Wondering if you can go Gorilla Trekking with Asthma? Yes, it is absolutely possible to indulge yourself in the life-changing journey to see the rare mountain gorillas in Africa. Enjoy this ±15-minutes article on how best to successfully Plan a go Gorilla trekking Holiday with Asthma.
Firstly, in the process of successfully planning to go gorilla trekking with Asthma, you’ll need to set up an appointment to get an assessment from your personal doctor to ascertain the stage of your Asthma. Just in case you didn’t know, there are four (04) stages of asthma, and each of them has its own micro underlying conditions, and it’s the underlying conditions that are vital in ensuring you do go over and above your limits. So let’s further understand these four stages of Asthma;
- 1#) Mild intermittent asthma
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- Symptoms fewer than two times a week.
- Does not have problems between flare-ups.
- Only has short flare-ups from a few hours to a few days.
- Experiences nighttime symptoms fewer than twice a month.
- 2#) Mild persistent asthma
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- Symptoms more than two times a week, but no more than once a day.
- His or her activity levels may be affected by the flare-ups.
- Experiences nighttime symptoms more than twice a month.
- 3#) Moderate persistent asthma
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- Symptoms every day.
- Uses his or her rescue medication every day.
- Has flare-ups twice a week or more.
- His or her activity levels may be affected by the flare-ups.
- Experiences nighttime symptoms more than once a week.
- 4#) Severe persistent asthma
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- Constant symptoms.
- Has a decrease in physical activity.
- Has frequent flare-ups.
- Experiences nighttime symptoms frequently.
Assuming you now know the stage of Asthma you have. You’ll have to share such information with your tour operator so they can advise you on how best to go about planning your Gorilla trekking holiday.
For persons suffering from stages 1 & 2, these stages seem a lot more manageable so we recommend bringing enough medication and also taking at least one (01) local porter. Gorilla Trekking typically lasts for an unknown time from as short as 30 minutes to an intensive 4 hours trek through thick vegetation. Taking a Local porter will mean you have someone to help carry any extra luggage (your daily backpack), push, pull, and support you on your trek to see the mountain gorillas. Porters are locals who live around the gorilla forest. Some of the porters are of Batwa descent which traces back to the time before the park was gazetted as a National Park. The Batwa Pygmies lived in harmony with the mountain gorillas up until 1991 when it was gazetted as a National Park, and in 1994 listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.
For People with stages 3 & 4, we recommend considering trekking gorillas on a sedan chair. A sedan chair is a fairly comfortable way to see gorillas for people suffering from Asthma. The chair has two poles attached to it and is carried by a team of porters. This is a tried and tested way of getting to the gorillas without having to take on the strenuous hiking experience. However, you need to remember that there are only a few sedan chairs available for hire in Bwindi, we, therefore, need to pre-book your sedan chair. the price of hiring a sedan chair (including the service of local porters to carry you) ranges from $300 – $500 for a day’s use.
Learn more about What to expect when trekking gorillas on a Sedan.
When is the best time to visit Bwindi for people with Asthma?
Since Cold weather is bad for most people with asthma as it tends to irritate the bronchial tubes and trigger asthma symptoms. We often recommend Bwindi during the drier season months from June to August and from December to February. During the dry season, the skies are usually clear with lots of sunshine and the average temperature is 27°C, with 16°C in the early morning. June and July are the driest months in southern Uganda. Avoid the much colder/wet season months of March, April, May & November.
However, it’s important to note that Bwindi is a tropical rainforest that could experience rain at any moment of the day so we advise that you pack, bring and wear the right gear/outfit to keep you warm enough for your trek.
The Practical Packing List for Persons Trekking with Asthma
You’ll need to put together an Asthma travel Pack (ATP) for your trip to see the gorillas in Uganda Or Rwanda. However, before we dwell on the must-haves, let us understand certain facts about asthma in general.
- Allergies and asthma are closely linked, about 70% of people who have asthma also have allergies. Being exposed to things you are allergic to may lead to coughing and wheezing. If you are able to control your allergies through avoidance and medication, then your asthma can also be controlled.
- Being exposed to secondhand smoke and air pollution during childhood or a mother’s pregnancy can be risky for the child and may increase the chances of the child developing asthma.
- Just like every individual is different, their asthma is different and unique too. Nowadays, severe cases of asthma are being treated by new bronchial treatments and biological medications.
Now that we have understood some basic facts about asthma, it is important to know the must-haves and essentials that an asthma patient needs.
- Bronchodilator Inhaler
Also known as the rescue inhaler. This is the most important and basic item that an asthmatic patient must carry. You must never leave your home without it. Also, you must buy a new one at least once a year to make sure the medicine does not lose its effectiveness.
- Prescribed Medicines
It is important to always carry prescribed medicines in your bag to help you with your breathing while traveling.
- Mask
It is recommended to get a mask if you commute every day. It can be bought in medical stores or departmental stores.
- Action Plan
It is important that you and the people around you know what to do when you have an asthma attack. So, devise a plan with your doctor’s help and list out the actions that need to be followed when you have an asthma attack. List out different remedies for different situations. Make sure to design the action plan in a readable and understandable manner so that the second person is able to comprehend it and help you in an emergency situation.
Apart from these must-haves in your bag, there are certain must-haves in & around your surroundings during travel that you need if you have asthma, these may include:
- A hotel/Lodge with Hypoallergenic beddings. We often remind the hotels we use to ensure that all the beddings are non-allergic – just so as to avoid any Asthma attack triggers.
- A professional Safari guide with training in First Aid services. Upon learning that a specific client has Asthma, we are keen to double-check that we send you out with an experienced driver/guide with basic first aid training such that they are able to help in the event of an emergency.
