In order to have the best possible gorilla trekking experience, you will be presented with an opportunity to hire porters to help with your luggage and extra equipment. Gorilla tracking involves going through 
steep slope and sometimes muddy terrain as you look for a Gorilla group. Porters have experience and knowledge of the terrain and can help you carry your luggage, snacks, cameras and other heavy gear you wish to carry along. Porters will also be very helpful when climbing steep slopes by lending a hand. Using porters during gorilla trekking is one good way of giving back to the local community and ensuring that they benefit from mountain gorilla conservation efforts. A porter could be a university student looking for fees balance required to sit exams.
Many of the park guides and porters are former poachers and the opportunity to earn something from tourism keeps them away from hurting the gorillas. You will not only be helping the porters, but also their families and the nearby communities at large. A Porter costs between 10 to 15 US Dollars. Tipping the guides and wardens is optional but a wise decision that can enhance your experience. They could go the extra mile, give you a special treat and show/share with you things that weren’t planned – especially if you are a second day tracker.