Gorilla trekking rules are among the things everyone planning gorilla tours in Africa MUST know about. At the beginning of every mountain gorilla trekking day, travelers are gathered at the respective park headquarters and briefed on the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking. The dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking have been put by government bodies in respective countries to promote sustainable gorilla tourism and ensure safety of the endangered gorillas and travelers themselves. The gorilla trekking rules apply before meeting the gorillas, while with the gorillas and even after the trek. Travelers are highly advised to keep these rules if they want a peaceful and enjoyable gorilla encounter. The gorilla trekking rules apply in all gorilla national parks across Africa
Gorilla trekking rules before meeting the gorillas
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Carry your gorilla permit and payment receipts
Travelers are reminded to carry their gorilla permits ad payment receipts. You must present these ones to the park wardens at the start of the trek. Anyone with no permit is not allowed to take part in the adventure. Also, you must have payment receipts which correspond with the permit details.
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You must be in a group of eight people.
This is the maximum number of travelers allowed to visit a gorilla family each day. The number can be less than 8 but not more than 8 people. The limited number of people is put to avoid high numbers which irritate the shy primates
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Do not visit gorillas when sick
Anyone with flue, cold, cough or other communicable disease is discouraged from taking part in mountain gorilla trekking. Gorillas are man’s close relative sharing over 90% of human genes which make them so susceptible to human diseases
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Minimum age for tracking is 15 Years.
All travelers visiting gorillas MUST be 15 years and above. However, a child almost celebrating the 15th year birthday can be allowed to trek gorillas if his/her parents/guardians write a consent letter taking full responsibility of anything that may happen to the child during the trek. One of the reasons why age limit is highly emphasized in gorilla trekking is the endangered nature of the gorillas and the challenges that may arise during the trek.
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Human Waste should be buried 30 cm (12m) deep.
This is emphasized to ensure clean environment for the endangered gorillas, Exposed human waste can be a cause for dangerous diseases for the endangered gorillas. Travelers are advised to alert their ranger guides whenever they want to ease themselves. The rangers dig holes for the travelers which they cover to leave the environment clean.
When you are with the Gorillas!
While with the mountain gorillas, travelers are advised to keep and follow the following rules and regulations. These include
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Keep a distance of seven meters away from the gorillas.
The distance is required to avoid close contact with gorillas hence the spread of human wildlife diseases. At times when gorillas come close to you, travelers are advised to step back and keep the distance as much as possible
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Do not look direct into the eyes of the gorillas!
Travelers are warned against looking directly into the eyes of the endangered mountain gorillas. Direct eye contact can irritate the gorillas forcing them to behave wild.
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Do not eat, drink or smoke in the presence of the gorillas.
Travelers are discouraged from eating, drinking or smoking in the presence of the mountain gorillas. Any of these actions can make the gorillas behave in a wild way. If you are eating, the gorillas can grab the food from you which can cause commotion
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Do not use flash light cameras.
Flashing in the eyes of the endangered gorillas is irritating and this can make them wild in defense of themselves.
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Turn back your face when you are sneezing or coughing.
As said already, mountain gorillas are susceptible to human diseases such as flue and cold. Sneezing and coughing directly to them is so dangerous to their endangered lives.
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Spend an hour with gorillas
The allowed time with the endangered mountain gorillas is strictly an hour. This time is counted from the moment you meet the gorillas. You are reminded that you can spend over 5 hours in the jungle before meeting up with the gentle giants.
People also ask
What not to do at a gorilla?
Among the things you must never do at a gorilla include, touching it, looking directly in its eyes, trying to fight it, running when it charges, Eating or drinking in the gorillas presence. These behaviors irritate gorillas and can force them to behave wild towards you.
What happens when a gorilla sees you?
On normal days when gorillas are peaceful, the gorilla will just see you and keep peaceful. However if a gorilla is scared of your presence, it may shout loudly and beat its chest charging to scare you away. Sometime, the gorillas wants to come close and touch you. You are advised to keep humble and still when the gorilla comes close to you. It will possibly walk away after confirming that you are of no harm
What is gorilla afraid of?
Gorillas are afraid of anything that can be harmful to them. These include deep waters since they cannot swim well. That’s why they live high altitude areas with no deep streams or rivers. Also gorillas re afraid of poisonous insects such as caterpillars. Gorillas are also afraid of people who look direct into their eyes and use flash light cameras. They feel threatened by them.
Should you look a gorilla in the eye?
NO, you travelers are warned against looking direct into the eyes of the gorillas. Mountain gorillas are shy apes and a direct eye contact with them is irritating to them. Once they feel irritated, they can charge and react badly at you.
Will a gorilla chase you if you run?
YES, a mountain gorilla will chase after you if you run. That’s why travelers are encouraged to step back and lie low when a gorilla charges. Running away encourages a gorilla to run after you as a way of defending themselves. Also, a gorilla can chase you as a way of teasing you after knowing that you are a coward
In conclusion, you are ought to observe and follow the rules of gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo if you want to have a peaceful and lifetime gorilla tour.
