Gorilla Trekking Rules
Trekking and watching Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is undoubtedly an exhilarating experience. You can’t describe the feeling of watching silverbacks exerting authority over group members, mothers breastfeeding infants, juveniles jumping on tree branches and seeing them breaking tree branches to find food.
While it is very tempting to get closer to them, show excitement after encountering them or even using your best equipment for photography, it is always important to watch these Great Apes at a reasonable, safe and respectful distance for their safety and yours (visitors). Having information on how to interact with, photograph and watch these jungle animals is helpful in making the right decisions on encountering them on foot.
The rules for trekking the endangered Mountain gorillas are aimed at protecting the endangered primates that surprisingly share close relation to humans. Their outstanding closeness to mankind unfortunately makes them vulnerable to several communicable diseases (airborne pathogens) that also affect humans such as measles, cough, Covid-19, flue, Tuberculosis and are more detrimental to the lives and survival of these Great.
It should also be noted that only around 1063 mountain gorillas are left in their natural habitats of Mgahinga Gorilla and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda as well as the world-class Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Additionally, the Governments of Uganda through Uganda Wildlife Authority, Rwanda through Rwanda Development Board and Democratic Republic of Congo through Institut Congolais la Conservation de la Nature don’t provide gorilla permits for persons below a certain age to watch or interact with the endangered Great Apes in their natural environment. Any activity that involves taking away the peace, making mountain gorillas uncomfortable or exposing them to diseases is not supported, condoned, authorized or approved. Therefore, these are the important gorilla trekking rules that are normally issued at the briefing point, at different trailheads before the start of gorilla trekking adventures. They are categorized into rules to be followed before embarking on gorilla trekking, during gorilla trekking and the different health rules that are applicable at all times.
Important gorilla trekking rules to be followed before entering the jungles
Before you even think of undertaking gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda or the Democratic Republic of Congo, first make sure that you are above the age of 15 years. The dense jungles Bwindi, Virunga, Mgahinga and Volcanoes are most likely difficult for young children and therefore a minimum age limit was placed for this adventure. The reasons for this rule include the fact that children behavior are unpredictable, thus might not remain calm when required. Not only that, gorilla treks are physically demanding because they involve walking through dense vegetation and hilly slopes that require some level of physically fitness. It can be difficult for a young child to hike areas of higher altitude-2500 to 4000 meters above sea level thus likely to delay gorilla treks.
The maximum number of travellers to trek a habituated gorilla family is 8 while only 4 tourists can visit a gorilla group during the Gorilla Habituation Experience. This maximum number limit is important for reducing possible behavioral changes, stressing the mountain gorillas that are trying to live normal lives as well as reducing exposure to airborne pathogens.
Sick travellers are not allowed to trek the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural environment. For this reason, if you are suffering from any communicable disease, the Park Rangers have the power to stop you from being part of these scheduled gorilla treks. Don’t just remain at your Lodge if confirmed sick but instead report to the Park Headquarters, after which the park warden will re-schedule your trek to another time when you are well or refund a certain percentage of your money.
Make sure to wash your hands with clean water and soap or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer to reduce the spread of pathogens to the mountain gorillas. During the process of briefing, pay attention to information provided by Park Ranger for your safety and that of the endangered mountain gorillas.
Gorilla trekking rules while searching for the Mountain Gorillas
Tourists are advised to keep within their trekking groups at all times and always follow the directions and advice provided by expert Ranger guides and this is crucial for maintaining tourist personal safety in addition to avoiding any chances of getting lost in the jungles. One thing you should keep in mind is that there are no established trails through the thick rainforest and therefore travellers will be required to use machetes for creating paths through the jungles.
Leave the natural habitat of mountain gorillas (the dense forest) the way you found it by practicing the principle of “pack it in, pack it out”. Items like disposed handkerchiefs, leftover food, cans, polythene, papers, empty water bottles and food wraps act as breeding places for disease-causing germs and also can be swallowed by animals, hence bringing about constipation and sometimes death.
Always keep voices low while searching for the mountain gorillas through their natural environments, to avoid scaring away other residents of the forest, especially species of primates and birds. This however doesn’t mean that you can’t ask the Ranger guide any questions related to the mountain gorillas or the National Park where gorilla trekking is being undertaken.
Gorilla Trekking rules while in the presence of Great Apes
A maximum of 60 minutes will be provided for watching as well as photographing the mountain gorillas going about their daily routines in their natural environments. Much as the allocated time is one hour for standard gorilla treks, this time can be cut short when the Guide notices signs of irritation among Great Apes hence it is important to avoid provoking them.
Always maintain a minimum distance of 7 meters (or 21 feet) at all times, whether trekking or while viewing/photographing. You wouldn’t want to stress these creatures going about their daily routines because if they do, there are chances of becoming aggressive. Also, the distance reduces chances of spreading air-borne pathogens to the mountain gorillas and always remember to apply this distance even when they approach. In such circumstances, slowly move back without drawing attention. Touching mountain gorillas isn’t allowed, even when they get closer to you because they might mistake it for provocation.
Even with habituation, the Mountain gorillas still remain wild animals and therefore caution has to be taken when viewing them. There are chances of becoming wild and when they get charged, always submit by crouching down instead of running away because their anger might get worse.
Eating, smoking and drinking in the presence of the endangered mountain gorillas isn’t allowed and this should be done to avoid drawing mountain gorilla attention towards you as well as reducing chances of spreading human diseases (brought about by falling food particle).
Excitement is inevitable on seeing the mountain gorillas but also remember to keep voices at the minimum when watching and photographing the Great Apes at all time. However, you are allowed to ask any gorilla questions.
Photography should be done with non-flash cameras because lights and flashes are likely to scare or irritate the mountain gorillas. Remember that if they charge, your one hour of observation might be prematurely but short.
Avoid imitating mountain gorilla calls and facial expressions because this is one of the ways of irritating them. Silverbacks will perceive it as provocation and therefore likely to charge or even fight.
Crucial health precautions during Gorilla Trekking
While visitors aren’t allowed to trek mountain gorillas when sick (flue and cough), some involuntary actions like Coughing and sneezing are inevitable. If it happens, always cover your mouth with a clean handkerchief or turn away from these endangered primates. This is done to prevent the spread of air-borne pathogens to them because this is most likely going to affect them more than humans.
Follow the maximum limit for visiting habituated gorilla families issued the different Government Authorities-Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Rwanda Development Board and Institut Congolais la Conservation de la Nature. While some visitors would desire to join other gorilla families, it is still not allowed. Large crowds are detrimental for mountain gorilla lives because it is likely to increase spread of diseases, stress them as they go about their daily routines and reduce your viewing time to less than one hour.
Remember that there are no toilets in the middle of the forest and therefore visitors are advised to first use toilets before starting gorilla treks. Nonetheless, calls of nature can’t sometimes be predicted and avoided. In this circumstance, a pit of about 30 centimeters will be excavated by the group Park Ranger and later covered immediately after use. This also avoids spreading any diseases.
Best time of the year for gorilla trekking adventures
Gorilla trekking adventures in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are done throughout the year. However, the drier months of January, February, June, July, August, September and December are marked by little or no rains thus the Gorilla Parks are more accessible during these months of the year. The rainy season in March, April, May, October and November is when rains are at their peaks making parks roads difficult to access.