Gorilla Trekking Rules & Regulations : There are many gorilla trekking rules and regulations, which are aimed at protecting the endangered gorillas to keep in the wild and also to ensure safety of the tourists. Gorilla trekking is an interesting experience where visitors spend a maximum of one hour in the presence of these gorillas at any destination where they are located. To get the best experience, therefore, we advise you to follow these rules that will be highlighted the more while on briefing exercise on your gorilla trekking day.
These rules are designed to reduce disease transmission to the gorillas from human beings since these gorillas share 98% of blood DNA, this is because they have low immunity hence prone to infectious diseases. Also, these gorillas don’t trust humans 100% though they are habituated but nevertheless they remain wild even when they are habituated. Gorillas are so protective and so they tend to attack enemies in case they are treated.
Among the gorilla trekking rules and regulations include;
Visitors aged 15 years and older are only allowed to visit a gorilla family booked. Age is very vital consideration while purchasing a gorilla permit and this is a way to protect the primates from infectious diseases such as flu, mumps, chickenpox and much more that are normally carried out by children hence affecting the gorillas.
Also, visitors are required to have yellow fever and Covid-19 vaccination cards or negative PCR results. These will help you to enter the forest and you will need to present them to officials at the park offices during briefing together with the passport. Countries like Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo would require a visa card to allow you into trekking points of gorillas.
The maximum number of gorilla visitors to trek are 8 individuals per gorilla family per day. This has different advantages such as reducing chances of spreading diseases to these primates, keeping the gorillas wild and also limiting the number helps in environmental sustainability. Therefore, there are always fewer gorilla permits issued every day and this calls for one to book a permit in advance at least 2 to 6 months before the day of taking this great experience.
Trekking gorillas is done by people who are physically fit since it involves moving in long distances and even hiking steep terrains. There is also a chance to assign the elderly visitors to the nearer gorilla families, or an alternative of hiring porters to carry this group of visitors (elderly, disabled or pregnant) up to where the gorilla family is located.
Any trekker, suffering from illnesses such as diarrhea, flu, cough, mumps, chickenpox and many more that can be transmitted to gorillas are not allowed to trek. The ranger guides have a right to stop any trekker that they feel or has potential to affect the gorillas. Therefore, you can volunteer to remain behind in case you feel not fine. Remember you will have another chance to trek.
Maintain a distance of at least 10 meters from these big apes. To gorillas, extending nearer or surrounding them means an attack and they will charge hence causing injuries to visitors.
All the time, keep the forest park clean and free from rubbish, visitors are advised to keep all the waste used in their bags such as canisters, tissues and others. This will limit the likely spread of diseases and gorillas or any other wildlife in the forest might eat these left overs hence causing them implications.
Do not use flashlight camera when it’s time to take photos and wait for the guide to instruct you to start making memories of photos. Flashlight irritates the gorillas hence may end up charging on you. Also, keep vamp and limit your movements as you enjoy taking photos.
For the best gorilla trekking experience, contact us and we will be right ready to take you to the home of gorillas in any of the three countries (Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo).
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