Gorilla trekking rules and regulations are crucial for ensuring sustainable tourism practices and conservation efforts. They are aimed at protecting endangered mountain gorillas and their habitats.
The rules and regulations are essential for ensuring the safety of both the gorillas and the visitors and put in place to minimize disturbance to the gorillas and their natural habitat, as well as to protect the health of both the gorillas and humans.
Some of the rules and regulations to follow during gorilla trekking include those to be followed before the gorilla trek and rules to follow during the gorilla trek as follows;
Group Size Limits
The number of visitors allowed to trek a particular gorilla group in a day is limited to minimize disturbance to the gorillas in their natural habitat.
During gorilla trekking, a maximum of 8 individuals is allowed to visit a gorilla group per day and a limited number of permits are issued that day by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
When searching for the gorillas, visitors are also required to stay with the rest of the group and not move in the forest on their own.
Minimum Age Requirement
During gorilla trekking experiences there is a minimum age requirement for individuals to take part in the activity and this age limit is often set at 15 years of age.
This is to ensure that only individuals who can fully understand and adhere to the rules and regulations are allowed to participate in the gorilla trekking experience.
No Flash Photography
Another rule to be followed is that flash photography is strictly prohibited during gorilla trekking as it can startle or disturb the gorillas.
Maintaining Distance
Visitors are required to maintain a minimum distance of 7 meters (about 21 feet) from the gorillas at all times.
This is to minimize the risk of disease transmission and reduce stress on the gorillas due to presence of humans in their habitat.
Visitors during the gorilla trekking experience must respect all wildlife encountered during the trek, not just the gorillas, and should follow instructions from the ranger guides at all times.
Time Limit
The time spent with the gorillas is usually limited to one hour to minimize human impact on their natural behavior.
During the 1 hour spent with the gorillas, visitors can observe them closely, enjoy photography and enjoy special moments with them before returning to the briefing point.
No Eating or Drinking Before Gorillas
Eating or drinking in the presence of gorillas is prohibited to prevent any potential food sharing with the gorillas as this can affect their feeding habits.
The gorillas are herbivores in nature and their natural habitat is filled with plenty of food for them to eat and survive on their own therefore feeding them would interrupt this natural phenomenon.
No Littering
Visitors are expected to carry out all their trash from the park, including any food wrappers or containers.
There are also designated places in the national parks where the gorillas can be seen and visitors can dispose of their rubbish in those areas.
Health Precautions
Visitors who are sick or have any contagious diseases are not allowed to participate in gorilla trekking to prevent potential transmission of diseases such as colds or cough to the gorillas.
During the interaction with the gorillas, if the visitors are to sneeze or cough, they are informed to turn away from the gorillas and cover their faces.
No smoking
Smoking is also prohibited during the gorilla trekking experience.
Permit Requirement
Gorilla trekking permits are required for tourists to engage in gorilla trekking, and visitors should obtain them through authorized personnel before embarking on the trek.
It is recommended that tourists contact licensed tour operators to book gorilla permits which are got from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Gorilla permits cost 700 USD for foreign nonresidents, 600 USD and 250,000 Uganda shillings for East Africans.
How to prepare for the gorilla trek
Gorilla trekking is an exciting experience which can take place in destinations including Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park in Uganda. In Rwanda, gorillas can be seen in Volcanoes national park (Parc national des volcans) and in Congo the mountain gorillas can be seen in Virunga national park.
Some of the steps to consider as you prepare for the gorilla trek include the following;
Choosing trekking destination
Gorilla trekking in Uganda specifically is done in Bwindi and Mgahinga national park. Half of the world’s population of gorillas can be found in Uganda making it an ideal destination to encounter the gorillas.
While Bwindi national park has different gorilla families and sectors (Buhoma, Rushaga, Nkuringo and Ruhija sector) where gorilla trekking can be carried out, gorillas in Mgahinga national park belong to the Nyakagezi gorilla family.
Both destinations however offer amazing and unique gorilla trekking experiences during the year. A tour operator can advise on the different options of gorilla trekking around Uganda.
Time for the gorilla trek
Gorilla trekking can be done during different months of the year including the dry season which is the best time to visit the gorillas and also during the rainy season.
The dry season (June to October and also December to February) have favorable conditions for gorilla trekking as compared to the rainy season when trails are muddy and slippery but also exciting gorilla trekking experiences with few visitors in the destinations.
Book the gorilla safari
There are different options to choose from when planning for the gorilla trekking including fly in safaris and also driving to the national parks.
For fly in gorilla safaris, visitors can use Kisoro airstrip or Kihihi airstrip and these flights can be booked through domestic airlines like Aerolink.
The option of driving to the destination of gorilla trekking takes more time and for Bwindi national park it is about 8 hours using the Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Kabale route while for Mgahinga national park takes about 10 hours via the Kampala-Mbarara-Kabale-Kisoro route.
Pack for safari
After booking the safari, visitors can pack accordingly for the gorilla trek keeping in mind the season of travel, entry requirements for Uganda and personal items.
