Why did UWA, RDB, and IUCN Set Up Gorilla Trekking Rules and Regulations When Seeing Lowland and Mountain Gorillas?
Critically endangered Lowland/Mountain gorillas, found in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, and Congo’s Virunga Park and Kahuzi-Biega NP, are critically endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and UNESCO, with only about 1,063 individuals left in the world.
To protect both humans and gorillas, respective authorities have established gorilla trekking rules and regulations, enforced by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Rwanda Development Board (RDB), and Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN).
These rules for gorilla trekking include maintaining a safe distance, preventing disease spread from human-borne diseases, minimizing behavioral disturbance, and regulating visitor numbers.
Gorilla trekkers must adhere to these guidelines to ensure the conservation of mountain gorillas and their natural habitat and environment where gorillas and other wildlife live, while also prioritizing their safety.
By following these rules, trekkers contribute to the conservation efforts and help protect these endangered primates while increasing their numbers in the world.
Below are regulations gorilla trekking rules every gorilla trekker in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo must observe:
Regulations Gorilla Trekking Rules to Follow Before a Gorilla Track to See the Lowland and Mountain Gorillas
Before embarking on a gorilla trek in Uganda, Rwanda, or the DR Congo, tourists must familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations set by park authorities. Essential guidelines include:
- Obtaining a valid gorilla trekking permit from the respective wildlife authorities, UWA, RDB, or ICCN. Only persons with the permit can track gorillas.
- Attending a pre-trekking briefing very early in the morning to learn about the rules, regulations, and safety guidelines from park rangers or tour operators.
- The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years. In case you have traveled with children below the age of 15, they will also be provided with an alternative activity.
- Undergoing a health screening to ensure you’re not carrying any contagious diseases that could harm the gorillas. Visitors with temperatures above 37.5 degrees Celsius shall be denied entry for gorilla trekking.
- Visitors experiencing flu, cough, cold, stomach ailment, or other human illnesses, it’s best not to trek to protect the gorillas.
- Wash hands with hand sanitizer of 60% alcohol or soap and water before heading out for a gorilla trek.
- It’s mandatory for all visitors and staff to wash hands or sanitize with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol) at briefing points.
- Wearing a face mask and maintaining a good distance of 10 meters from gorillas
- Limiting visitor numbers to 8 per gorilla group/gorilla family each day.
- Ensuring physical fitness for the trek
- In case a visitor or accompanying members of the team experience a health-related problem, park authorities will apply established evacuation and first aid guidelines to move the affected individual from the field.
By following these gorilla trekking rules and regulations, tourists can contribute to the protection of endangered mountain gorillas and lowland gorillas and their natural habitats in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla NP, Volcanoes National Park, Kahuzi-Biega NP, and Virunga Park.
Book your next Uganda gorilla trekking safari, Rwanda gorilla tour, or Congo gorilla safari for lasting gorilla walking memories!
Rules For Gorilla Trekking Rules to Follow on The Way to See the Gorillas
While on a gorilla walking course, remember to follow these gorilla tracking rules and etiquette.
- Please always speak in a low voice in the forest so that you do not disrupt the peace of the lowland and mountain gorillas. This will also enable you to observe other natural treasures in the forest, such as great birdlife, monkeys, and butterflies, as you trek gorillas.
- Don’t throw away garbage or food wraps in the habitat. If you have a backpack, please put all the garbage in it, and you can empty it at a designated point when you return to the briefing point; the delicate ecosystem of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable & Mgahinga National Parks, Rwanda’s Volcanoes NP, and the DR Congo’s Virunga Park & Kahuzi Biega NP needs to be kept free of any form of litter.
- Follow your guide through the trekking trails and stick to the tight group for your safety. This will also enable you to listen to your guide while explaining the attractions seen along the way to the lowland/mountain gorillas.
- As you approach the point where the park /armed rangers observed the lowland /mountain gorillas the day before, you will get the final briefing before your next few steps to where the gorilla family is. Trekkers are often requested to leave their walking sticks and their baggage at this point.
- Maintain the forest’s delicate ecosystem by burying human waste 30cm deep and avoiding littering from packed lunch residues as you track gorillas.
- Keep a safe distance from the gorillas to minimize behavioral disturbances and prevent the spread of human diseases that might be spread when you touch gorillas.
By following these lowland/mountain gorilla trekking rules and regulations, you’ll contribute to the conservation of mountain gorillas and lowland gorillas and their habitat while also ensuring your safety and enjoyment in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, and the DR Congo’s Virunga Park & Kahuzi Biega NP.
Contact a reputable tour operator now and let us tailor your next Uganda gorilla safari, Rwanda gorilla tour, or Congo gorilla safari for lasting lowland/mountain gorilla trekking experiences!
Gorilla Trekking Rules and Regulations to Follow When With the Gorillas
When in the presence of the lowland/mountain gorillas, remember to follow the following gorilla trekking rules and regulations.
- Maintain a 7m (21ft) distance from the gorillas. This sometimes means moving back, as these peaceable creatures may move in for a closer look. Playful youngsters sometimes want to climb into visitors’ laps.
This is as much to protect gorillas as visitors, out of concern that gorillas share about 97% of our DNA and could pick up a human virus for which they have no immunity and which could wipe out the whole population or trigger violent behavior.
- Please visit early for good sightings and always stay in a tight group during the visits and follow the instructions of your guide.
- Speak in a low voice and avoid loud noise to avoid disturbing the gorillas or other wild fauna and bird life, but you are free to ask the guide a question.
- If you sneeze or cough, turn your head away from the gorillas and cover your mouth if necessary to cough. One of the chief natural causes of death among lowland/mountain gorillas is pneumonia.
- Smoking, drinking, and eating are prohibited near gorillas.
- Don’t feed gorillas or any other animal you may meet, as this can lead to behavioral disturbances and disease transmission.
- Sometimes the gorillas charge. Follow the instructions of the guide. Don’t run away; if the gorilla charges, it will increase the risk of gorilla chasing you.
- Don’t feed or touch the gorillas; they are wild animals, and human contact can be fatal for these sensitive creatures.
- Visits are limited to only one hour/60 minutes per gorilla family per day, where you will be watching the gorillas foraging, playing, and going about their business of the day. Remember not to mimic their body language.
- When taking pictures, move slowly, silently, and be careful when you walk. The use of flash cameras and flash photography is strictly prohibited, as they can provoke or frighten gorillas.
- After the visit, remain silent or speak in a low voice until you are at least 200 meters away from the gorillas.
- Bury human wastes 30cm deep to maintain the habitat ecosystem.
By following these regulations gorilla trekking rules, you’ll contribute to the conservation of mountain gorillas and lowland gorillas and their natural habitat in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, and the DR Congo’s Virunga Park & Kahuzi Biega NP, while also ensuring your safety and enjoyment.
Visit any of these three countries for a Uganda gorilla tour, Rwanda gorilla trekking safari, or Congo gorilla trip for a lasting gorilla trekking experience!
Top Gorilla Trekking Rules and Regulations to Abide by After the Gorilla Trekking Tour in Uganda, Rwanda, or DR Congo
When descending the mountain slopes from a gorilla adventure, trekkers need to follow these gorilla trekking regulations.
- Avoid loud noise and keep your voices low until you’re at least 300 meters away from the gorillas.
- Attend a debriefing session with your trekking guide and discuss your experience, and learn more about the lowland/mountain gorillas.
- Tip the guide and porters who helped you throughout the gorilla tracking course to show appreciation for their services.
- Donate to gorilla conservation organizations that protect lowland and mountain gorilla habitats and populations to show support for conservation efforts.
- Share your honest feedback with park rangers/guides to help improve future gorilla treks in Uganda, Rwanda, and DR Congo.
- Promote responsible and sustainable tourism by respecting indigenous communities and environments in Uganda, Rwanda, and the DR Congo.
- Raise awareness about gorilla conservation through sharing gorilla pictures, testimonials, and reviews.
- Support local communities in these three African countries by purchasing their products and services, such as traditional crafts.
By following the above gorilla trekking rules and regulations, you’ll contribute to the well-being of wild lowland and mountain gorillas, support habitat surrounding communities, and promote gorilla conservation efforts in the national parks of Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks), Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park), and the DR Congo (Virunga Park, Kahuzi Biega NP).
Don’t miss out on an adventure of a lifetime; book your gorilla permit and tours to either Uganda, Rwanda, or Congo now and track mountain gorillas or lowland gorillas!
Unmissable General Health Rules
Remember that lowland/mountain gorillas are very susceptible to human diseases. The following health rules are ways to minimize the risk your visit might pose to the gorillas:
- Respect the limits imposed on the number of visitors allowed to visit the gorillas each day. This minimizes the risk of disease transmission and stress to the gorilla group.
- If you are feeling ill or you are carrying a contagious disease, volunteer to stay behind. An alternate visit will be arranged for you, or your funds raised will be refunded to you.
- If you feel the urge to cough or sneeze when you are near the gorillas, please turn your head away and cover your nose and mouth in order to minimize the spread of bacteria or viruses.
- Always stay 7 meters (21 feet) away from the gorillas. This is to protect them from catching human diseases.
- Do not litter rubbish (e.g., food wraps) in the park where lowland/mountain gorillas live; foreign items can harbor diseases or other contaminants.
- If you need to go to the toilet while in the forest, please ask the guide to dig you a hole with his panga. Make sure the hole is 30 cm deep and fill it in when you are finished.
By following these rules for trekking mountain gorillas, you’ll contribute to the conservation of critically threatened mountain gorillas and lowland gorillas and their natural habitat in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga National Park & Kahuzi Biega NP, while also ensuring your safety and enjoyment.
Journey to any of these three African countries for a Uganda gorilla tour, Rwanda gorilla safari, or Congo gorilla trip for lasting gorilla walking experiences!
What To Bring on Your Gorilla Safari in Uganda, Rwanda, or Congo?
- Wear comfortable hiking shoes suitable for steep, muddy slopes as you head out to trek mountain gorillas.
- Put on earplugs for those who feel uncomfortable with the jungle sounds.
- Carry packed food/lunch and enough drinking water.
- Carry rain gear, sunscreen lotion, a hat (as the weather is unpredictable), and insect repellent.
- Bring a photo of a film camera, but remember that using a flashlight is not permitted, so we recommend using films of 400-800 ASA.
Contact our African safari expert to tailor your next Uganda gorilla trip, Rwanda gorilla safari tour, or Congo gorilla safari trip for unforgettable memories!
