Charges at Me? You’re knee-deep in misty bamboo, heart thudding, when a silverback’s eyes lock onto yours. The question freezes your blood: What should I do if a gorilla charges at me? Let’s answer that first—because knowing the truth turns terror into wonder. When a gorilla charges (and it’s often […]
How Much Should I Tip My Porter After a Gorilla Trek?
So You Just Did a Gorilla Trek. Here’s the Real Deal on Tipping Your Porter. Let me paint the scene. You’re standing at the edge of a rainforest. It’s 6 AM, mist is rolling through the trees, and your legs are already shaking because you know what’s coming. Then this person walks up to you, […]
How Much Should I Tip My Gorilla Trekking Guide?
How Much Should I Tip My Gorilla Trekking Guide? You know that feeling when you come back from a trip, and everyone asks, “How was it?” and you just stare at the wall for a second because words feel too small? That’s gorilla trekking for you. I didn’t believe it until I was there. Knee-deep […]
Do I Need to Hire a Porter for Gorilla Trekking?
Do I Need to Hire a Porter for Gorilla Trekking? I stressed over this so much before my trip. Seriously. I kept googling, asking forums, changing my mind every other day. Do I need to hire a porter for gorilla trekking? I thought I was tough. I hike on weekends. I carry my own groceries. Why pay […]
What Language Are the Gorilla Trekking Briefings Given In?
What Language Are the Gorilla Trekking Briefings Given In? The One Question I Was Too Embarrassed to Ask I’ll be honest with you. A few days before my first gorilla trek, I had this tiny panic attack at 1 AM. I was lying in bed, scrolling through my packing list, and suddenly my brain latched […]
How Many People Are in One Gorilla Trekking Group?
How Many People Are in One Gorilla Trekking Group? So let me start with the question I kept asking myself before I went. How many people are in one gorilla trekking group? I figured maybe twelve, fifteen—a small crowd, you know? Then my guide looked at me like I’d asked something silly. “Eight,” he said. “Only eight. […]
Can I Choose Which Gorilla Family Group to Trek?
Can I Choose Which Gorilla Family Group to Trek? Yes, you usually can choose—but it’s not like picking a seat on a plane. What happens is this: you tell your tour operator your preference (easy hike or hard one? big family with lots of babies? a quieter group?), they request that specific group when they […]
How Far Do You Trek to Find the Gorillas?
How Far Do You Trek to Find the Gorillas? People ask me this all the time. How far do you trek to find the gorillas? And I never know what to say, because there’s no answer. One day, you walk for twenty minutes. Next day, six hours. The gorillas wake up, eat breakfast, take a nap, […]
What Is the Maximum Time I Can Spend with the Gorillas?
What Is the Maximum Time I Can Spend with the Gorillas? I used to think the hard part about seeing mountain gorillas was the money. Or the trekking. Or the permits. But nope. The hardest part is leaving after only one hour. Because you don’t realize how fast sixty minutes goes until you’re sitting in […]