The ultimate woman’s guide to gorilla and chimp trekking

Let’s face it - whether you’re planning a couple’s trip, honeymoon safari, group trip or solo adventure, there are certain things that only women have to consider when heading out on an adventure… but you don’t need to stress about any aspect of going on a gorilla or chimp trek as a woman. This comprehensive guide will help you to take care of all the “lady stuff” on a single or multi-day adventure, so that you can feel prepared and focus on what’s important - having an amazing adventure!

1. Getting your period

Being on your period on the eve of your gorilla or chimp trek, when you know you’ll be without bathrooms and ample sanitary items available can be daunting, but there are plenty of ways you can make life easier for yourself and ease the anxiety of “leakage” and waste disposal.

• My top tip (for life, actually, not just trekking) is to try out a menstrual cup. Made of durable silicone, a single menstrual cup can last anywhere between six months and ten years! Carrying a single menstrual cup on your trip means you won’t have to worry at all about the pesky issue of waste. Menstrual cups come in a number of sizes and are inserted into your vagina, essentially forming a suction barrier to eliminate leakage. They have capacity to hold a lot of blood and can be left in for longer than tampons or pads without an increased risk of TSS (although you still need to be conscious of hygiene and contamination). Depending on your flow, they can last for up to 12 hours without being emptied, and while ideally you should boil the cup before re-inserting, if you’re out in the wild during the day, you can also thoroughly rinse or wipe it clean with toilet paper or a wet wipe. Just remember to do this with clean hands, and to properly sanitise your cup when you’re back at your accommodation with access to boiling water. If you’ve never used a menstrual cup before, try it out before going on your trip.

Other tips for dealing with your period on your trip:

• If you’re using tampons and pads, bring plenty of them with you, as you may not be able to easily purchase sanitary items.
• Bring your own secure sanitary bags. While you’re out on a trek or safari, you may not have access to a flushing toilet or bins. Always bring a supply of sanitary bags with you when you’re out on a trek, so that you don’t leave any sanitary items behind - they make a mess and can even cause curious animals to try and eat what you’ve left behind. Paper bags are more environmentally friendly, but if you’re worried about leakage, small plastic bags such as zip-lock bags are also a good option.
• At your lodge or camp, you should never try to flush your sanitary items in the toilet as they will block the system. Place them in the sanitary bags and dispose of them in the bins provided 

 2. Loo with a view 

Once you leave your lodge or campsite for your gorilla or chimp trek, the nearest bush or tree will be your only toilet! If you don’t have much experience with “bush loos”, it’s worth doing a couple of hikes and practising your technique. Here are my tips for a hassle-free bush wee!

• You don’t actually have to push your pants all the way down to your ankles. In my opinion, the faster you can pee in the wild, the better, and not having your pants all the way down definitely speeds up the process. Scrunch them down to just above your knees and squat, bringing your weight forward onto the balls of your feet. Your pants won’t get caught up in the trajectory of your “stream”, and you can quickly pull them up when you’re done.
• Consider your angles. For me, the optimal location for a bush wee is one with a slight downwards incline. You can squat at the top of the slope and pee downhill - this reduces the chance of any splash-back onto your boots.
• Avoid long grass! When you’re looking for a good spot to do your business, don’t just search for a private place behind a tree or bush - be mindful of your other surroundings, as well. I like to look for a place with short grass, so I don’t have any plants tickling my bum! It’s also a good idea to keep a lookout for bugs, snakes and other creepy crawlies. If you make lots of noise while stomping around your “bush loo”, you should scare off anything in the area that might give you a fright mid-stream!
• Bring a toilet kit in a brown paper bag or re-usable dry bag. Here’s what’s in mine:
  •  Toilet paper
  •  A zip lock bag (any plastic bag will do) - this is for your used toilet paper. You should never discard toilet paper out in a game reserve or national park, not even if it’s buried. Pop your used paper in the zip lock bag and throw it away in a bin or toilet when you return to your camp or lodge
  • Hand sanitiser
•    And the golden rule: always ask your guide if it is safe.

 3. Cultural sensitivities

Depending on where you are, there may be cultural sensitivities to take into consideration when thinking about your clothing (modest dress may be essential), but also your general expectations. For example, in some lodges that offer a laundry service, you may not be able to get your underwear washed, as some staff members may not wish to touch or interact with women’s underwear (or men's for that matter).

More broadly, there are some areas and cultural sites where it is not appropriate or recommended for women to wear pants. Packing a long skirt that falls past the knee (preferably to the floor) is a good idea. Our full packing list will give you a comprehensive guide to the other kinds of clothes you should bring.

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