GORILLA TREKKING RULES AND REGULATIONS

Are you planning to go for gorilla trekking and you do not know if there are set rules and regulations one has to follow while on the trek? Well, whether you are planning to embark on a gorilla trek for the first time to Uganda/Rwanda or even you are making for the second time, there are set measure every visitor must observe at all times while in search of the rare mountain gorillas. They are mainly dos and don’ts that everyone must follow and most significantly, before you set off for the actual trek, you will be briefed on this by one of the park officials then you are assigned to your habituated family and park guide who also will remain you on these measures while in the jungles. These measures are not just set for the sake but for safety of the endangered mountain gorillas whose population today account for not more than 1004 in the world and only restricted within Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

If you are planning to visit Africa and particularly mountain gorilla destinations, make sure that you observe the set rules and regulations at all times and you will have the best of your gorilla adventure. Among the many set rules and regulations you need to take note of while on gorilla safari in Uganda or Rwanda include;

A maximum of 8 tourists are permitted to track only 1 habituated gorilla family. This measure is mainly aimed to reducing cases of behavioral disturbance on these endangered creatures and also higher risks of exposing them to human infectious diseases. The fact that mountain gorillas share about 95% of their DNA with humans; they are undoubtedly a few most susceptible creatures to human infectious diseases.

Prior kick starting your adventure, ensure that your hands are washed thoroughly with detergent. Usually, soap is provided in the toilets at the park headquarters and water is available so that after you have helped yourself, you clean your hands.

While in search of gorillas in Bwindi, Mgahinga or Volcanoes National Park, you are advised to always keep your voices low at all times. This however, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t ask any questions, feel free to ask any questions, you will be accompanied by park guide. Noise in most cases irritates these creatures and the fact that humans are foreigners in their habitat, they can easily do harm and to avoid this and also to help you observe them without scaring them off, you have to keep your voices low.

Do not liter park. This is another most significant measure when it comes to gorilla trekking. So for anything you take to the forest must be brought back-for instance the bottles of waters, what you used to carry your snacks and others.

Upon finding the habituated gorilla group that is assigned to you, you have an hour of magical encounter with these beautiful creature and for you to take their pictures, explore their general behavior. This applies whether you are planning to track gorillas in the DR Congo, Rwanda or Uganda.

Also, a distance of 7 meters must be observed all the time while tracking these creatures. Avoid body contact with gorillas and this rule is of great significance as it helps protect these critically endangered creatures from spread of human infectious diseases.

Smoking, eating or drinking is never allowed while on gorilla trek. Such acts put these creatures at higher risk of catching human infectious diseases.

When the gorillas charge against you or get irritated, make sure that you stand still and avoid direct eye contact, never try as this puts you into more risks. Do as your guide tells and that is why you have to keep around with your guide and group.

While taking photos of mountain gorillas, flash cameras are not welcome and if yours has, make sure that you have turned it off before taking photos. Flash lights tend to scare them off or make them irritated and they can easily cause harm to you.

You are advised to move slowly and keenly. Avoid waving or pointing arms at the gorillas.

Do not touch gorillas even when they get close to you.

Conclusively, there are several set measures that every trekker must observe at all times while on a trek to see mountain gorillas in the wild. They will be briefed to you by one of the park officials prior setting off to the jungles to look out for your assigned group.