Is it possible to trek mountain gorillas when pregnant? YES, pregnant women can also visit and track gorillas without difficulty. Most women and caring husbands have often asked whether it’s possible to trek mountain gorillas while pregnant. Pregnancy should not stop you from being part of this wonderful experience. Being pregnant is normal and good hence should not hinder you from visiting gorillas in their native habitats. Done in the jungles, of Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo, gorilla trekking is the most done tourist activity in Africa. The current tourism statistics indicate that gorilla safari is a dream for most if not all travelers from all over the world. Gorilla Trek Africa offers you the best mountain gorilla tracking advice for pregnant women to ensure peaceful and enjoyable gorilla encounters. These include among others:
Inform park wardens in Time
Pregnant women are advised to inform park wardens about their conditions. This should be during the pre trekking briefing or some days before the trip through your travel planner. Park wardens will give you the easiest gorilla family, which doesn’t require steep hiking and long hours. Also, talking to your travel agent enables him/her get the best and comfortable travel vehicle plus a good driver who can handle your condition with professionalism. During gorilla family allocations, park wardens normally consider physical abilities, fitness, and age.
Use sedan seat stretchers
If the pregnancy is mature (7 -9 months) it’s advisable you use sedan chairs.
A traveler being carried to trek gorillas
Here a pregnant woman is carried by four porters on sedan chair into the forest to see gorillas and back. The cost is $400 two ways, which is surely worth the service. A pregnant woman is only put down after reaching gorillas for easy photography and video capturing.
Fly to gorilla parks
If possible, pregnant women are advised to fly to gorilla parks especially Bwindi Forest and Mgahinga gorilla national parks in southwestern Uganda. Flying saves you the stress of full days driving on bumpy roads of Uganda. Long driving hours make you exhausted before the trekking time. On reaching the airstrip, please ensure your driver-guide has a land cruiser to drop you at the hotel. Land cruisers are considered the most comfortable safari vehicles for comfortable drives through bumpy and muddy slippery roads of kigezi hills, especially in the rain season.
Carry enough drinking water and snacks
Gorilla trekking is not a walk away activity but rather a strenuous venture, which requires energy.
Packed lunch for gorilla trekking
If you are pregnant, make sure you carry enough drinking water and energy-giving snacks. These keep you strong during the hiking session hence a memorable gorilla encounter.
Hire a porter
Hiring porters is normally optional but recommended. However, a porter is a must-have for a pregnant woman. Porters help you carry baggage (snacks, drinking water, and cameras) to and from the jungle. Also, porter’s offer support by holding a client’s hand when forest grounds are slippery and impassable. Hiring a porter is between $15-$20 a day.
Do physical exercises
Even if you are given the easiest gorilla, you cannot dodge some bit of hiking. Pregnant women are reminded of some physical exercises when preparing for gorilla tours to avoid difficulties. Do some jogging, sit-ups and walking to ensure physical fitness.
What to carry for gorilla trekking
You must carry appropriate essentials if your gorilla encounter is to be a success. Among the things to carry for gorilla trekking include hiking boots, gardening gloves, rain jackets, hat, sunglasses, long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and blouses plus energy-giving snacks.
REMINDER: Gorilla trekking is a strenuous venture, it requires energy and physical fitness. Trekking gorillas is advised when pregnancy is still young mostly 5 months and below. Pregnant women above 7 months and above are cautioned of the risks associated with gorilla trekking.
